Hayley hangs up her Red Anorak

[Glen1]

I don't understand why you think it's cruel to let an animal live if it's ill. All you have to do is give them love and care and medical support during that time like you would a person. Obviously it is of great cost and time when you take this option which I would take each time.

As regards pets .quality of life has been the deciding factor in our dogs needing to be put to sleep. In every case our dogs were off their legs hardly able to get up ,we could tell by the way they looked at us what needed to be done. For all
of them the vet was asked about options . costs and time didn't enter into it, having them put to sleep was the only way to relieve their suffering . Imo. where a person is suffering from a terminal illness they should have the right to decide
their time of passing and be given support to fulfil that wish without having to travel to Geneva on a one way ticket.

[alan45]

I watched my sister die from ovarian cancer and would not wish it upon my worst enemy. Yes she was connected to a syringe driver but she was still in pain. We knew there was no hop or cure for her and prayed that she would be taken quickly. This was not for our benefit but for hers. I believe in persons having a right to die with dignity and provided they have the mental capacity to make the decision it should be a right.

As for the poster who said that sick animals should not be put down I'm glad he/she does not look after any animal belonging to me. I am an animal lover and would not want to see any animal suffer needles pain. I had my last dog put down because he had no quality of life any more and even though it almost killed my wife and I we are both glad we made the decision.

[alan45]

I watched my sister die from ovarian cancer and would not wish it upon my worst enemy. Yes she was connected to a syringe driver but she was still in pain. We knew there was no hop or cure for her and prayed that she would be taken quickly. This was not for our benefit but for hers. I believe in persons having a right to die with dignity and provided they have the mental capacity to make the decision it should be a right.

As for the poster who said that sick animals should not be put down I'm glad he/she does not look after any animal belonging to me. I am an animal lover and would not want to see any animal suffer needles pain. I had my last dog put down because he had no quality of life any more and even though it almost killed my wife and I we are both glad we made the decision.

[GloriaW]

I have a good imagination and they did show Hayley struggling to drink the concoction and pushing Roy away when he wanted to take the glass away ... no need to see all the gory details after she managed to drink all.
I certainly would never think that this is an easy option for anyone

UK soaps never show any gory details anyway so no surprise there. What I do not like is that they showed it as a viable option. Hoping they show the full aftrermath of what a suicide can result in. And don't get me wrong, I have had it in my own family but for different reasons, not a terminal illness. The point is many times those left behind after a suicide suffer their own torments of hell.

In the case of a drawn out terminal illness it certainly makes more sense. Been there also with my own mother and death would have been a mercy but we can thank today's technology for the types of prolonged agonizing deaths we often encounter. In previous eras people didn't have to linger so long and suffer.

[GloriaW]

So you'd keep them alive regardless.?

Animals hide pain to prevent them showing their weaknesses, so as a responsible pet owner you have to know when to make harsh decisions

I've always deplored pet owners who just can't release their pets from their suffering because it's too painful for THEM to make the decision. I was able to do it for my dog but had to watch my mother suffer worse then they'd allow an animal to.

[Dazzle]

No but I want a world devoid of unnecessary suffering and of free choice

Thank you for summing up my feelings so well, Sarah. I've had several beloved animals put down when they were terminally ill and suffering. It was a very hard decision, and one I only made for their benefit. No, animals can't decide, but we, as their loving owners, have to decide for them. Suffering terribly is hell on earth.

[Ruffed_lemur]

I don't understand why you think it's cruel to let an animal live if it's ill. All you have to do is give them love and care and medical support during that time like you would a person. Obviously it is of great cost and time when you take this option which I would take each time.

I totally agree with you, and it's nice to find someone who feels like this.

I'm not sure I could cope with killing, and I feel that animals cope with pain much better than people. When they've had enough they simply die on their own. It's good if they can do this in their home with a loved one(s).

[Dazzle]

I'm not sure I could cope with killing, and I feel that animals cope with pain much better than people. When they've had enough they simply die on their own. It's good if they can do this in their home with a loved one(s).

When I've put my animals down, it hasn't been about what I want or can cope with, it's been about ending their suffering. Pain is pain and we all have the same nervous systems. I really pity the animals of people who won't put them to sleep when they're dying in agony

[GloriaW]

Thank you for summing up my feelings so well, Sarah. I've had several beloved animals put down when they were terminally ill and suffering. It was a very hard decision, and one I only made for their benefit. No, animals can't decide, but we, as their loving owners, have to decide for them. Suffering terribly is hell on earth.



I've also suffered the suicide of a loved one (due to mental illness) and it's tormented me for 20 years. I still support their right to take their own life if quality of life is insupportable to them and medicine can't help.

I understand Daz. Each case is different. Certainly with animals the water isn't as muddy. For those that are terminal and face a prolonged agonizing death it makes the most sense. If someone is mentally unstable then it's hardly a rational choice on their part. In my family it was a young alcoholic who mistakenly felt all the trouble he was causing his loved ones would stop if he was gone. Not so and he left them with guilt (suicide almost always leaves that legacy), depression and mental anguish. I would support euthanasia when quality of life is gone though, so we're on the same page there.

[GloriaW]

Thank you for summing up my feelings so well, Sarah. I've had several beloved animals put down when they were terminally ill and suffering. It was a very hard decision, and one I only made for their benefit. No, animals can't decide, but we, as their loving owners, have to decide for them. Suffering terribly is hell on earth.



I've also suffered the suicide of a loved one (due to mental illness) and it's tormented me for 20 years. I still support their right to take their own life if quality of life is insupportable to them and medicine can't help.

I understand Daz. Each case is different. Certainly with animals the water isn't as muddy. For those that are terminal and face a prolonged agonizing death it makes the most sense. If someone is mentally unstable then it's hardly a rational choice on their part. In my family it was a young alcoholic who mistakenly felt all the trouble he was causing his loved ones would stop if he was gone. Not so and he left them with guilt (suicide almost always leaves that legacy), depression and mental anguish. I would support euthanasia when quality of life is gone though, so we're on the same page there.