How do I talk my Dad into putting his dog to sleep?

Okay this is the situation. My Mom passed away a little over two years ago. Her dog Tiffy is a Pug and she was my Mom's baby. The problem is she is 14 years old now and in terrible shape. She is deaf, blind and crippled with arthritis. This poor baby just cries all the time. It is very clear she is suffering. I have tried to talk to Dad about it. I even offered to take her for him. He refuses. I think he doesn't want to do it because she is my Mom's dog. The thing is I love her too that is why I want to end her suffering. I don't know what to do. Any suggestions?

 

awww, that is just heart breaking.
i can see why he would be holding onto the dog though. it's his last or only companion now that his wife is gone, so the dog obviously holds a lot of sentimental value to him. he sees it as something she left behind for him to care for, i think it would be really hard to convince him to let her go even if it would be in the dogs best interest. maybe if you had a long talk with him about how the dog is only suffering and offered to buy him another dog? an adult pug or other small dog from a rescue group maybe, so that he could still have a companion and wouldn't feel lonely.

 

Maybe suggest to him that you rmom wouldn't have wanted the dog to suffer? Or have the vet talk to him? What a hard situation!!

 

I had a neighbor who had a beagle that belonged to his wife...the poor poor dog it was blind, deaf covered with sores - it was horrible watching the dog just trying to get around. But like your dad this dog belonged to this man's wife and he couldn't bear to part with it.

The dog was primarily white and one winter he fell into a snow embankment and couldn't get out!!!! A friend of the elderly gent found the dog the next day and somehow the dog managed to survive the night (could no longer bark it was so old).

To make a long story short this elderly gent's son and wife moved in with him to help him get by and the son finally just took the dog to the vet and had the dog mercifully put to sleep - they told the man the dog must have wandered off and died.

 

Oh that is sso sad, your story and the beagle story. I don'T think he wants topart with the dog he is probably very lonely. It wouldn'T be right to lie about it, maybe the vet could convince him. I don't think a new dog would be good (whether old or young) because he has grown very used to and attached to this dog and a new one just might not be good.
Good Luck

 

Oh, I'm so sorry.. that's such a difficult situation :cry:

The others have given great advice and I agree. Hopefully the vet will talk to him or you can convince him that your mother wouldn't want to see her dog suffer... good luck.

 

Awe, that is so sad...I can understand your dad not wanting to part with the dog. I hope you are able to talk him into it. Best wishes.

 

Thank you all for the advice and encouragement. This is very difficult for me. You see I was 16 years old when we got her. The movie Milo and Oatis had just come out and us kids desided we wanted a Pug. We begged and pleaded with Mom and Dad and finally they agreed if we paid for her. It took my two sisters and I quite awhile to save that money but we did and we went and got Tiffy. She is a wonderful little baby and I love her but I don't want to see her suffer any more. My Dad is 71 years old and he and my Mom were married almost 38 years. He misses her so much and so do I. I know that is why he doesn't want to do it and I understand. My Mom loved Tiffy and she would not want her to suffer. I believe my Mom is waiting for her. I have tried talking to him but it's a very touchy subject. I would love to get him another dog but he says he doesn't want one. He still has my Mom's cat Reggie so I think he could give him some comfort. I never even thought about talking to the vet. I will do that. That is a good idea. I would never lie and do it behind his back. That would break his heart. Thanks again.

 

I just also want to add my best wishes for you, the dog and your father. I cannot imagine what he is going through and maybe you could find him of other ways to remember your mother. Maybe if you are able to convince him a nice grave with a headstone for the dog. He can go there and visit as often as he likes. That way he will still have the dog near him if you know what I mean.

 

Thank you 4Dogsihave. That is so sweet of you. I have suggested to him that we burry her next to my Mom. The cemetary allows that for a small fee. I think they belong together and Dad does like the idea.

 

Thats great that they will allow that. That would be really nice. I have seen some really nice headstones for dogs as well, so you could get her a nice one. Then he can visit them both together.

 

Maybe you could make sort of a tribute first - like a collage of photos or something - and then after the dog has passed on, keep her tags with it is well.

 

This post was hard for me to read, because I lost my Mom two years ago also.
Their dog seemed lost for the longest time, would run around to Mom's side of the car looking for her when Dad came home.
I really don't know how to advise you, as I can understand that losing the dog will remind him of, and bring back, a lot of the pain he went through when he lost your Mom. I went through those same feelings when I had to put my 12 1/2 yr old lab to sleep in April, when she suddenly collapsed. It just reminded me too much of when my Mom was dying.....BUT....I called the vet and had them come out to put her down, because I knew she didn't want to suffer anymore.
It's a very sad situation.. :cry: I wish you the best in your decisions.

 

Thank you MollysMom. I am so sorry about your Mom. I know how you feel. It is so nice to know there are people who understand what I am going through. I love my Mom and I love Tiffy. I also love Dad. That is why it is so hard for me to tell him he should put her down. Anyway thanks again for caring. It meens so much to me.

 

Mix Breed lover i wish you the best of luck my mom had a toy poodle one time and she got him when i was 10 years old he lived a very long time i grew up and moved out (i'm the youngest) and she still had him i think i was about 20 and the poor thing couldnt hear or see smelled to high heaven (i would give him a bath every day didnt help) i took me about a year to convience my mom that he was suffering and it killed me to take him to put him to sleep but i knew it had to happen. about 6 years later i bought her another dog since she lived by herself i thought it would help her get better (she has emphazima) (sp) but it just made more work for her so we had to give the dog away but now she lives with me and i have a ton of pets for her to take care of while i'm at work lol

i'm sorry you have to go thru this i know it's very hard i will be thinking of you and your family