I understand your predicament, OP and it sounds like you are venting here. Two 85 lbs. dogs is a LOT in addition to having two small children. BUT, you have them and you are responsible for them. Pls. do not take them to the pound because nobody will adopt them at their age and in their healthy condition. And it would be extremely sad for them to be separated at this point in their lives. Just try to do the best that you can for them. I know, it is hard and there may come a time in their lives when y ou may have to consider euthanizing them (especially if they are in intolerable pain etc.). But, as long as they seem happy, just do what you can for them. They are happiest in the home that they know.

I am a working mom with two small children and two dogs (12 yrs old and 6 yrs. old). My DH is deployed overseas and we do not have any family here, so I totally understand that you are overwhelmed. I'm right there with you, but I love my dogs a lot and I would not give them away. The 12 years old also has hip dysplasia and he is on pain meds and also a daily eye treatment. The younger one is still fairly healthy. They are good dogs, not perfect, but good and loving and they love being with us. It totally sucks having to walk them twice a day and clean up after their shedded hair etc. But they are part of our family and once DH is back, it'll be easier again. Until then, I just deal.

Hang' in there!

I feel for you OP. I love dogs and love my dog in particular. She's almost seven and over the years has had some health issues that I have willingly paid for. I want her to be happy and comfortable. But now she has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia and -- though she doesn't need it now -- will probably need surgery sometime down the road. It wil eb aroud $5000 and honestly, I can't imagine doing it. But I don't want her to be in pain and I don't want her to be put to sleep.

OP here. Thanks for correcting me on crepid -- not sure where that came from?! but good for a laugh and easy to search, I guess.

As for the dogs - they are mixed breed, about 85 lbs each, and over ten years -- brothers from the same litter.

The one with hip displaysia was diagnaosed at eight years; the anxious one became that way when our daughter was born two years ago and now that we have an infant in the family he follows me everywhere and needs constant assurance which I try to accommodate but the two year old saying "mama, mama" every three seconds and the three month old fussing, it's hard to really focus on the dogs...

I had the anxious one on meds but they ran out and like I said, at this point in time (extended unemployment) I cannot afford hefty vet bills.

Yes, I love them, but at this point and time in my life,to be perfectly honest, they are not my priority and I feel extremely sad and guilty about that. FWIW I have a family member who is my same age with four dogs and no children and they are extremely well cared for...hence my guilt.

Thank you for the responses. I am not going to do anything immediately but yes, this is in the back of my mind. I type this with the anxious one hovering at my feet and the three month old in my arms.

Anonymous wrote:I like "crepid".

Me too. And it a dog. In the wild it would have died of starvation when the pack abandoned it. Dogs live in the present--they won't know a thing if you just take them to a Vet in a poorer neighborhood and have them put down. It's a dog, sheeple.

Anonymous wrote:Horrible. I hope one day your children don't want to "transition" past you because you are "crepid" (sic). This may sound extreme, but they are your dogs and your responsibility. Period.

She's trying to be responsible. Just because she's considering options that don't you don't approve of, does not make her irresponsible. Give her a break and try having a little perspective. If you want to help, consider adopting her two dogs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No where does the OP say their quality of life is poor. She wants permission to euthanize them because they are inconvenient.

Agree! And OP - my dogs both died at 18 yrs old, so 10yrs is not that old.
Poor animals, being euthanized b/c you just can't be bothered anymore.

It depends on the breed and size. Larger breeds don't live as long. So, yes, 10 is geriatric for most dogs.

Anonymous wrote:I have two dogs, mutts from the same litter, both are ten years old. I have a two year old and a four month old. One dog has hip displaysia (sp) , the other is extremely anxious and follows me everywhere and won't leave me alone (bless his heart) -- we call him our CCTV. In my weakest/darkest moments I consider taking the dogs to the pound and/or to my vet to just have them put down because I don't feel I am giving them the life they deserve but doubt anyone would adopt them. I don't even know if my vet do this - or how to approach the issue. They are getting older, I haven't taken them to the vet since the LO was born due to finances -- every time I go it's $$ and I'm constantly fighting off the feeling of not doing enough for my pets. My DH is not a dog lover so he does nothing for them and consistently complains about the cost to go to the vet (hence I haven't taken them in for over a year). Gah. I feel terrible and conflicted. I am in NOVA FWIW so not an outlyer... in terms of expense... I guess I feel bad that I want to transition past the dogs but don't know how without taking responsibility for "killing" them.

What a rough place to be in OP. It is obvious you love your dogs. I think you need to do what is best for your family as a whole. Your kids come first ahead of animals and if you don't have the finances, you don't have them. Maybe someone could take them. I don't think you are a bad person at all OP, I feel for you.

Anonymous wrote: I feel bad that I want to transition past the dogs but don't know how without taking responsibility for "killing" them.

You need to feel bad and own that guilt & responsibility because you are killing them. No quotations needed.

Horrible. I hope one day your children don't want to "transition" past you because you are "crepid" (sic). This may sound extreme, but they are your dogs and your responsibility. Period.

Anonymous wrote:No where does the OP say their quality of life is poor. She wants permission to euthanize them because they are inconvenient.

Agree! And OP - my dogs both died at 18 yrs old, so 10yrs is not that old.
Poor animals, being euthanized b/c you just can't be bothered anymore.

I have a rescue dog who we saved from a kill shelter because he was old and someone dumped him there and he was running out of time. Nobody wanted him because he looked ancient. Hell, he WAS ancient. Now he's even MORE ancient, and he pees on the rug sometimes and he's totally deaf but he's sweet and he's innocent and he did not ask to become an old dog that nobody wanted. It's your responsibility to care for these dogs because you chose to get them in the first place.

I like "crepid".

Anonymous wrote:OP, your dogs would like to live out their days with you and the babies. They are happy. If they weren't happy, you would know. If you have to assist your dog in getting up or down, then it may be near the end, but as long as your dog is mobile and independent there is no problem. When they pass or when it is time to put them down, please don't get new pets.

I second this. My DW is bothered by our two dogs, and would give them away to loving friends or relatives, but would never kill them. OP, please only put them down when their time ones. You will be better off for it ten years from now when you can proudly tell yourself hat you were strong through tough times, and did the right thing.

Anonymous wrote:p.s. 20:48 again. you CANNOT take these guys to the pound. no one will adopt them. they will be put to death there, but without the love, smells, and comfort of the person they identify as central to their lives. much, much kinder to go to a vet and hear what the options are, treat any pain that is being experienced, and say goodbye in a loving way.

Completely agree. You (and the kids) are part of their pack.

The dog with anxiety and follows you everywhere - did that start when the newborn came along?

We had a geriatric beagle when DD#2 was born (DD#1 just turned 2) so I understand how tricky it is to juggle two small children and a needy dog. We put our dog to rest when we started noticing the quality of life diminish. Until then, I became really good at multitasking with both dog and children underfoot.

This makes me sad, too. I had an old and sick dog when my oldest was 3 and pregnant with my youngest. That dog lived with us for 7 years before kids came along and we felt an enormous responsibility to give him a good quality of life. We definitely went above and beyond to make sure he was comfortable. Did I feel resentful? Sometimes. Did I wish we never got him? Sometimes. But overwhelmingly, I just felt pure love and then sadness when we finally decided to euthanize. The timing happened to work out b/c it would have been hell to have a lame dog to walk in the winter with a newborn but we would have done anything to keep him around if he weren't in pain. OP, I am sorry your husband does not help...I can understand that if this were different you might not feel as you do.

Please investigate other options? Try to get someone to adopt them. What about rescue organizations? What are the breeds?