Claire I'm so sorry to hear that it's so bleak for Zimba. I think you're right not to put her through an operation. Enjoy spoiling her rotten for the time you have left together.

I know this is morbid and forgive me if I upset you. Think about what you're going to do with her after she's passed away. You'll probably be too upset to think about it when the time comes, but I've known lots of people do stuff they've regretted afterwards. I actually took my last dog to the pet crematorium in person and waited for her ashes (she had an individual one). It really helped me to deal with it and the people were lovely - she couldn't have been treated with more respect and dignity had she been a human.

Clare, I'm so sad for you.  Zimba won't know what lies ahead so try and take some strength and courage from that.   Enjoy the next couple of weeks just cuddling and loving her and letting her do exactly what she wants, when she wants.  You'll hurt inside but treasure these moments.  We don't always get the opportunity to do extra special things before it's time to say goodbye - you have that chance and in time will be grateful for it.

Bless you both.  Teri xxx

  

Well, Zimba wasn't good at lunchtime, she was on the laminate, and couldn't get up.  I helped her and she wagged her tail, and had something to eat.  I knew that it wasn't time yet.

She sat on the sofa, and I pottered around, when I came back in the lounge, I called her and she didn't look up. Her eyes were sad, and her belly swollen. 

I have phoned the vet, and he is coming round Wednesday. 

The awful thing is, I can't afford to have her personally cremated, and my parents are away (where all my other pets are - they have their own Rainbow Bridge area in their garden).  So am really quite distraught about having her cremated with others. 

I can't think straight at the moment, I just cry everytime I think of it.  Everyone tells me I am doing the best thing for her, and it is because I love her that I am doing this.  So why doesn't it feel like it? 

I just feel like crap.  I feel I have signed her death warrant.  I feel my heart has been ripped out. 

So sorry to hear about Zimba :( I've just caught up with this thread and I have tears in my eyes as I type.

You are doing the right thing for her. It's a horrible decision to make but you are doing it because you love her and because you don't want her to suffer.

Try to think of it as a final act of love that you can do for her and make the most of the short time you have with her.

My thoughts are with you.

Only just caught up with this thread. I am SO so sorry. :( Sending many hugs. So wish it had been a better outcome.

Sending you and Zimba Reiki healing to help you through this hard time.
I've pm'd you.

Lynne

If you haven't a garden of your own, have you any friends nearby who would let you put Zimba there?  We have our oldies in our little orchard, and its so comforting to know they are in a way still with us.

Unfortunately no friends with gardens big enough (we all live pretty town central) and my mum said that they have foxes by them, and their garden is full of flint, so not practical to bury her there. 

I think I shall have to let the vet take her, I really don't want to, but don't have any choice. 

My mum said that it won't be zimba he is taking, just her body.  But it just doesn't feel right to me.

I feel awful.

I know what you mean - I took my first dog to the vets and I felt like grabbing the syringe off him as he did it even though I knew it was the only right thing to do. She went peacefully as I held her and there are far worse ways to go. The funny thing is I didn't want her ashes at all. But Phoebe, the last dog I lost, I needed her ashes as months later I'm still not ready to let her go.

Have a word with your vet as many have contracts with the pet crematoriums. We had the cat done individually via the vets at the same place I took Phoebe. It took a few weeks to get them back so the vet might not want all the money up front if you have a good relationship with him? Worth asking anyway. Steer clear of ones that give you token ashes back as that's just a scoop from the communal cremation and you might as well not bother.

Don't kno what to suggest but do agree with your Mum Zimba will be gone it is just a body. Don't know who said this but it's true. "The best place to bury a dog is in your heart"

Thinking of you

Anne

When Dilita was PTS last year, I didn't tell my parents, until I was at the vets and decided to let her RIP.  My mum wasn't very happy (about having her PTS) but we agreed that she would go back their house and we buried her where the pond was at that time in the front garden (there were no fish in there!).

I just felt that I wanted her to stay near me and to be somewhere where she was happy.  Hopefully it will be a long time before the house is sold so I will remember her there for many years yet to come.
I didn't want her to come back to my house as it doesn't have great memories for me or her and I can't see me staying there forever!