No amount of soul searching, grieving, rationalizing or any other technique will make easy the chore of deciding to do away with a faithful pet. Health, family circumstances, and the expenses of doctoring a chronically ill or senile dog all must come into account.

When you have raised a dog from puppyhood, stayed up with him those first infant nights, carried him anxiously to the vet for his shots or de-worming, you become almost as attached to him as you are to your own flesh and blood. When he stood by faithfully, taking the ups and downs of the household along with everybody else, but never complaining, never making any demands, he has earned his right to be treated with humane respect.

Yet, eventually we have to give him up, if not naturally, then with a little help from us. Sentimental as I am, I nevertheless take the stand that a firm decision to "have the dog put to sleep" is sometimes for the best.

Every care should be taken to make this unpleasant time as trauma free as possible for everyone concerned. Especially for the small children of the family. They should be first made aware that their pet is old, sick, and suffering and could go at any time. This should be explained in such a way that no guilt is felt by the children, or so they can't draw comparisons with their own life. ("If I get sick I might die in my sleep," or "Grandma is old and feeble, she should die.") It should be freely and honestly discussed and accepted as a part of life that animals can not live as long as humans.

When the opportunity is right, the dog should be removed from the home when the children aren't around, so that they will in no way participate in the gruesome business. When the children return home, they will have to be told that today you—the parent —took the dog to the vet, and there, the dog peacefully and painlessly died in his sleep.
If children persist in knowing all the facts, you will have to be truthful but careful: In a special room at the kennel where this is done, the vet gave your dog some special medication that helped him sleep. He was very comfortable and in a deep sleep, free of pain and suffering. While he was asleep, and feeling no pain, the vet administered a stronger chemical which completely deadened his nervous system so that he could not wake up again. Avoid using the word "shot" or "medicine," so as not to plant fears in children. You can say, "We call this 'Euthanasia'," as children often are impressed by the official sound of big words.

Then it certainly doesn't hurt, and will help everyone in the house, to have a good cry and talk about the fine times had with the dog. Sometimes children like to conduct a mock funeral or memorial service to act out their grief. They should feel free to express themselves, as this helps to alleviate any unsettling anxieties to which they might cling.

Later, when the time is right, another pet may be brought into the home, with the children helping with the planning, selection, and preparation. Some families choose to purchase another puppy before the old one is taken away, in order to make the transition smoother. In the meantime, if the parents feel it's not the right time for renewed dog ownership, each child may be allowed to choose his own smaller pet as com pensation, such as gerbils or tropical fish. Another temporary solution is to "baby sit" for pets of friends. No matter how you handle it, when a dog has been loved and cared for by your family for years, his loss is deeply felt by all.
Margaret Samuelsen