st over two weeks ago, we decided that our beloved Australian Shepherd, Oche, had such diminished quality of life due to a probable brain tumor, dementia, severe arthritis, cataracts and loss of heari... Read More
st over two weeks ago, we decided that our beloved Australian Shepherd, Oche, had such diminished quality of life due to a probable brain tumor, dementia, severe arthritis, cataracts and loss of hearing, that we made the painful decision to have him put to sleep. We made this decision and then scheduled the appointment for the following week to give us time to prepare and to pamper him. We envisioned a peaceful goodbye with him simply "falling to sleep" as we comforted him in his final quiet moments. What actually happened was far different and has left us with deep wounds that will forever haunt us. I don't want anyone else to ever go through this pain, guilt and sense of betrayal. I feel compelled to get the word out that many states, including Florida, DO NOT require sedation prior to the euthanasia process. Our vet evidently does not routinely sedate larger pets prior to the beginning of the procedure. This simply did not occur to us that it would be any other way than peaceful. Instead, Oche panicked at the sudden noise of the razor being turned on to shave his front leg. My husband held him tightly, which further aggravated Oche because of his extreme sensitivity from the arthritis. As the vet attempted to insert the IV, Oche began yelping and howling, frantically trying to get away and snapping and biting at my husband and me as we desperately tried to do what we could to calm him. He tore the IV from his leg, which resulted in bleeding. I will never forget the terror in his eyes as he looked to me for help I couldn't give. Only then did the vet call for his assistant to sedate Oche. Nearly instantly his eyes grew heavy, he calmed down, finally slept, and the IV was readministered and the lethal dose injected. Please read my petition, sign and pass it on. We MUST make euthanasia humane BY LAW - for not only the pet, but for the family they leave behind. We do not regret our decision that Oche's time had come as he had no quality of life lately. We were ready. We thought we were prepared. But how could anyone anticipate such inhumane treatment at a time that was so precious to us, so sacred and so already painful. Euthanasia literally means "good death". Oche's was violent for him and for us. Thank you for taking the time to read and sign my petition - it may not be much ammunition in my fight to change the wording of the Florida Statute, but at the very least it will create awareness that pet owners must ask their vet about sedation and request - no, DEMAND it prior to euthanasia. Read Less