It’s a hard question, it’s and emotional question, its the dreaded question. 

When I walked in the door I heard a thunk. It was Berkeley laying by the door as he always does when everyone leaves the house. I was visiting my adopted family because mom was in the hospital awaiting surgery for fractured L4/L5. Berkeley is their 14 year old Cockerpoo that is deaf, blind, and has diabetes. 

Animals are like family members and the thought of having to put him down is just something that the family is avoiding at all cost. Meanwhile, IMHO Berkeley suffers. Of course I say suffer but in reality I don’t think anyone knows what he feels but from what I can see it can’t be fun. 

He bumps into walls. He wears a diaper. He poops on the floor. He struggles to walk in the tile floor. He has to get shots twice a day, eye drops, ear drops. If that isn’t suffering I am not sure what that is. In addition, they spend money for the pampers, they spend money for the diabetes drug, they have to dog proof the house so he doesn’t fall down the steps or pee and poop on the carpets. 

Why do we desire to hold on for so long? Watching animals and even humans endure this kind of situation baffles me. Yes putting an animal down can be emotional but it’s the right thing to do right? 

If you were in this situation what would you do?