I was unable for many years to take a dog of ours to the vet for the last time. So I delegated the task. In the last thirty years I have always taken them in myself when the need to put them down was all too obvious.

I bring them home and bury them on the property. I still find it hard to dig the hole. The only relief is doing it is easier on them than just letting them suffer till the end.

I feel their remains should stay on the property where they spent all their years basically. We have been fortunate to have had a lot of good dogs over all the years.

It was always hard for me to do what is needed. The wife has stated when the two we currently have are gone there will be no more. I actually expect there is a good chance they both will outlive me. Anyone that likes dogs and has to see it end. It is an emotional experience. I can state I have a good ideal of just how it feels for most dog owners.

We used to have a good American vet for our dogs. Today we still have good vets. You cannot go to them with your pet unless they either have a lot of past experience with you. Or they tell you they will call you back. While they do a credit check. Their billings are not for the weak of heart. They of course will not call you back if you do not check out. Or want a hefty up front deposit if they do.

All the vets disliked the old semi retired American vet in our area. I once asked him if he had charged me enough as he was about eighty. He told me he works only part time now and makes about a thousand a day so he thought his billings where adaquate. I actually had one of our dogs to him a week before he died at age 85.

Yes it was a livelihood for him but you could tell he really still liked animals. He just would not follow the provincial billing guidelines for vets. Of course he had stopped doing heavy animals years earlier. Physically he just was not that able anymore.