i have 4 kids son,8 twin girls,6 a boy 3 and we have a dog who is 15 years old in dog years he has aretritest and other problems and me and my husband decided that we are going to put him down my question is how do we tell the kids
2006-09-14 13:57:37 · 10 answers · asked by somaya m 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Have you read Marley and Me? Great true story about dealing with letting a beloved member of the family go...
Be up front and honest. Explain that your dog is tired and doesn't feel good, and that it's time for him to go to heaven where he can feel like a puppy again. Give your kids a chance to say good bye and express their feelings in whatever way they might need to. Please just don't lie and say he went to the farm.
2006-09-14 14:02:33 · answer #1 · answered by mimaolta 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the dog is only 15 in 'dog years' then there is no reason to put him down. Get him medical help and/or find him a new home. He is way to young to be put down for that. There are way to many treatments and options.
If the dog is 15 in 'human years' (he has a birthday every year like we do), then this is understandable.
Tell you kids before you do it. NOT AFTER. Your kids are at the age when a pet is often their VERY BEST FRIEND. They confide in them, they hug them and kiss them, they play with them, and they know that their pet will protect them. The pet understands them when the parents don't.
Explain the pain he's in. Ask how they would feel in that pain. Tell them to talk about good memories (do this as a family-write a few down). Explain how their lives will be different and although it's hard, it gets a little easier each day. let them love their best friend and tell him goodbye. Let them participate. Even though it hurts. It's important.
2006-09-14 21:56:59 · answer #2 · answered by Shauna 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
WAIT a darned minute: '15 in dog years'??!!
that's what, two and a half?
forget it; the dog does not need a death sentence, but a new family.
find a breed-rescue or all-breed rescue; or find a group that specializes in senior dogs.
there are WAY too many ways to help a young dog with chronic pain, to get a pass from me on this issue! shame on U for being so casual about the dog's LIFE - the issue of the dog's DEATh, and Ur children, is a totally un-necessary topic.
explaining to the kids why U are giving away a dog who is quite young, and whose pain U feel inadequate to treat or relieve, should keep U busy enuf over the next few days...
if Ur dog has SEVERE hip-dysplasia, that's still a treatable condition. Again, give him up - don't give up ON him!!
2006-09-14 21:06:42 · answer #3 · answered by leashedforlife 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
15 years in DOG years is NOT AT ALL old. That's just TWO YEARS OLD.
And arthritis is NOT a difficult condition to control, it is cheap pain meds from the vet, for heaven's sake.
You don't deserve him nor want him. You got him and don't want to have the responsibility of taking care of him any longer. Your 'reasons' for putting him down are not reasons at all, they're the lamest attempts at excuses I've ever seen. Shame on you.
Take him to the humane society or animal shelter. Then never, ever, ever, get another pet because when you get one, you make a committment to care for it no matter what. You're setting a BAD example for your kids by being so callous. (that means uncaring.)
2006-09-14 21:55:42 · answer #4 · answered by Peachy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well i am putting myself out on a limb here. and maybe i may seem a bit frightful. but what about the movie all dogs go to heaven. can you maybe show them the movie and then explain. seems like kids are 2 fold on one hand they seem to have good sense and understand things, and on the other hand they need to be explained things. well just tried to think of something that may help you. think of this as a learning experience for both your kids and you. and peace and blessings to you and your children. your children are very lucky to have such caring parents that think about their feelings so deeply. phat beatz
2006-09-14 21:08:31 · answer #5 · answered by PhatBeatz 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By all means tell them the truth. The dog is sick and will have to go to heaven.
2006-09-14 21:05:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think I would put him down when the kids are in school and tell them the dog died and is in doggie heaven.
2006-09-14 21:00:13 · answer #7 · answered by phoenixheat 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
put the dog down when the kids are at a friends house or in school and get another dog and tell them the other one died.
2006-09-14 21:06:26 · answer #8 · answered by joy 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Ouch...that's going to be a tough one, especially with young kids. I suppose you can sit them down and discuss it, so that they understand, but by no means is it going to be easy...in fact, they'll probably yell, scream, and cry....unless they're unusually mature for their age.
Good luck, I don't envy what you have to do.
2006-09-14 21:01:09 · answer #9 · answered by Shaun 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All dogs go to heaven.
2006-09-14 21:05:06 · answer #10 · answered by waxingtheturtle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋