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  Discussion on Euthanizing and Cremation
Author Message
Member:
stacie

Posted on Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - 10:50 am:

I am sad to say that I feel it is time to put both my horses down. Ben - my Leopard App who I have asked for guidenace so many times before and ya'll have been so kind to help and Dusty - Our Palomino. Ben is getting to the point of pain daily - limping badly and Dusty the same. That I feel it is time to end their pain, it is not fair to keep them alive for my benefit of not wanting to loose them and the sorrow I will feel when they are gone. Can someone please let me know of a crematory towards the NC Coast for them. Someone that can pick up the horses and do the cremation as well preferred - but I can get Equine Express to do this, they did a great job of transporting them to our new home December. Boy it is going to be sad to look out my office window to an empty field......Go out my back door to my truck and not hear them say hello to me. The pain I feel is tremendous and I have not even done anything to them yet. We bought this place at the coast for them.....My husband wanted a small lot and I told him I would not move till we can have them move with us. 8 mo later, I am thinking of this. Am I right in putting them down? They are so sore that I think it will be best. Please help me accept this burden as the right thing to do.
Member:
shanson

Posted on Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - 11:20 am:

Trust your instincts, Stacie. You know these two old guys better than anyone and if you sense that it's time, it probably is. They'll have lots of friends where they're going...including my old timer Pico Joe. He'll welcome them, show them around, and introduce them to all the other old timers that your friends here have loved and let go.
Member:
zarr

Posted on Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - 11:24 am:

Stacie, they will and may have told you when it is time and may already have done so. This is the terrible part of the love we have for all our animals!Can't help with your other question but I do know ABSOLUTELY their spirits will never be far away from you, ever! Cindy
New Member:
rebeccab

Posted on Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - 11:35 am:

Stacie:
I know it is heartbreaking...dogs, cats, horses. They are all our loyal and loving friends. It is hardest to feel loyal to them when we have to make these decisions, but sometimes we have to be their voice and let them be at peace. Sometimes prolonging their life is prolonging their pain. It will get better. I have been there. Who knows, maybe you'll have a new friend in your pasture in a few months. A new friend that is out there waiting for you to take care of them.
Rebecca
Member:
hwood

Posted on Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - 12:14 pm:

Rebecca is right, Stacie. There are always more horses who need love. There is no way to replace the wonderful old friends you have, but you can carry on their legacy and love by investing in some needy horses (Check out Dennis's recent posts on Rescue Horses) if you feel that you need horses to be in your life.

I bet you can check with your Dept. of Ag. to find out about crematoriums for animals. First, though, I'd Google "Crematoriums for Animals" or call a local Humane Society to see if they have a list of folks who perform the service. Can you not bury them on your property there in N.C.?
If you can, a local backhoe owner or excavating business (or farmer) will probably dig a grave for you. Usually, the cost is about $200. Then you can plant a tree on their graves or put up a monument or fountain or something horsey in remembrance.
I've been there, too, Stacie. It's not easy, but the summer is the best time to do it, when the horses are fat and healthy-looking and are happy grazing, and if you've tried the joint supplements and pain meds and the horses are still in pain, I think it is the kindest thing to do for them. I have been with each of mine, (six of them when they got put down, and two mares that I had for over 20 years) and while I was broken-hearted over missing them in my daily life, I believe I did the right thing for them.
Member:
canter

Posted on Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - 12:49 pm:

Stacie,
I'm so very sorry for your pending losses. Euthanizing a beloved animal is always heartbreaking and coming to the decision is agonizing. But, others said it: you know when it's time to let them go with dignity. Find comfort in knowing that they will soon be pain free and at peace and that you have given them wonderful lives.

Your heart will eventually start to heal because you know that you did the right thing.

You may want to check with a University vet school in your area regarding cremation. Here, Michigan State will make arrangement for animals that pass away.

My thoughts are with you~
Fran
Member:
shirl

Posted on Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - 1:48 pm:

Stacy,
You know best and their eyes will tell you the story. Save some mane and tail from them and have jewelry made from it. I did that when my Sierra passed and wear the bracelet almost daily. She was cremated and her ashes scattered on a mountain over looking the San Rafael Valley near Sonoita AZ. My son lives close by, and we visit when we feel the need. He also placed a marker where her ashes lay stating birth and death dates with the heading: "Sierra Spirit Horse".
As others have said, their spirit will always be a part of you and will be close by always.
Prayers for strength to do what's right.
Love, Shirl
Member:
erika

Posted on Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - 7:23 pm:

Stacie,
God bless you for knowing when, and caring enough to be humane.

My vet told me that the local "knacker" can take them to a crematorium. Did you ask your vet? Or ask someone who does animal carcass removal (you can look in the yellow pages). Between them, I bet they'd know.

My condolences on your impending loss. Again, I commend you for your kindness and caring.
Member:
gwen

Posted on Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - 8:29 pm:

I am sorry for what you are going through, Stacie. It must be so tough.
Member:
suzym

Posted on Friday, Jul 27, 2007 - 11:33 am:

I've been there too, Stacie, and it is truly a nightmare. The thing that will pull you through is the knowledge that you fulfilled the hardest responsibility an animal owner will ever face. Not to do so is to let your best friends down just when they need you the most.

Holley is so right - there are other horses that need the love an owner like you can provide. One door closes and another opens.

We are here for you.

Suzy
Member:
stacie

Posted on Friday, Jul 27, 2007 - 2:15 pm:

Thank you everyone for the kind words and hope. I have decided to do this one at the time. The hard ache is too hard for me to bare both at once. So Ben is worse off than Dusty. So I have contacted my vet and awaiting her call back. We have decided to bury him here as some of you recommended and I will plant something on his grave site. I will bury him under the big cedar tree that he rubs his back on every day! Cremation, the only place I was able to find was near NC State and that is over 3 hours from home and it is not fair for him to travel so long to get put down. I will though not be able to bare seeing it. I will say my good-byes and leave our home for awhile. It is going to be so hard on my husband too - he will be actually burying him. A friend will come over to be with him. This will be done next week sometime, so I have this weekend to love him, brush him, make him pretty and remove some mane and tail recommended, but not remove completely so he does have his tail in heaven to make sure I keep him happy. Thank you for all your support. I believe after this heartache horses are not an option for me again. Too much loss to handle. Not like a dog/cat/bird to me, they get deeper in my heart.....Thank you once again - your kind words have helped me understand that I am not alone.
Member:
shirl

Posted on Friday, Jul 27, 2007 - 6:22 pm:

No,my dear you are certainly not alone. So many of us have gone through the thousands of thoughts the accompany something like this. Rest assured, those that have passed await their new herd member and that hole in your heart will remain as will the wonderful love and memories.
Prayers,
Shirl
Member:
lilo

Posted on Friday, Jul 27, 2007 - 6:23 pm:

It is truly the hardest decision we animal owners have to make. A friend I rode with a week ago said: "When we say hello, we also have to be prepared to say good bye". But - if we can end the suffering, that is what we should do.

My thoughts are with you. Every time I hear about someone losing a horse or another cherished animal, it brings back memories of the many special animals we as a family have had to let go. But - we talk about them and keep their memories alive.

Lilo
Member:
suzym

Posted on Saturday, Jul 28, 2007 - 12:04 pm:

Dear Stacie ~

I understand the pain you are feeling, but I do hope you will be able to reconsider your resolve never to own another horse.

As incredibly painful as it was to consider riding another horse, I knew I could never ride DJ again no matter what, and please believe me, the ONLY thing that got me through this loss was to begin bonding with another equine buddy.

It's been 5 years now, and I will never stop missing DJ - he took a part of me with him, and it will remain with him forever - but I can't imagine being able to carry on without my "new" Morgan gelding, Indy.

Just explaining what worked for me.

God bless,
Suzy
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