It's not a contest. Pets - whatever they are - can frequently occupy a special place in your life. Losing something or someone you love and care about is sad. Period.

Indeed, I had a pet Beta Fish named 'Theoden' and I loved him for like 2 or 3 years. I was real sad and heart broken when he died. It doesnt matter what size or type it is, if you love it, it's like a part of you dies with it.

Damnit, why did someone have to bring in an emotional fish-death? I was gonna joke about all those gold fishes I've had over the years that have diead, without it really bothering me all too much.

My condolences to both Wingus and Tallest, on the loss of your pets.

My kitty is 11. Post made me sad.
Sorry you had to go through this.

My condolences to both of you, wingus and The Tallest, just reading your experiences made me choke in sadness.

I guess I still don't know what really is like to be there when a pet (or a loved one for that matter) passes away, other than something being wrong with me when as a not-so-kid I saw a backswimmer bug I kept in a vase suddenly going limp and me starting to weep a river (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notonectidae, I'm sure they can reach your emotional side)... I'm still made fun of that to this day, and while it may sound cynic, I find it funny too that the death of an insect afflicted me so deeply.

I have a 16 year old cat who is all bone, skin, and disturbing but otherwise harmless fat tissue lumps. Despite his worn and old appearance he is healthy and active so far, but I know any day from now his final decline will start and just thinking about that is quite painful, so I try to cherish the time I spend with him. I just hope I'll be strong enough to do what must be done when his time comes, just like you.

Put down controller.

Curl up in ball on floor.

Try not to cry.

Cry a lot.

That's so sad, dude. D:

Well today is the day. At least my daughter was home last weekend to see him.

If you didn't know him you wouldn't really know anything was wrong. Outside of one side of his jaw being swollen he seems fine, but I can tell he is in a lot of pain. He can barely eat, can't yawn, doesn't sleep well and isn't interested in going outside.

In 4 hours the vet is coming to my house to put him down. What a weird feeling.

This thread is heartbreaking, sorry to hear about your losses Wingus and Tallest. It's good you guys are talking about it, though.

I lost my dog Ellie two months ago, a couple days after she'd turned 13. We had to put her to sleep because of numerous health issues, the main one being a horribly broken leg as the result of an osteosarcoma (the tumor weakened her bones tremendously). Her femur was literally broken in two pieces, and she could no longer walk on her own, which was horrible being such a large Labrador. The vet said the break could've happened from normal pressure on the leg. She also suffered from epilectic seizures and had arthritis. Putting her to sleep and watching her head drop from the injection has to be the saddest day of my life yet. It was so fast. She was surrounded by family though and looked happy to have us all there, since she was very affectionate and loved to have people around.