Need to put very elderly English Bull Dog to sleep ...

takeitslow911 · Mar 21, 2010

I have an female English Bull dog that I have had for the last 7 years. She was 4 years old when i adopted her through a rescue here in W. MI. She came from a very abusive home where she was kept in a crate for the first 4 years of her life to only be taken out to be breed. Her back legs formed to the crate and she has very bowed back legs, like her front legs are supposed to be. She has had x-rays from a vet to say that her bones just grew in bow form instead of straight. She waddles when she walks. Over the last year she has become almost completely blind and deaf. At times I see her just wandering around like she is "lost". If she was human, I would think she has developed Alzheimers or Demensia. She has started "wetting her bed" at night during this last 2 months also. I know she has been much happier living here with me and my kids for the last 7 years, but I think her time has come and she needs to be put to sleep. I want to do this peacefully and in a vet's office, but I simply have not been able to afford to do that now that I am a single parent with 4 children and not working. Does anyone know of any rescue or a way to fund putting her to sleep with some dignity and not just dropping her off at the animal shelter where she would be put to sleep for free, but then just disposed of like garbage.

bullmama · Mar 21, 2010

I am very sorry to hear this. What town do you live in so maybe we can find a vet or group can help you?

takeitslow911 · Mar 22, 2010

I am in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Bulldogg · Mar 22, 2010

Hi there. I have some news that may not comfort you much.

Even if you take your dog to the vet, he will be put in the garabage just like at the shelter. The best thing you can do is bury him in your yard, if you feel that close to him. So whether it is the shelter or a vet, the results are the same.

Unless you pay a ton to get him cremated, but that is a personal choice.

Hope this information helps you, I am sorry it is probably not what you wanted to hear....

takeitslow911 · Mar 23, 2010

There is a vet over here that charges $40 to put a dog to sleep, then they bury them in mass graves. I just don't have the funds for it. The only thing I have a problem with is that she weighs about 55 lbs, so if I have her put to sleep at the shelter and then bring her home to bury her (which I don't know if they would even let me do, since it is illegal to bury an animal in your yard), I don't know how I would get her home (55 lbs is quite heavy to try to carry on your own, especially dead weight). We had our ferret put to sleep, after 10 years, at the animal shelter and they let us bring her home to bury her, I just don't know if they would let me do it with a larger dog. They only charged $5 to put our ferret to sleep, but it's $35 for our dogs size at the shelter.

hedrickenglishbulldogs · Mar 23, 2010

You own a English bulldog your a Paramedic as I am how do you lift your patience? You can't come up with $40.00 ? I have Emailed you with no responce? You can call me, tell me the name & phone number of the vet I will call them & pay for it. this does not add up? I hope your not in here doing a scam. Mike Hedrick. 715-758-6381 www.hedrickenglishbulldogs.com

rameysbullies · Mar 24, 2010

in addition to what Mike says. you are a medic you have the means to do it peacefully yourself. trust me my husband has almost had to do this for an older pet because the vet wouldnt do it right off and they charged $200.00. i agree with mike

takeitslow911 · Mar 25, 2010

Wow Mike...that was quite harsh to say for someone just asking for a name of a rescue or organization that could help me with my issue. If you read in my first email you would see that I am "not" currently working. That is the reason I am "not" able to afford this right now. I don't feel as if I should have to further discuss my home life with a stranger, just to ask if anyone know's of a name for me, but now I feel as if I have no choice since you are making me out to look like a horrible person. When I was working, as a Paramedic, I was not single and didn't have 4 children to provide for alone as well as all the bills and house payment. Now, I am a single mom with 4 children, no job, and having to pay for everything, keep food on the table, clothes on their backs and gas in the car, and it is making it a little hard. And as far as lifting my patient's ? I was able to lift my patients, but you don't know the reason I am "not" working at this time, so please don't assume things. How do you know it's not because I wasn't injured ? I have not seen any emails from you, just to answer that question of yours.
Rameybullies : You have some nerve to tell me I have the means to "do it peacefully" myself !! I would never use my medical education to do something like that. That is quite wrong in more than one way.
I am sorry I was searching for a rescue or website to help me put my dog to sleep peacefully and had to deal with negative, judgemental people in the process. I was never asking for a "handout" all I was asking for is if someone knew of a rescue in my area (because I can't locate the one I rescued her from), so that I could ask them if they had the funds available to help me. When I first was dealing with the rescue and rescuing dogs myself, there were funds available for all the rescued dogs' shots, vet bills and surgerys, but like I said, I can't seem to locate any of these people.
** I do not "SCAM" people** That is ridiculous !! I would have to be one horrible person to make up a story like mine!!
I hope you feel better now knowing more of my personal business that I don't see as being relivant toward my dogs health issue. Sorry to bother you all.

Bulldogg · Mar 25, 2010

takeitslow911 said:
Wow Mike...that was quite harsh to say for someone just asking for a name of a rescue or organization that could help me with my issue. If you read in my first email you would see that I am "not" currently working. That is the reason I am "not" able to afford this right now. I don't feel as if I should have to further discuss my home life with a stranger, just to ask if anyone know's of a name for me, but now I feel as if I have no choice since you are making me out to look like a horrible person. When I was working, as a Paramedic, I was not single and didn't have 4 children to provide for alone as well as all the bills and house payment. Now, I am a single mom with 4 children, no job, and having to pay for everything, keep food on the table, clothes on their backs and gas in the car, and it is making it a little hard. And as far as lifting my patient's ? I was able to lift my patients, but you don't know the reason I am "not" working at this time, so please don't assume things. How do you know it's not because I wasn't injured ? I have not seen any emails from you, just to answer that question of yours.
Rameybullies : You have some nerve to tell me I have the means to "do it peacefully" myself !! I would never use my medical education to do something like that. That is quite wrong in more than one way.
I am sorry I was searching for a rescue or website to help me put my dog to sleep peacefully and had to deal with negative, judgemental people in the process. I was never asking for a "handout" all I was asking for is if someone knew of a rescue in my area (because I can't locate the one I rescued her from), so that I could ask them if they had the funds available to help me. When I first was dealing with the rescue and rescuing dogs myself, there were funds available for all the rescued dogs' shots, vet bills and surgerys, but like I said, I can't seem to locate any of these people.
** I do not "SCAM" people** That is ridiculous !! I would have to be one horrible person to make up a story like mine!!
I hope you feel better now knowing more of my personal business that I don't see as being relivant toward my dogs health issue. Sorry to bother you all.

I am sorry this topic has taken the path it did. I think while we were trying to help, things got side-tracked. So lets get back on track, we are a good community here and yes, seems that some assumptions have been made. Now that it is clarified, lets get back to helping like we do plz!

Unfortunately, there are scammers out there, especially in the bulldog world. Please forgive this.

We would still love to help you takeitslow911. If you could provide us with the name of the vet you can take your dog to, somehow, some way, we would like to help you in your situation. Hedricks has offered to pay for it as well. You can email me at webmaster@englishbulldognews.com if you do not wish to post in this topic any longer.

hedrickenglishbulldogs · Mar 25, 2010

I offered to help & pay for it If are you for real!!

takeitslow911 · Mar 25, 2010

The name of the vet I use is Coit Animal Clinic. The address is 1958 Coit Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505.
I attached a picture of Coco for you to see her as well.

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bullmama · Mar 25, 2010

Awww bless her. She is still a beautiful lady! Xxoo's

takeitslow911 · Mar 25, 2010

Thank you. She is still very sweet, but she is just getting so old and weak. I wish at times she would just pass peacefully in her sleep, but she holds on everyday.

hedrickenglishbulldogs · Mar 25, 2010

Would you like me to call them?

takeitslow911 · Mar 26, 2010

If you would like to call them and schedule an appointment for her (if you still wanted to pay for this for me), that would be just fine. I am available to go anytime next week on monday,
tuesday or friday between 9am and 3pm or after 4pm. Or if you wanted me to call and set up the appointment and you to call with the payment, I can do that as well. The number for them is (616)363-5530 and it is Dr. Mike Phelps. I can call them to let them know you are going to be calling them as well, just for a heads up for them so they aren't confused as to what is going on or if they need permission from me as Coco's owner to set this kind of appointment up. Just let me know what you think would be best to do.