How to tell dc that our dog is being put to sleep

[LegionOfDoom]

Our beloved dog is being put to sleep tomorrow. He’s 11 years old and I have had him since he was a week old, before all the children. Obviously, I’m devastated but I don’t want him to suffer anymore and know it’s the best for him. He has had the best life we could give him and been spoilt by all of us. A lot of our days out revolve around taking kids/dogs to the park, going to dog shows, kids and dogs swimming in the lake. Our dogs are a huge party of our family.

I don’t know how to break the news to the kids (8, 6 and 3). 8 year old in particular is very close with him and I know it will be a huge loss for them. They’ve never had anyone close to them die so I have no idea how to explain it.

Has anyone been in this situation an have any ideas on the best way to break the news. They will be upset either way, I just want to make it as easy as possible for them.

My old Burmese was PTS when my DD was 7 - he had cancer which she knew about and she knew he would either just not wake up one day or might get so poorly the vet would give him an injection to stop his heart so he’d suffer no more - as it was when the time came I asked if she wanted to be there , she said yes , so we took said cat and kid to the vet - vet was marvellous and gave her a little piece of his fur ( cat not vets ) as a keepsake - am not suggesting for a moment your kids are there but personally i take the view that explained on a level they can understand kids accept death .

@LegionOfDoom thinking of you today , I know it is going to be hard but you know that you are doing the right thing

I too would not say he’s been put to sleep. That would be your choice in their eyes. My DM did the same, although dog was just badly behaved. I remember walking with her to the vet, felt like walking to the gas chamber. I never forgave her.

Hugs to you op. We had our dog put to sleep a few weeks ago so i feel your pain.

Our dd was just about to turn 5, we told her that our dog was too poorly and the vets couldn’t make her better again so she was going to have some medicine to stop her heart. We were very factual about it but she did have some scary ideas about what was going to happen so we talked through everything in as child friendly way as possible.

The one thing she made me promise is that I’d stay with her. We also told her that after a little while she’d be coming home as a special dust and that we needed to think of somewhere super special to put her.

It’s not easy and they all react differently. Wishing you so much strength today and remember, it’s better a day too soon that a day too late.

My old Burmese was PTS when my DD was 7 - he had cancer which she knew about and she knew he would either just not wake up one day or might get so poorly the vet would give him an injection to stop his heart so he’d suffer no more - as it was when the time came I asked if she wanted to be there , she said yes , so we took said cat and kid to the vet - vet was marvellous and gave her a little piece of his fur ( cat not vets ) as a keepsake - am not suggesting for a moment your kids are there but personally i take the view that explained on a level they can understand kids accept death .