Luck winds down

[stillsostrange]

I had to have a cat euthanized tonight. Not one of my cats, but this doesn't make me feel a whole lot better.

I pulled out of the bookstore tonight to run errands, and immediately saw a cat lying in the road, moving. He didn't move when I hopped out, but was alert. He let me touch him, and then scoop him up and put him in the car. Luckily, there's an emergency clinic close to the store, so I headed there. At first he seemed so calm, but he finally got annoyed when I stopped to double-check directions, and I could see his back legs weren't functional. I was hoping it was only a broken leg, but when I took him into the clinic I could feel that something wasn't right.

It turned out his pelvis had been shattered, with nerve damage. The vet, who was very nice, was reluctant to recommend surgery, since even after an expensive reconstruction she couldn't give me good odds he'd ever have used his legs again. So I petted him and told him how nice he was and signed the form.

I know it's pretty amazing that I've lived to the age of 31 without having to sign that form before, or witness it done. I've had a long lucky streak with animals, of taking in strays with easily fixable problems, finding homes--or, in the case of the several who've died, of not having to make a decision about it.

He was a very nice cat. I'm glad he didn't die alone on a cold road, but that isn't really a lot of glad at all, in the end.

Comments

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you had to go through that, but I'm glad he didn't die alone.

[orcaarrow.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you needed to do it. I am VERY glad you were strong enough to do it.

[saoba.livejournal.com]

Sometimes doing the right thing sucks.

I've taken badly injured strays in and signed the form and it hurts.

[galeni.livejournal.com]

I've had to do it once, for my own Flinx. Thank you for helping this one. I'm sure Bast thanks you, too.

[ammitnox.livejournal.com]

I am glad there are good people like you in the world.

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

Thank you for doing that for him. It's a horrible thing, and it hurts like fuck, but still.

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

Poor thing. Thank you for being able to do that.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

None of us want there to be situations where all we can be is a kind voice and soft hands at the end. But since there are those, you stepped up to this one. It's too bad that knowing you did the right thing isn't more comforting, but you did. It made a difference, even if not the difference we all would have wished for.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I'm glad you were there to help and comfort him. But it's very sad and I'm sorry.

[michaeldthomas.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry.

[marthawells.livejournal.com]

Even when you know it's the absolutely right decision and there's no other choice, it's a horrible thing to have to go through.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry...the decision doesn't get easier, not even after the first time. ::sending good thoughts::

[pjthompson]

I'm sorry you had to do it. It's always tough. But I'm filled with admiration that you took him off the street and did the right thing.

[lassarina]

I am so sorry. E-hugs, for what they're worth =/ And I'm glad that someone at least...made it quicker, and petted him.

[baka-kit.livejournal.com]

(((hugs)))

[jmeadows.livejournal.com]

I'm glad he wasn't alone, too, and that he had a few good moments with you at the end. Most people would have left him.