Yeah… it was definitely time for Sweetie. At least she got to end in a good place with food and comfort and people who loved her.
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Godspeed, ol’ girl. You deserve your rest.
@carman_liz, you done good, lady. Sweetie was at the end of her life no matter what, and ou made sure she exited this world with grace and love. Well done, you.
Your thought about laying beside her but alarming the authorities if you did made me chuckle. Sometimes we have to find the lightness in these moments. When I had to have my heart horse euthanized (broken leg…I’d had him his entire 22 years…saw him born), two things happened that made the moment before he was buried much less traumatic.
I wasn’t allowed to be present when he was euthanized because the vet said due to the nature of his injury (hind leg broken badly in several places…basically hanging), she couldn’t sedate first because he’d lose his balance with the leg like that and struggle. She had to put him down with one shot, and she didn’t want me to see it because the leg was likely to cause him to drop awkwardly. So, I went in the barn with my parents, and once we got the all-clear to come out, Calvin (my boy) was lying quite peacefully, like he was just stretched out in the sun for a nap. He was a horse who laid down and snoozed a lot, and never cared if people were around, so he looked quite “normal” laying there.
Anyway, I went out and kneeled by his head and decided to take his halter off. As I reached for it, he suddenly gave a huge gasp!! It scared the bejeezus out of me!! I looked up at my vet and she was apologizing. She said it was a reflex, that he was definitely gone, but his lungs still contract. She didn’t think he was going to do that because she said he went down really easily. At the time, it really broke the tension, and I have told people about it and laughed over it ever since. Silly Calvin, playing a trick on his mom one last time! But what was really cool about it in retrospect is that I was there when he took his first breath of air as a baby (I remember his little snorts when the sack was pulled off of his face), and I was there when he took his last. I feel so blessed to have experienced those…and all of the wonderful moments in between. He was a once-in-a-lifetime horse.
The other comical thing was that after the last gasp, I spent some time petting him and chatting with the vet about the injury and all of our memories over the years (Calvin could fill a book with his adventures in emergency veterinary care…literally starting from that first breath). As we were chatting and petting and saying goodbye, the neighbor’s kitten was walking all over Calvin, LOL. I kept picking him up and asking him if he could please show a little respect for the dearly departed.
Thank goodness the universe sends us much-needed comic relief. Losing Calvin was one of the hardest things I’ve gone through in my life. I made it through that day okay, but a few days later, once the shock had worn off, I collapsed in my bedroom and cried until I thought I’d either throw up or pass out or both. My world made no sense without him, and when that hit me, it hit hard.
Anyway, bless you for seeing Sweetie safely away. . <3
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My outdoor cat came and sat with me. When my mare went, I had her from the time I was 7 until I was 33, we were about the same age. Anyways, she was only 14.2 and fit in the bobcat scoop so she had a little procession to her spot lol. But when they went to scoop her up, her head hung out and her tongue came out. Her eyes were open. It should have freaked me out but it gave me a slight laugh that she was trying to make me smile one more time looking like those horse head ‘masks’ that people wear lol.
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Godspeed to sweet Sweetie and hugs to her wonderful, caring Mom.
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I’m sorry for your loss but glad you were able to be there for Sweetie in her final days.
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Thank you @carman_liz, just thank you.
How lucky you were dear Sweetie, to know such love, care and peace at the end.
Much love x
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I started to type “so sorry” but I’m so in awe of what a great home you gave her at the end and how lovely you and your daughter are for being so caring, I can’t say that. I think y’all are wonderful. I know it’s hard.
Big hugs for all.
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Ah I was so hoping to see Sweetie get fat and healthy. So this is sad. But I’m sure you made the right decision.
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I’m so sorry for your loss, Sweetie couldn’t land in Better hands than yours 
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I have followed this thread from the beginning and you have brought me to tears more then once. Please take comfort in the fact that you gave her a safe place to land and showed your daughter how to be a caring and compassionate human being. You inspired me and other in so many ways. Hugs to you and everyone else connected to her.
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My face is leaking. I am so sorry!
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