((((Jilli and Pete)))) It's an impossible decision to make without second-guessing yourself. For what it's worth, it would have been a greater disservice to Tzepesh to ask him to suffer.

Jilli, you go ahead and rant. It has been a shitastic year for you and too many others here. I saw how Pete feels about having made the choice and I know that there's no changing his mind and you know, he's damned well entitled to feel anyway he wants to, but you all did the right, most humane thing you could have done. It makes it no less heartbreaking but you made the choice to not allow Tzepesh to suffer any more. And no one could have given him a better more loving home.

Gud, if you're about, you go ahead and rant, too.

Fred, you've been dealing with more than enough of this as well.

And smonster, sweetie, we got your back as well.

I can't stand that people who work so hard and feel so deeply and are just so good keep getting shit on. Fuck off, Universe-- leave Buffista Island alone already.

Oh, Jilli, so hard. And I know it was absolutely the right thing to do, but I know that it's impossible for Pete to know that.

And Fred Pete, I'm so sorry.

he feels like he betrayed Tzepesh's trust by making the choice to let him go.

I've needed to read a lot about losing a pet in the past couple of months, and one thing that gets repeated is that people who feel like they could/should have done more are the people who already have done everything possible (in other words, the people who were shitty pet owners were NOT the ones thinking they could have done more). I'd guess this is the case with Pete and Tzepesh. It feels like a betrayal, but it's not. Which is easy to say, but hard to believe.

I'm so sorry for you and Pete, Jilli. This is so hard, and SUCH a shitty year.

And I totally missed Fred Pete's post. I'm so sorry about Victor. God, it's so hard.

My brother still feels that way about his dog, too.

he feels like he betrayed Tzepesh's trust by making the choice to let him go.

In my little cat, Pookie's, last days I was following her down the hall one day and watched her give herself a little shake and knock herself over because she had gotten so frail. I felt like the most selfish jerk for keeping her alive that way because I couldn't bear to lose her. I don't share to be all mememe, but just to say that really no matter where you fall on the too soon/too late spectrum, you will always feel like hell, and it always sucks. I hope Pete (and you) feels much better soon. {{{Pete & Jilli}}}

Fred, sorry for your loss as well. I know you did everything you could. Much peace to you.

When Mouse died, Hubby hated himself because he'd been telling himself over and over that Mouse was getting better while I was quietly thinking that Mouse was fading away. And Hubby felt he'd made Mouse's last weeks harder than they had to be by hanging on to hope that wasn't there.

The big guys are softies, and when they get hit, they get hit hard.

Gud, smonster, I'm so upset and verschimmlt on your behalf. I urgently hope good things for both of you, and very soon.

Jilli, I'm dreadfully sorry for you, and even moreso for Pete. You guys did absolutely everything you could for Tzepesh, including letting him go when his life was more burden than his little body could support any longer. It always hurts us, even when it's the best thing for them. All my wishes for comfort and ease, for both of you.

Fred, I'm so very sorry about Victor. You and Hubs were the absolute best things to ever have happened in his short life, and you made it a wonderful life while you had him. Again, the choice to let go is always a painfully hard one for the folks left behind. But all too often it's the most generous and loving one for them. You guys are in my thoughts of ease and comfort, too.

Zen, I hope you're feeling better. Seska, you too.

And the rest of you. Do I need to come out there with blankets and cups of tea?