Well anyone that has pets , knows there comes a day if one is sick to do the humane thing, and even though i knew mine had cancer i knew he would let me know when his quality of life got to the point of decision time(oh he was a specialty breed called a Dumbo Rat, not the kind fed to snakes). Well that point came this last Tuesday. The Vet tried to tell me I did the right thing, waited til the right time , etc(but to me it wasn’t right to “put down” something i dearly loved. I Stood there Bawling so bad i couldn’t see.(and didn’t make for much celebrating on my birthday this weekend with all of us sad)
This isn’t the first time I have had to do this with a pet, and am sure being an animal lover (with kids crazy for pets of any kind too) we will be faced with this dilemma again someday. But it never gets any easier , I and my daughter had a cry together, and my husband(big tough man even shed a tear) even dug a huge square hole to fit “Vermin’s aka the Verminator’s 
” shoebox in , resting softly inside his bedding beside my daughters Gerbil’s box and his lil friend “Caramel Creme”.
The Worst part is we will be moving and we have to leave those memories behind, unless we cant sell our house :and rent it , then we may be able to return one day if we decide.
But i ramble, it hit my lil girl worse than me , so if anyone has time to say a quick prayer for her sadness to heal it would be most appreciated.
thanks, Carole aka Grace of Iron Spur Stables 
Carole, I haven’t had to do it with kids involved as my little girl is only 16 weeks old but recently I knew it was time for my old mate ‘Major’
Maj was 13 1/2 years old and a blue cattle dog X He’d been with me through many a good time, different houses etc and he was always there with a wagging tail at the gate when I got home. Unfortunately for him, the mind was still willing but the body failed him.
I actually couldn’t speak when I put him up on that table and the wife had to tell the vet what was required. Still it was the most relaxed I’d seen him in ages as he went to sleep.
I had the old buggar cremated and spread his ashes on the front garden as I figured he spent plenty of time trampling across the wife’s flowers, he may as well help repair them 
Still it’s not the same coming home now.
I can only say it gets easier with time as you will look back with fondness of the good times your pet brought to you and the family.
I’m so sorry to hear you had to make such a tough desicion. Knowing you were right to do it dosn’t make it any easier. I still remember well the loss of my own childhood pets and my heart goes out to your daughter. You have a caring loving family or you wouldn’t feel so much pain. remember this when you have other pets over the years, that every pet you keep and love and cry over is one that did not go to uncaring cruel or neglectful people but spent its life with you and lived a good life.
with love
penny
ty shes feeling better but we all find it strange walking into that room to not see his cage sitting there, its just a big empty spot.
And due to the move overseas, we have two more to find homes for(anyone live near me want a pet rat?) 
, which shes not happy about .