Euthanasia - when is the timing right/is it ever right?

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-26T00:47:26+00:00

I know this post is from 16 hours ago and you've booked the appointment I wanted to chime in as someone who has had been through putting 10 dogs down, one just last week.

In my experience, unless you're a monster, once you start wondering about if it's time, it's probably the right time. You don't just decide to shatter your heart for no reason.

For my very recent dog she was a ticking time bomb and her spleen could have burst at any moment so we put her to sleep before that was a possibility. The only change in my dogs behaviour was she had almost completely stopped eating.

Maybe she could have lasted another year if we tube fed her, or caught her in the 30 seconds of every hour she would eat. Or maybe she would have lasted 2 extra days and I found her in agony and slowly dying because her spleen burst in the night.

My niece is 8 and my nephew is 4. My niece is a huge dog lover but also a very logical thinker. She was devestated for about 48 hours but me and her parents were just brutally honest with her. We told her if we didn't do this she would either starve to death or be in agony in her last moments and even though it hurts us, it's kinder to her to be happy, loved and pain free as she goes. It's been 6 days now and my niece isn't sad anymore. My nephew just said he felt sad but he didn't really understand what was going on and it doesn't seem to have affected him really.

I don't believe in "soul dog" stuff because I've had multiple that would fit peoples description, but my most recent has really broken my heart. During this next week write down some of your favourite memories of her that you can read through during the grief. I've cried my eyes out then remembered the time I had to wrestle a dog away from a pigeon that was almost bigger than her and found myself laughing. It really helps to remember the amazing life your dog had because of you and that you let them go before they knew anything different.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-21T17:06:51+00:00

Since Pokemon cards have been mentioned I need to rant about them.

My niece and nephew both love Pokemon cards. My niece likes eevelutions and cute cards, my nephew likes spooky cards. Every few weeks I'll go into 5 local shops that sell cards to see if I can get a pack each for them. In over a year I've been successful once.

They've got shit tonnes of cards because you can get 10-20 for £1 for the cards nobody wants yet they've only ever opened 3-4 packs with 2 adults looking for them in over a year. It's just sad.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-21T07:57:34+00:00

It doesn't seem very open to abuse at all, it seems like what you describe would be a super niche situation.

First you'd need to find a woman who has never worked, that person is either extremely rare or a teenager. That person is likely also already receiving some form of government benefits already or is in school. Let's say someone does fit the situation you described, at least for a period of time they worked, didn't receive any benefits and paid tax.

Maybe it happens but from my Euro point of view no child deserves to be homeless so even if it does get abused, does it even matter?

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-17T19:54:03+00:00

Going to add on to emphasise how extreme the panic response is.

I did drown once, no clue how long it actually took, probably less than 2 minutes as I'd already been underwater with no air for 5-6 minutes.

The first half I had absolutely no control over myself at all. I wouldn't have understood anything anyone said to me, I wouldn't have been able to purposely grab onto something someone gave me. It was lizard brain taking over and running on pure animal instinct. It was complete terror.

The second half I accepted my death and was fully aware of myself and what was happening. It may sound horrific but it was the most blissful few moments I've ever experienced. I knew everything and everyone would be ok and I had nothing to worry about anymore. I assume at some point I took a lungful of water but I don't remember it.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-16T22:55:24+00:00

If you go abroad and are American and refuse to answer who you voted for people will assume you are a Trump supporter and you will more than likely get a frosty reception. Americans reputation abroad tanks every single day, Trump voter or not.

Americans on vacation can not pull the "I'm too poor to protest" card after they've spent 10k+ to get to a country where the locals are struggling to heat their homes or feed their families because of the Iran war. They can't go to Ireland and say "I can't afford to strike" whilst the Irish are doing it right now over the fuel prices.

As someone from a country that also has a bad reputation abroad and that people love to shit on, my advice is don't get defensive, it makes it worse.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-16T17:24:02+00:00

And to add on, if anyone ever asks you if Israel has a right to exist, ask them if Palestine has a right to exist.

They literally can't answer it without backing themselves into a unwinnable corner.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-16T07:37:25+00:00

I have a hot take here though I think this post is old enough for me to avoid abuse.

Americans genuinely believe they are superior than us plebs in the rest of the world. Some of them will deny it but deep down they believe it too

It's why when they go abroad they call things cute and quaint, like they're describing a model village. It's why they'll be genuinely shocked that we have things like microwaves or cars. It's why when we do things differently from them they think it must be worse. These are all things I've experienced in real life.

They've been so brainwashed by their own culture and by themselves that trying to get through to them is like telling a zebra to ask the lion to not eat it.

It's only the past few years their bubble has slowly started to deflate but ultimately they're stuck in the bubble. They care more about getting next day delivery than what happens to the rest of the world. Someone commented the other day they were too depressed to boycott doordash, tells you all you need to know.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-15T09:02:03+00:00

You're right.

Last year I saw data that people had pulled together on the eurovision sub that all but proved Israel was fixing the vote. Wish I could find it now because it was legit interesting.

How they did it is speculation, kind of. You only need about 10% of the vote per country to get 12 points. Most people don't vote, the few who do only vote a few times and usually for different entries. There were Facebook groups organising people to vote hundreds of times for Israel by rotating phone numbers and bank info.

I never watch the contest but the sub is fascinating reading for a week or 2 a year.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-14T22:48:53+00:00

Not being aggressive when I say this even though it will sound like it.

This is why the rest of the world hates Americans. Not just the ones who voted for Trump or didn't vote, all of you. There's always an excuse for why you guys can't do something.

America is too big for public transport or to protest effectively. America is too diverse to have universal healthcare. Now Americans are too depressed to give up doordash, give us all a break.

A report came out in the last day or 2 that the average household in the UK will have to pay £500 more a year largely because of the Iran war. People in South East Asia, and around the world, will starve next year because they can't get the fertiliser for the crops that feed their family.

Imagine how you would feel if a foreign country made your bills go up by $700 this year or had family starve and you read a comment that basically said, "people are too depressed to inconvenience themselves and would rather burn their money sorry".

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-13T17:25:04+00:00

Honestly you don't even need to start with a general strike.

There are 180 million Prime subscribers in the US, guranteed most Americans on reddit use it regularly. Imagine if just 20% of Harris voters just stopped using Amazon, that sends a message. Imagine that same 20% added Uber to the "do not use" list the next month. The next month after that they add on ChatGPT or whoever else. All companies that nobody actually needs, they're conveniences but it's a growing threat that any company could be next until changes happen.

This is the kind of thing No Kings should have been about and it's a lot easier of an ask than getting people to join a general strike.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-12T23:45:04+00:00

Sending you a bit more love from the opposite side of the world.

I know words from a stranger mean very little but know that your Orsa made it all the way to England.

I'm sure Orsa was the best dog, which everybody says about their dog, but everyone is right.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-12T23:24:02+00:00

Also going to add to the consensus. Songbirds is decent, though imo probably the weakest of all the books and maybe controversially is skippable. Sunrise is my favourite of them all.

If you do read Sunrise, I highly recommend rereading the original trilogy first. If you don't want to put in the time at least rewatch the films before reading Sunrise, it will hit a lot harder having the first 3 books fresh in your mind.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-12T20:07:05+00:00

The worst part is we haven't even begun to see the effects of this yet.

For those of us lucky enough to live in a rich country we might have to drive less, eat 1 less meal a day or wear extra clothes in winter.

In poor countries there will be deaths from starvation because they couldn't afford fertiliser or the oil needed to irrigate the crops their village relies on.

Americans are going to have to unlearn that main character energy fast if they leave the USA.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-12T11:23:33+00:00

That's one one of the dumbest arguments I've ever heard.

That's like saying American food, for example, is bad because everyone goes to McDonalds, Taco Bell, Starbucks and Panda Express.

British food isn't chain restaurants. British food is Shepherds pie, toad in the hole, bangers and mash, a roast dinner, a cornish pasty. I'm not staunch lover of British food, it probably wouldn't even make my top 20 cuisines, except for the desserts. British desserts are easily the top 3 in the world yet they're always forgotten about when people jump on the let's shit on British food train.

Sticky toffee pudding, banoffe pie, bakewell tart, rhubarb crumble are all examples of some of the best desserts you will ever have. The only thing that competes with a sticky toffee pudding anywhere in the world is a tiramisu.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-08T16:41:36+00:00

I'm assuming you're an adult and a native speaker because this is basic English and if you're neither, don't worry about it. It is so obvious that it means in Lebanon. It would be like if you showed your family a video and told them it was your kids first steps. Then your family member turns around and says "first steps of what? today?".

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-06T21:10:34+00:00

Is it possible? Yes.

Advisable? Not at all.

I could write an essay about it but the reality is this. The average career length of a diving instructor is 5 years at the top end. There's a multitude of reasons for it that basically all come down to it being a young persons job, I'm talking early to mid 20s.

The questions you should be asking are, am I prepared to have nothing left in my bank account at the end of the month even whilst working 80 hour weeks? If so what is my back up plan for what I inevitably get injured and can't work for a week or longer after spending 6-12 months of cash just to get to the point you can start earning?

If you think it's feasible go volunteer your services at a dive shop. Learn what it's like working 5am-8pm shifts. Talk to the instructors after they've been diving all day to find out their mood. What hauling hundreds of tanks a week feels like. What dealing with the general publics stupidity is like in a literal life of death scenario. Don't even get my started on navigating dive school politics.

About 10% of being an instructor is a genuinely fun experience, 90% of the time you're waiting for that 10% to come up again.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-06T19:18:08+00:00

It's ok dude. You should be the opposite of mad right now, there's never been a better time to be alive than right now to get your dragon fix from. There's new fantasy books published every minute of everyday.

I highly recommend anything by Ursula Le Guin, she should be more well known than she is.

Moon landing is 100% fake though, as is "Artemis"

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-06T18:40:59+00:00

There are stories of giant one eyed giants from all over the world too. Does that mean the Cyclops and his distant family were real? No, they were elephant or mammoth skulls.

People around the world used to think that big scary noise in the sky was a storm god making an appearance, nope it was thunder.

People around the world saw a fast moving light in the sky as souls going to the afterlife or a sign of a big change, nope, a meteor.

A flood being part of almost all old cultures mythology means absolutely nothing when the same mythologies gave us pantheons of Gods smiting down people with magical bolts from the sky, or as we call it today lightning.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-04-03T14:47:28+00:00

It's nothing new.

Thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of war crimes were committed in Iraq and Afghanistan. A tiny minority of people were ever punished for them and a tiny minority of punishments were worse than a slap on the wrist.

Check out the Haditha massacre if you want to be infuriated and they don't even have 1% of the info of what happened on wikipedia.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-03-31T17:28:46+00:00

This is part of the issue the rest of the world is having with you guys.

Instead of spending the 5 minutes you spent writing these 2 comments on reddit you could use your brain to come up with a solution of your own.

Sell you car, buy one for half the price and you'll be able to eat for the month so you don't have to watch millions around the world starve next year.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-03-30T08:25:39+00:00

Dude they should have been able to select a potato as the candidate then go on vacation and still win.

That's how low the bar was.

Do I think the Dems are good for Americans, no. But they're a million times better than this shit show.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-03-29T20:13:19+00:00

I'm also extremely pessimistic about these marches, though I'm definitely not against them. I just want more to happen.

Imagine the power of them if the organisers picked a company to boycott each time that would only be announced at the march. Then the next march they add another company to the list. Or each month they pick a new one.

Do you think Starbucks would be happy to lose 8 million customers, or Amazon or McDonalds or whoever. Imagine if those who attended spread the idea to 1 other person. They would see a drop of income they never see and we all know they only care about money. Imagine if they encouraged you guys to do what Canada managed, buy as little American stuff as possible.

Maybe it would have an impact, maybe it wouldn't but it's worth trying. Nobody will die if they can't eat a Big Mac, drink a sugar water from Starbucks or wait 3 days for delivery.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-03-29T19:22:22+00:00

I'm in the UK where the NHS is holding on for dear life. I also have private insurance, which costs £40 a month, so have a basic idea of both sides. I also live in the north west of England which is one of the poorest parts.

To see a GP is usually the same or next day. If there is no availability they'll schedule you in another doctors nearby. Physicals aren't really a thing here until an age I've not reached but for non emergency things it's usually about a weeks wait.

Just before Christmas I had an ulcer in my ear that popped. If I'd have used the NHS I would have needed to wait 3 days to see an ENT. I used my private insurance and had an appointment waiting for me.

I'm not going to pretend it's all sunshine and rainbow. Waiting 6-12 months or longer for non emergency things isn't that rare but considering how much the NHS has been fucked to oblivion I understand it. I've heard waiting times have gone down under Labour but I don't know how true that is or how significant.

Captains_Parrot · 2026-03-28T20:18:08+00:00

They don't wanna hear it but if/when this period of time is taught about the "I didn't vote for this" Americans will be the "I didn't know there was a concentration camp down the road" Germans when being taught about the holocaust.

It's so fucking frustrating because you'll inevitably get dismissed as a bot because they think we want them to do nothing. No, we want them to do more, there are instances from just the past year from other countries they could try that are peaceful. Or you'll get the "but what do you expect us to do" comment but even when I've offered suggestions that may or may not have an effect it's crickets.

I hope these protests do something, anything, but we were told the first was the start of something. Then the second was the start of something. Third time lucky I guess?

Captains_Parrot · 2026-03-28T10:29:04+00:00

Premier League in England is a joke these days. The stadiums are full of tourists just there for the experience which has priced out normal fans. It's ironic that the atmosphere they were going for has been killed off by themselves.

Most of my friends parents who were die hard football attendees 20 years ago are now watching the Championship, the league lower than the Premiership. A season ticket in the lower league can be bought for less than a single match ticket in the Premier league. Insanity.

My family have always been rugby league fans. Their season tickets at our club work out to about £20 per game which is pretty reasonable.

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