Preparing kids for dog being PTS

[Cherry321]

Our wonderful lab is really struggling and I think the time has come for her to be PTS. Her back legs have gone and she’s starting to collapse.
I have tried to explain to my 8 year old so he can say goodbye and knows what’s happening and why. Just wondering if anyone has any advice please? I wanted him to know so he can prepare himself and have a bit of time to process it all.
I’d also like to know if anyone has any ideas how to commemorate / remember our dog for the future?
Thanks

Oh no, I`m so sorry . I have always tried to be up front about it with the DC, but gently.

I explained that one of the most important duties you have as a dog owner is stopping their suffering when the time comes, and that however sad it is for us, its not fair or right to keep them alive and suffering just so that we don`t have to say goodbye.
It is the last thing we can do to show our love for them and our gratitude for their many years of love and companionship, and whilst it is the most difficult thing, that is the price we pay for their many years of love and joy.

We have a circular area in our garden with a low dry stone wall around and a bench in the middle, we have planted forget-me-nots surrounding the bench, and each year plant sunflowers too, and we have a sundial with an inscription to commemorate those we have lost. We all built it all, stone wall included, between us when we lost PoleDogSr years ago, and it really helped us grieve.

If space is an issue, a planter with forget-me-nots would be fairly easy to do, and something your DC can help do.

Could you get the vet to come to your house? Then you can all be with her to say goodbye.

Sorry I meant to also say how sorry I am. It must be absolutely heartbreaking for you

There are story books that you can read to your child about loosing a pet.
This may help explain what's happened and that what they are feeling is ok.

I think just explaining gently that he is old and it's his time. That he will live in his heart and memories. Let your son feed him a lovely treat and give him a kiss and then one of you takes him.

Lots of chatting when they want to. Let them lead it. Some children will ask to do a little ceremony and make a memory box with his lead in , a toy and perhaps a homemade card in it.

So sorry for you. It's really tough.

Please spell out what happens - the injection bit .. I screwed up and ds 6 thought ddog was living at the vets! A month after pts he asked why she couldn't come home!! Dealing with my own grief had messed up explaining it properly.. Felt so rubbish twice..

I hate thinking back.... it was a year ago we had to put our dog down.... the night before we all said goodbye, no tv on, we listened to some music my son chose, stroked him for a very long time and just generally sat with him on the carpet, giving cuddles (and crying like hell).
He'd been unwell for a while and I told them before about him probably not making it.

Thankyou all so much.

Some great advice here and I love the idea of forget me nots in the garden.