Sad and in need of advice

[stressyspaghetti]

Hi all,

I've posted on here once before and once again life is kicking me around like a football and I need help. My family (mum, sister, and I) adopted a beautiful puppy about 6 months ago. He has had health issues all his life but we have pushed through and sought treatment. SO far, his treatment has cost about 6K and we are a lower middle class family and cant afford this, but we love him so mum has picked up extra shifts ect. Recently his condition has gotten worse and the vet told us "euthanasia wouldnt be unkind". We either pay 7K (which is money we dont have) for a temporary fix or put him down. I love this dog more than anything, I dont have friends due to some people i was once friends with hating me and spreading bad lies and so forth. This year i spent my birthday alone with him (the puppy), and he is genuinely the best dog in the world. However, since he is in pain all the time i understand what we need to do. I'm not sure im ready to let him go though, and since my mother told me i have been heartbroken.

I don't know how to get on with life. I dont want to kill myself, i just want to stop existing for a little while. It sounds stupid and it's not all about the puppy but it just feels like everything is going from bad to worse. I just wish i could fix all these problems.

If anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated!

[Croix]

Dear Stressyspaghetti~

The fact your puppy is so ill and you are faced wiht this decision is truly horrible. I feel for you having been in similar situation last year, with one called Zeppelin Dog, she got cancer and was in pain. Zeppelin helped make a house into a home, agitated to go for walks, slept with the cats and always had her tail up happy.

We could have just afforded to let her have an operation, but there was little point, she would have been on chemo - no sort of life I'm afraid.

We are all the guardians and protectors of our dogs, cats and other pets. It is a price we pay in exchange for love and a wider, happier life. My wife and I had to decide if keeping her alive in real pain and discomfort with no possibility of anything else was the way to go.

I guess you and your mum have to decide what is the best way to be puppy's guardian and protector, irrespective of you own feelings. I remember that you and your mum did not have the best of relationships, with her picking up those extra shifts perhaps she has more heart than you might have imagined. It may be a way of the pair of you getting closer.

Seeing those 'wellbeing-monitors' frankly sounds a waste of time and their lack of skill and empathy simply makes you loose faith in the system. Not all medical professionals are like that -in fact most are pretty good.

Can I suggest you web-chat or ring one of two pretty good places? The first is the

Kids Help Line (1800 55 1800)
https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens
-who you can talk with more than once. They are experienced, professional and actually care. The other is

Headspace, which again is pretty excellent
https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/
Where you can talk or web-chat.

It is no hassle, they are there for people like you.

Your life is not easy, we really would like it if you kept on talking with us

Croix

[Quercus]

Hi stressyspaghetti,

Croix said it all really... We are guardians and protectors. Sometimes that means making decisions that are painful.

Although it is so hard to admit finances have to be considered too. You are not alone in being unable to afford treatment for your pup. Not long ago we chose to put our K9 family member to sleep. He was much older but the fact remains that we did not have the money for a hospital stay for him.

Do I regret it? Yes. But the harsh reality is that in that moment we did what we were able to. What was within our means was pain relief and our love and attention as he passed away.

It doesn't mean we loved him any less.

Whatever you decide this is as always a safe place to talk about this.

Nat