I recently had to put our dog down, he was very sick, brain tumor, he would be fine one minute and then crazy the next.
I sent my wife to her mums for the weekend and arranged everything, got a tablet to knock him out as he hated the vets and i wanted everything to be calm. The plan was to give him the tablet, carry him to the vets, in and out, no stress or worry, they would have him cremated and bring the urn round.
Needless to say the tablet did not work, he had a bad fit and went mad. All i wanted was a peaceful goodbye and he attacked and tried to kill anything that got in his way, including me and at the vets. He was so scared and for 30 minutes he was like a rabid dog.
Any way the vet finally gave him the first calming injection, he calmed down and i held him in my arms. The vet then pushed the second needle into his collar and at that moment he opened his eyes, licked the side of my face and died peacefully in his sleep.
It took the vet 10 minutes to get me out, i cried like a baby and refused to let them take him away. He advised me not to drive. So i sat in my car and cried for half an hour. Got some very weird looks from the locals;-)
I got home and called the wife, i lied to her. Told her it was wonderful and peaceful, i told her that i carried him to the vets almost unconscious.
I have had a few dogs in my time but have to say i never thought it would have that effect on me. I even called my mum and cried down the phone.
I want another but not sure i will for a few years... the wife actually puts him in the garden when the suns out. Every time i hear her tell the story of how peaceful he died i get a lump in my throat.
Best dog i ever had.