Hi Leanne,
We've been through the same heartbreaking experience with several of our pets over the years. We've always kept them at home and administered pain meds, etc., ourselves right up to the end. We've never had an animal put down. I've had some that died in the night and others that died in my arms and I wouldn't have it any other way. There was even one time that we crushed up several sleeping pills in milk and gave it to our dog with a syringe. He went to sleep and woke up in the Otherworld. As difficult as it to lose a beloved pet (and they all are, aren't they?) it would have been much more difficult to let a stranger do it.
I'm sending you lots of courage, love, and strength energies.
Hugs, Weaver
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In service to the Lady. Take care of the Mother and She will take care of you.
~~ Teach/Learn: <A HREF="http://tolerance.org/">Tolerance.org</A>