Can't bear it any longer!!!

[millimoo]

Pointless post..... but getting quite upset,

Nearly every day I walk in my local park.
There is a man who drives to the park in a van, pulls a ramp down and assists his old labrador out the back.

It breaks my heart to see this dog, as it's crippled in it's elbows and hips to the point it half shuffles to the grass and lies down whilst he walks his other dog.
It's so bad that he can't even move his back legs i.e he has to move both back legs together in a kind of small hop, but with the pain in his elbows he really struggles.

He lies on the grass panting (suggests pain to me), and tries to get up for other dogs but it's a huge effort.

The owner can't stand me as he overheard me having a conversation with someone that he really should be PTS (Not one of my finest moments, but didn't realise at the time is was his dog)

I know it's none of my business, and I can't interfere, I just wish there was something I could do as it breaks my heart seeing this dog.

I know he loves him in his own way, and the lab perks up when he returns from him ball throwing for his other dog, but it breaks my heart..... I just can't understand how anyone who loves their dog would allow it to suffer so much - I know I couldn't do it to my lab.

 

[BBH]

Its a desperate situation but on the other hand I can't condone someone wanting to hold onto their dog, it will kill me when mine goes and I hope that when the time comes I will be strong enough to do the right thing by him.

I wouldn't wish to comment further because we don't really know the whole story, the dog may be stiff etc but that comes to all of us.

 

[Goya]

It seems as though he is doing his best in that he has a ramp for the dog, but I can understand your point. It is only us, as the owner,who can make that decision. I am dreading it, but as stated by LHS, I hope and pray I am strong enough to do the right thing.
One of my dearest friends has had to make that awful decision twice in the past week with 2 of her oldies. Bless her, she is heartbroken. Even though she has other dogs it still leaves a gaping hole.

 

[millimoo]

I agree with you both..... hence the 'pointless post' comment.
I do however appreciate your comments.
As an animal lover (a sensible & realistic one) I find it heartbreaking that the dog is so crippled it literally moves from the van to the grass and lies down - i.e because it can't walk.
It isn't just stiffness, it's crippled so badly, he has huge elbows and his legs are pointing the wrong way he's so knackered bless him. He has a hunched back and his back end is even worse.
And don't get me wrong, the guy clearly loves him and is doing his best by him, and he is an old dog and wags his tail when his owner approaches to take him home. Just find the whole thing very upsetting.

 

[prosefullstop]

I would find that really upsetting, too. My neighbour has an elderly Chow mix who needs help getting up these days (the owner uses a cloth device around the hips, and once the dog is hoisted to stand she is totally fine--walks for 30 mins, no pain, no problems). This lady knows the time is getting close, however, and I know she'll make the right decision when the dog can no longer walk at all.

When my precious Stella no longer wants to chase balls, walk, or play, I will do what's best, much as it will kill me.

 

[CorvusCorax]

That would upset me too

There's stiff and there's unable to walk.
When me and OH were in the Isle of Man last year, we went to a funday in Peel and there was a man dragging around this poor, elderly, obese lab, hips were completely gone, it could only walk a few steps then had to stop and he was dragging it along.
I was really annoyed but OH told me not to stick my nose in.

Sorry, as a big dog owner, I feel that if and when they lose their mobility then it is time for us to let them go.
My mum kept one of our bitches far too long and she has never forgiven herself. The first time our next female was unable to get up without struggling, at 14, we called the vet.
She had given us her everything and we owed it to her not to let her suffer - we can understand why we are old and in pain, dogs cannot.