The "just can't do it again" aspect of pet ownership

Our 9 year old 130 pound Alaskan Malamute is slowing down quickly over the past 6 months. I'm not sure he will last until his 10th birthday in October but he still gets around okay. He's just getting where getting up is an effort for him. He'll still run and play with the younger dogs occasionally. It's going to be really hard for me when his time comes but it's been that way with every dog I have ever had. Some worse than others. I love big dogs but don't know if I'll ever have another one. I don't have the sasquatch-strength I used to have and as we age a big dog could trip us up easier than a smaller one. I will have at least one dog as long as possible but in my heart I can't imagine having to make them start another life with someone else when our time comes. We don't have or know anyone who would take them and give them a good home and that breaks my heart. I have had dogs my entire life and can't imagine a life without one but that decision will have to be made in the next few years. I'm 65 now and still in very good health but that can change quickly and when it does I don't want my dog(s) to pay the price by uprooting their lives. I love them too much to do that to them.

I need to put Gracie down tomorrow, the at home vet is coming. 13.75 years with 12 of that with me, that’s really good for a Greyhound. I’m going to miss her horribly but no more pets.

Sorry HD.

I feel for you HD. That is SO hard.

Condolences and thanks for giving her a great life.

Thanks everyone. It was hard, but needed. I got her ashes back yesterday, and they will go on the shelf with the other dog’s.

I still listen for her. I think that will happen for a long time since I don’t have any dogs left to distract me.

The grief can be unbearable. When we put down the dog previous to the last it felt like the power was out in the house when I came home. I learned it's a good idea to change environment for a bit after such an event. Go on a vacation, visit family, anything to break the routine of the "pack".

I’ve always been a dog person and my first, that came into my life when I was four years old, was buried behind my parent’s garage when I was eighteen. I stayed away from dog ownership until I purchased a puppy for my ex-wife that came with me after the divorce, and because of always traveling playing with bands, ended up being my mother’s favorite pet (but always considered to be my dog). It was painful when he was “put to sleep” because of old age in ‘95 and I think I didn’t want to go through that again. I had thought about buying a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy, but no, I’m not doing that heartache again. Incidentally, my mother loved my dog so much, per her wishes, his ashes were buried with her when she passed away two years ago.

Sorry for your loss HD -- most everyone on this thread knows exactly how you are feeling.