Life is a cruel existence sometimes. The reality of the situation is that you have chosen to provide for a creature that requires a 'specialized' diet. You can't just rush out and buy yourself some chicken stri . . .

I mean granola bars to feed it. The reality is that your pet eats living things in the wild (of course dogs once did too).
We have adjusted our husbandry techniques by offering f/t prey in order to alleviate the 'survival of the fittest' code. In nature if the mouse kills the snake we don't know about it, but in captivity if the mouse kills the snake, were out $$. (That's the reality of it really, I know, were attached to them for other reasons as well!)
The two best methods in my experience are thumping and C02 from dry ice. A third that I employ, but takes some practice is to place a butter knife behind the neck (not to cut, just to hold the mouse down) and quickly jerk from the tail. Snaps the neck and is quick. Problem is it takes practice, you can draw your own mental picture if you happen to pull too hard. (Also, this doesn't work too well with rats!)
Now, I have killed many, many mice and rats. I believe strongly in an occassional prekilled live meal, and won't debate it here. The point is, I don't feel cold and heartless, it's a necessity of life. I have also killed many many deer, pheasant, doves, ducks, rabbits, etc. I don't feel as though I'm cold and heartless. I respect the 'life' that nature has to offer, and the reality of life is that we need to feed. When killing deer etc. I am providing food for my family. When killing mice I am providing food for my other 'family'. I don't cry over my actions, but I have learned to respect the life lost in order for another to live. Don't know if this information or 'sharing' will affect your willingness to 'suck it up', but hope that maybe you'll give it a shot. It's very quick and 'painless' if you do it right.
D80
EDIT After posting my comments, I noticed there was a second page, and you got your BF to thump the mouse for you. Great job! I left all my other comments cause I still felt they were pertinent.