it's time

we have to say goodbye to one of our dogs. well, technically two, but one has been staying with my bro for a while now, so it's not quite so bad. they're getting old (11 and 12), they're going blind, deaf. they're not well. so we have to do it. but it's damn hard!

we made the decision yesterday. been talking about it for a while. Jack is the 12 year old. he's a working dog but he's been stuck at home since DH lost his job a month ago. even before this, we'd talked about the fact he couldn't jump into the truck anymore, he'd take off and not come back cos he couldn't hear us call him. he couldn't find his way home because he was blind and his sense of smell was going. it was getting really hard on him

yesterday, Whisky (11 year old) got out of my bro's backyard. she was just out the front with him. she's a gentle dog, but when a small dog came near my bro, she went into protection mode, and attacked to protect my bro. the little old lady walking her dog was very distressed, and my bro called and asked us if it was best to have her put down (she has been unwell) or to bring her here again cos she couldn't stay there (the kids leave gates open all the time)

yesterday, Jack jumped up at me to get at the baby. it wasn't a nasty gesture - but it was enough to remind me that he doesn't know his limits anymore

so yesterday, DH and I talked it over with bro and SIL - and we're having both dogs put to sleep. neither couple can keep the dogs because of the risk with kids. as much as there is little chance of anything happening, it's not a risk we can take. neither couple wants to see the dogs in pain either. so in their best interests, we're having them put to sleep

i'm heartbroken - i had to talk to DH about it last night. i felt terrible. Whisky was his brothers dog. he passed in 2005. my bro took her on last year so his kids could have a dog and i was too crook while pg to give her the attention she deserved. Jack is DH's dog. has been his "son" for 12 years. his companion while away in the truck for all that time. when his other boy died a couple of years ago, he was heartbroken. this is going to devastate him - but he's doing it in the best interests of Jack and his new DD

i just feel awful.

Bro is making an appt with the vet and he and DH will take both dogs together - they'll then bury them out here.

so sad

just needed to get this out - i feel really bad. i know DH wants to keep Jack til he goes naturally, so i feel like he's doing this because i asked him too - but i know it's not fair to Jack to be here like this....

sigh

life sucks sometimes...