Can't Let Go

It’s Too Soon

When is the right time to put down your beloved dog? No one knows. Only you know. It must be in your heart. It lingers in your soul. It’s always and forever on your mind. Your heart tells you no, you cannot let them go. 

You make excuses, you look for signs that aren’t there. Everyone tells you maybe it’s time. You don’t see it; you look into those eyes, and you see life. You cannot imagine putting this sweet soul who you’ve had since she was six weeks old down. No more happiness, a gray cloud has ascended, and it isn’t lifting anytime soon. 

Quality of Life

They say you should look at the quality of a dog's life and decide that way. Some people look and do not see it. It’s a shaded area for them. They only see improvement. Oh look, she’s eating and drinking water. She went poop outside, how can I put her down? Never mind the rest of the day is spent in misery. No longer being able to walk properly, her back end went down. Looking miserable 90 percent of the day. Scooting around on the floor because she cannot get up to walk. Walking in circles, staring for hours at the wall because she doesn’t know where she is half the time. 

It's Hard

It is without a doubt the hardest decision there is for a dog owner. It’s tough, it’s heart wrenching, and it’s ugly. Not one of us wants to face it. We cannot imagine not looking into those big brown eyes ever again. We cannot imagine not hearing the pitter patter of little feet. We cannot imagine the emptiness we will feel once they are gone. An empty house, the atmosphere is bleak. There are no smiles, there is no laughter. Only sadness, a gloom and doom feeling you don’t think will ever go away. Months from now you will look back and see life slowly begins again. Because it has to. There is no other choice. We go on, we slowly start to smile again. We look back at our times with them and remember the good times. All the walks, all the treats, all the times they lay by your side because there is no other place they’d rather be. A dog's life is measured in moments. The moment you walk in the door from work. Their body wiggles with happiness. The daily walks together. The summers playing fetch, or just sitting on the patio.  You will always remember them. You will always cherish them. Keep them in your heart. Their goofy demeanor, their steadfast love.

A dog is a friend you will have for their life. They will never betray you; they will never stop loving you. They will always and forever be happy to see you. No judgment, no criticism. Just joy, barks, and play. 

An Inevitable Decision

No wonder it is so hard to make a decision. A decision to end a life. To stop a beating heart. Forever changing your life and theirs. It isn’t something to be taken lightly. It is a selfless act of courage you draw up deep within you. You do what’s best for them. You end their pain; you end their suffering. You love them more than you love yourself. 

You tell them to run free. God is waiting for them. He has their wings. For dogs are God's creatures there is no doubt. They are too good for most of us. We don’t deserve them. God gave them to us so we could truly see the only way to love. 

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Look into a dog's eyes and you’ll know.

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Update: Gary took Sally to the vet and she is in congestive heart failure, her teeth are rotting out of her mouth. She is on antibiotics now, and two other medications also. Gary is prolonging the inevitable. Bottom line is she is an old dog. He is making her as comfortable as he can until he is ready to let her go. It's the hardest thing.

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