The Original American Chopper Fan Forum, and the new, and Original Orange County Choppers on CMT Fan Forum

Thats too bad. I hated what they put Gus through, I sure hope he put him down early and Marty didnt need a basket to walk around too.

I've always found it troubling the extreme personification Sr and perhaps to lesser degree Jr assign their pets. I've had my share of dog's over the years and understand the attachment you develop through years of companionship, but I always understood they would live a short time, you put them down when appropriate and move on. The whole Gus Tribute Dinner episode seemed particularly awkward given Sr's lack of connection with the actual humans in his family at the time. Not that I have plans to tune in but hopefully Sr doesn't squander one of his eight CMT spots mourning another dog.

Joyce, should you speak with Paul, please extend our condolences with regards to the loss of Marty.

 

Some alternative thought on whether (or not) to remain with your animal friend during their last moments.

Spoiler

The gentleman who used to own the cabin next to mine, in north central Pennsylvania, was a retired veterinarian. I considered him to be one of my best friends, and one of the most knowledgeable persons whom I have ever had the pleasure to have known.

Jack had a small clinic at his cabin, and would usually provide services on weekends, to allow the two vets local to the area some time off. He advised most of the "owners" of the pets which required euthanasia during those times "not to witness the event", but instead to say a meaningful goodbye, then return for whatever conclusion was previously decided/arranged. (retrieval and burial, burial by the vet-tech on premises, or cremation) On more than one occasion, my cellphone would ring, and Jack would ask that I come over to assist with a "human in grief".

It seems that in dogs especially, they sensed the sadness/hesitation/desperation in their "owner", making for a more difficult procedure. Jack used a two step procedure, where he first sedated the animal with ketamine (in the owners presence, if requested), followed by the administration of pentobarbital, the agent used to euthanize the animal.

His insight changed my thinking considerably, as the one time that it was necessary for one of our pets to be "put to sleep", the vet which we used did not allow the owner to be present during the procedure. I thought this to be quite inhumane, almost barbaric, not to be with an animal whose presence had meant so much, and to "desert" them when they needed us the most. I had remarked to my then wife, that I would have brought the necessary materials from the O.R. had I known that we wouldn't be allowed to be in attendance.

I did not realize that the owner's presence made it more difficult for many animals to comfortably "pass"....