Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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My retired guide dog had to be put to sleep this afternoon. I feel awful. (self.Blind)
submitted by guitarandbooks
Today was just awful... My 14 year old guide dog had to be put to sleep this afternoon. We knew this was coming at some point in the near future but I still wasn't ready. His health took such a nose dive over the past couple weeks and the vet said that this was the only option that was fair to him at this point because he was in pain and had various problems that effected his vision as well as his mobility among other things.
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I was with him for the whole procedure and he passed away in my arms while I was talking to him. I managed to hold it together until the vet told me she detected no heartbeat and told me that he was gone. Once they left me alone with him I cuddled him and petted him for the next ten minutes while balling my eyes out.
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It was so strange to come home without him and then realize he wasn't in the house waiting for me to get back. This will take some getting used to.
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He was a great guide and a great friend. I hope that staying with him until the very end helped him feel as safe and comforted as possible.
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I was with him for the whole procedure and he passed away in my arms while I was talking to him. I managed to hold it together until the vet told me she detected no heartbeat and told me that he was gone. Once they left me alone with him I cuddled him and petted him for the next ten minutes while balling my eyes out.
​
It was so strange to come home without him and then realize he wasn't in the house waiting for me to get back. This will take some getting used to.
​
He was a great guide and a great friend. I hope that staying with him until the very end helped him feel as safe and comforted as possible.
Intrepid_Pie62 12 points 2y ago
I’m so sorry for your loss. I am not a blind person. I’m an assistive technology specialist and I’ve had four blind co-workers/friends who have had guide dogs. I do understand the amount of extra training that goes into learning how to navigate via a guide dog and the close bond that forms throughout the years. I’ve had 14 different dogs of my own during my life and I’ve always considered it one of the great injustices of life that their lives are so much shorter than ours. Best wishes as you process your grief. I know the feeling of never being able to truly “replace” one of our canine pals, but I hope you already have a new guide dog or will be getting one soon and that your current canine companion will help comfort you.
Best of luck to you.
Best of luck to you.
lardparty 8 points 2y ago
You gave him a good life and thats all any of us can hope for. RIP buddy.
MaRaaAaaaaaaaaaaAa 4 points 2y ago
I'm so sorry for you. I guess you can never be ready for that.
carolineecouture 3 points 2y ago
I'm sorry. I'm sure your being with him and talking to him was a comfort to you both. He sounds like a great dog.
first-nams 3 points 2y ago
I’m so sorry, he sounds like an amazing dog. Losing a dog is truly like losing a member of the family, sending lots of love your way xx
SeptemberJoy 3 points 2y ago
I'm sending you so much love <3 Staying with him helped, there is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that it helped.
I've lost two of mine, was with both of them when they passed.
If you ever need to talk please feel free to message.
I've lost two of mine, was with both of them when they passed.
If you ever need to talk please feel free to message.
guitarandbooks [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Thanks for the comments everybody. I really appreciate it. I'm not used to my four legged friend not being here yet. I imagine that is going to take some time.
spider_lord 2 points 2y ago
I teared up a bit while reading this. I've never had a guide dog, or even a pet, but I'm sorry for your loss.
fjakacrossing 2 points 2y ago
Though I am not blind, and can't speak to the unique bond between a service animal and their human, I can only imagine how painful it must be to lose your dear dog. I do know, or at least feel pretty strongly, that he felt your love up until the very last moment. It takes a special kind of loyalty to be a service dog, and I'd like to believe he died feeling fulfilled, however a dog can, having trained so hard and worked to be the best helper he could be. Much love.
snappydoggie 2 points 2y ago
Oh man, I feel you. My first, retired guide lives with me still. She is 11 years old. I’m not ready and hopefully we have a few more years but I can’t imagine when the time comes. Nobody understands the bond between guide dog and handler except for someone who has been there. Hugs to you.
Blindgamerpl 1 points 2y ago
Oh sad
bondolo 1 points 2y ago
It is a very hard thing to do even when you know you are doing it for the right reasons. I've been there a bunch of times with both my wife's retired guides and foster care dogs. The worst and hardest was a five month old puppy with a congenital problem that was quickly killing him. It doesn't ever get easier to do.
You won't regret your choice especially as time passes. You are right that it will take time to get used to. I still sometimes imagine that my wife's fourth guide is sleeping behind me in my office and she has been gone more than two years.
Dogs, and especially service dogs, enrich our lives so much in large part due to their faithful loving character. You did right by your dog in providing him that safety and comfort up to the end.
My best. I do encourage you to consider getting another dog. Don't let the pain of this loss deprive you of the joy and independence of having a guide.
You won't regret your choice especially as time passes. You are right that it will take time to get used to. I still sometimes imagine that my wife's fourth guide is sleeping behind me in my office and she has been gone more than two years.
Dogs, and especially service dogs, enrich our lives so much in large part due to their faithful loving character. You did right by your dog in providing him that safety and comfort up to the end.
My best. I do encourage you to consider getting another dog. Don't let the pain of this loss deprive you of the joy and independence of having a guide.
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