Hi, I'm going to weigh in on the animal knowing about his impending demise. I don't believe that. I've had a lot of animals and have at times had to have them euthanized. Some were in so much pain that they didn't know what was going on. Others were aware that I was holding them and singing to them and loving them with all my heart and I believe thats what they knew. I've talked to many veterinarians, theologians and animal people and I don't believe that an animal has the capacity to understand euthunasia. When we take an animal into our lives, we become stewards and are charged with caring for that pet until they die. Part of that responsibilty is knowing when the quality of the pet's life is no longer what it should be. I'm afraid that someone might think that because the animal "knows" about the impending end...they will wait for it to die on it's own. That can be a very cruel and unnecessary thing. Yes, I'm on a soapbox but I believe in caring for my pets properly, until I say goodbye to them. And having one euthanized that should no longer be in pain is one of the things that I do. Pat