I think this is the big one actually

[lukkucairi]

This might sound weird, but does Knuckles have an opinion on the subject? Sometimes they do. I've had more than one friend put down an elderly pet, and the pet in question *knew* on some level what was up and went to the vet with an unusual amount of good cheer. I also have a friend whose 18 year old cat spared her the pain of the decision she was weighing by - I kid you not - walking straight out into traffic on a busy road, getting knocked down right in front of my friend's neighbor - so that the neighbor was able to scoop up her body immediately and return it to my friend.

*hugs*

[Klynne]

Originally Posted by lukkucairi

This might sound weird, but does Knuckles have an opinion on the subject? Sometimes they do. I've had more than one friend put down an elderly pet, and the pet in question *knew* on some level what was up and went to the vet with an unusual amount of good cheer. I also have a friend whose 18 year old cat spared her the pain of the decision she was weighing by - I kid you not - walking straight out into traffic on a busy road, getting knocked down right in front of my friend's neighbor - so that the neighbor was able to scoop up her body immediately and return it to my friend.

*hugs*

Thanks for this. The vet said I am doing a great job with him, it is only a matter of time. After he has passed, I am not sure what to do with his body, do I want it, what am I going to do with it? Should I have it. What do I do with it?

[Coffee]

a.
Vets will cremate for a fee and many people take advantage of this low hassle alternative, or
b.
many people, especially families with children (for the "this is death" educational value from losing a pet), take the body home and bury it in a garden pet cemetery perhaps already in place. They might make or buy a small grave marker, perform mini pet funeral, etc, etc as elaborate or simple as one desires, or
c.
a select few will take it to a taxidermist and keep a creepy doppelganger of their dead pet in a corner, or curled in front of a hearth, to gather dust and creeped out comments from their dwindling pool of human friends, or


I went with b. but am lagging on making the head markers because life got busy

[lukkucairi]

Cats are fairly small, so if you live in a place with a yard that has topsoil my personal preference is to plant them. You can even plant a tree on top of them, then you have a Knuckles-tree for however long you live in the house, or however long either you or the tree lasts

[Klynne]

Originally Posted by lukkucairi

Cats are fairly small, so if you live in a place with a yard that has topsoil my personal preference is to plant them. You can even plant a tree on top of them, then you have a Knuckles-tree for however long you live in the house, or however long either you or the tree lasts

I really like this option. You and Coffee think alike. I just had to have a huge tree taken down in my front yard. So, when the time comes, I will bury him in that spot, and plant a new tree. I am finally accepting of this and not crying everytime I think about it. He is still enjoying life, and seems healthy, despite what is going on internally with him.

[Klynne]

Originally Posted by Coffee

a.
Vets will cremate for a fee and many people take advantage of this low hassle alternative, or
b.
many people, especially families with children (for the "this is death" educational value from losing a pet), take the body home and bury it in a garden pet cemetery perhaps already in place. They might make or buy a small grave marker, perform mini pet funeral, etc, etc as elaborate or simple as one desires, or
c.
a select few will take it to a taxidermist and keep a creepy doppelganger of their dead pet in a corner, or curled in front of a hearth, to gather dust and creeped out comments from their dwindling pool of human friends, or


I went with b. but am lagging on making the head markers because life got busy

OMG, c. freaks me out. I don't want to dust Knucks body. And, I want to keep the friends I have. He will be buried in my yard. Like b. very much.