I think it should be a personal decision....

• assisted suicide - letsTalk
  • my thought is that it shouldn't even be called - ()
  • I think it should be a personal decision.... - Agree
  • Don't agree? Then don't do it. - MGM
  • Completely FOR it. We give that comfort and dignity to - -(sm)- Topaz
  • to not allow someone to end their suffering is messed up. - nm
    • Ethics - MTinMI

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and there is literally no one in my "real life" I can go to about it.

I just found out (by accident actually) that my husband has been cheating on me online, regularly visiting a couple of girls' websites with their pics, webcams, etc.

Here's the thing: I don't want to put up with this sh*t and I don't feel I have to. We've been married for less than 2 years. I don't have any kids. I'm still young (25). I have a good education and I can make enough money to support myself.

I feel like going out somewhere to think. Maybe spend the night in a hotel to get my head straight and figure out my next move. Please offer some advice.

I'm so sorry you are going through this.  As an owner of almost all senior animals, it's something I have faced before and will soon have to face again and I dread it.  I wish there was something I could say to comfort you. 

Personally, if an animal in my care is showing signs of pain or distress, if there's something I can do to end that, I'm going to do it.  If it's a pill or treatment I can give them and I know it's doing no further harm, and it's financially feasable for me to do, I'll do it.  However, if the treatment is traumatizing or out of my league financially, I have to find some comfort in knowing I did the best that I could for them, for as long as I could, and now it's my duty to do what I believe is the right thing and end their suffering.  And you know what, it sucks.

I truly believe the animals tell us when they are done, and no one knows your animals like you do.  Cats though, they can be tough.  So many of them are so stoic and sadly when they are really hurting they just tend to disappear off somewhere to die, especially if they can go outside. 

I can't tell you what to do, only what I would do, which would be to go the euthanasia route and try to find some comfort in the fact that I was able to be strong for them and be there for them when they really needed me the most.   Don't go alone, have someone drive you if you can, and don't be afraid to hold your cat just as you always would.  In your arms, next to your heart, is where the love is and they know that.  I wish you well in this agonizing time. 

((((((hugs))))) --Kathy

Putting down an animal is never easy.  We have lost two of our fur kids to illness, one just this past February.  His was a sudden illness and completely unexpected, and when the time came when the vet knew it was almost over, we went ahead and had him put to sleep so that he would not be suffering any more.  I was able to hold him when the vet gave him the shot.  It was so peaceful and so quick, and I was shocked.  I had this horrible image in my head of what it would be like, and it was the complete opposite. (Our other fur kid had been put to sleep immediately after surgery, so we had never seen the process).

I don't beleive you are trying to 'kill' a healthy pet.  It sounds like the poor guy is suffering, and dogs I think try to "hang in there" more so than cats.  Here is my opinion, for what it is worth.  If he is still able to go to the bathroom and get around a bit, if he is still eating, then use this time to get her used to the idea.  Talk to her plainly and tell her that he is coming to an end of his time here, and that for her to hold on to him is cruel.  She needs to be aware of how he is really feeling, and pay attention if he tries to tell her.  I'm not really saying this well, but I hope you get what I am trying to say.  I understand your mom's position - the thought of losing someone else is extremely painful to her, and hey, we all avoid pain as much as possible.  However, when she made a commitment to the dog, part of that commitment was making sure that when he was not able to be comfortable, healthy and happy any longer, she would take the steps to make sure he had as easy a passage to whatever lies beyond this life as possible.  Something else she may be worried about is the whole process of putting him to sleep.  If you have a good vet, and it sounds like you do, they will be able to guide her through this. 

Also, let her know that she will not be alone during/after this, and make sure that someone is there with her for support. 

It is a difficult situation for everyone concerned, and you have my heartfelt sympathy.  I hope that what I've said here helps you.  Good luck in whatever happens, and God bless. 

I work for a wonderful company, have been there for about 5-6 years, except I worked out a pool and the work comes in about 5:00 p.m.  I get up every morning at 4:30 or 5:00 a.m., ready to work.  The problem is the other MTs have stayed up all night and have completed ALL of the work and I'm left with stragglers, maybe 200 lines per day. I cannot work at night becaue of other commitments.  I also work for another MTSO but their platform has so many steps just to get a report completed until it's frustrating, BUT it pays the same as the other company, but only every two weeks.  I'm not sure what I want to do, continue to fight to get lines every morning or just go through the 99,000 steps to get a report typed.

Any suggestions....!!!!

My mom lives alone and is nearing retirement.  Although I live out of state, my sister is very close by and has a good relationship with my mom.  My mom is very close with her grandkids.  In the last 15 years my mom has been through immense family loss and in the last 5 years the sudden loss of 2 pets due to medical conditions.  She has a new cat and a dog (used to be mine but she was attached and wanted me to leave him behind for her).  He is a large dog, 10 years old, and having multiple medical problems.  He has a number of lumps and bumps, hip problems to the point where he has injections and won't walk on the kitchen floor any longer.  He does not indicate he is in pain other than his actions.  But I don't think he would wimper or cry as he is a very well behaved and trained dog.  My sister and I have been trying to talk to my mom about the possibility of making "the humane decision" for him or atleast preparing for it.  All she will say is that SHE is "not ready yet."  The vet has told her that his hip and spine problems are painful and that's what the shots are for.  Nothing can be corrected and the vet will not evaluation his lumps because of his age and other problems.  To further complicate the matter, he is a large dog.  I have tried to explain to her that should something happen with him in her home there is no one to help her get him into the car.  My BIL has recently had medical problems himself and is in no condition to be lifting a 100 lb dog off the floor.  I am sure we could call on a family friend but I know my mom and she wouldn't want to "bother" anyone.

My questions is...has anyone else been through this?  I don't want to convince my mom to do something she is not ready for but at the same time I don't want the dog to suffer either.  Any ideas of an unconventional approach to getting her to think of him and not herself?  I really feel she just doesn't want to feel any more loss and that is why she is holding on.

I would think long and hard about it if I was younger and could have cesarean, but the Doc took care of that aspect years ago.

The dramatic increase is probably because the money is good and because they need the money. I think the price used to be a lot higher when this trend started back in the ྂs or ྌs. Like all things, it's the rule of supply and demand.

against pit bulls in particular.  I think all dogs can be dangerous given different circumstances.  I don't think it is right to single out a particular breed and just take away an animal from its home without just cause.

However, my elderly mother, who suffers from MS, has been plagued by horrible neighbors with many dogs.  They do not keep their dogs in their own yard.  Not only do they tear out my mother's trash, but they use her back yard as their own personal bathroom.  Their one dog bit their own daughter and nothing was done.  They are always barking at us when we are in my mother's yard.  I had one come at me and I picked up a shovel that was thankfully near me to protect myself if the dog continued it advance.  Their little dog frequently gets under my mother's feet and her balance is not good due to her age and medical issues.  We have called the Humane Society and they will do nothing. 

I personally think that people should have a right to shoot any dog on their property that shouldn't be there.  If it weren't for getting in trouble for animal cruelty, I would have shot any or all of the neighbor's dogs in my mom's yard.  A 60-some, widowed woman with health problems has no rights to keep destructive, mean dogs off of her property but hey....don't shoot a dog or you will get fined and maybe even jail time.  Sad when a mut as more rights than my mom.

Any irresponsible owner shouldn't have a dog no matter what breed.  I will get off of my soap box now.  LOL.

How is the economy crisis effecting you?
Your budget, your retirement, your family, your FRIENDS families.

How is it effecting the circle you run with? Do you discuss this with family or friends?

It is effecting my family. The gas thing alone is cutting our budget! My youngest started college and is driving back and forth. I've called my aunt who lives close to the school and asked if he could stay with her a few nights a week to save gas money. The drive for him one way is 1 hour. It has already saved us $$$. The fact that he can't find a job isn't helping either. There are no jobs for young people. Even in fast food!

Food prices have effected what we eat! Have you priced CHEESE lately? A 2 cup packages of shredded cheese cost more than a gallon of milk! Food has gotten outrageous.

We have our primary home and we have a small cabin that we go to on weekends. Our primary home is paid for and has been but we do have a mortgage on our cabin. LUCKILY and by the grace of God, we are in a fixed rate situation but it's still difficult. Did we spread ourselves to thin? Sometimes it is tough but we budget and try to be careful with what we spend. Our payment is nowhere near the $1500 per month mortgages people are talking about - and at that price point with an adjustable RATE - I don't know how people are living.

Also lucky that we do not have credit card debt. I've read where the CC companys are raising limits to increase spending while increasing the payment interest as well? I see more and more credit cards being used at the grocery store.

It's all just very scarey for me.

We have some friends who are building their dream home. They have worked and saved for 15 years. The economy is blessing them in some ways since there are a lot of people looking for work but hurt them in others as the price of materials skyrockets!

Does anyone have any personal experience with subcutaneous lipomas?   I have one the size of an egg in my left lower quadrant and the doctor says it must come out pretty quick; thinks it is attached to the muscle so open surgery is in my future.  Anycomments or anything about it?   I sure would appreciate it!

mom:  I am in my 40s and grew up back in the old days when discipline for kids in school and at home was okay; however, methods used then are now taboo.  It looks like *traditional* discipline (which I feel was not necessarily always sensible) has been replaced with an either hands-off approach (due to fear of lawsuits, retaliation, etc.) or extreme measures, as described in the above post. This brings to mind the question:  How much more effective are we these days with these approaches? 

I feel for kids these days as well as future generations - looks like they'll have their hands full, if society continues this way.

a lot of the people you hear bragging about their refunds are those on some form of public assistance or single parents who are getting the earned income credit.  Although I think you can get an advance on this, most do not. 

Personally, I like to get around $2000 back for the year.  I know I could be saving that on my own, but it's not always that easy.  If it were in my account, I'd probably end up spending it.  The small amount of interest I'd make on it for the year wouldn't be worth the stress of having to save it.

I haven't done my taxes yet this year because they're probably going to be a mess.  We lost our house in a fire in October and were underinsured.  Now we have to file some sort of tax deduction for that.  It'll probably be more paperwork than it's worth, but we'll see.