Sadly the loss of animals is the really bad part of homesteading. I have cried many tears over our "pets". Saying that I would rather bond with them and have many happy years interacting and working compatibly than not. As far as the end goes....Each to his own. My husband is the guy that has to put them down. It's a very difficult call to make. When it's old livestock I know a lot of people just eat them. Mine get buried. I can't eat a pet, as they do become part of the family.