Dear Pam...
I am now in the same boat right beside you! Johnnie had been battling bravely, but was getting tired and with each passing day, he would communicate to me and the other 3 furry kids that his time was short. Right to the end he would try to chase a ball down the beach, but couldn't really do it. He tried to "pretend" he was o.k. for us, but could only spend more & more time sleeping. His body & spirit were starting shut down. Four days ago we took him to his favorite place on the Oregon coast for 2 last days. We had a wonderful, compassionate Vet that came out to the home and performed the last rites while Johnnie was able to look out to sea with us holding him. It was the hardest thing we have yet had to do in our life, but it was the best thing for JB. There comes a point where you just have to do the best thing for them. There is never, never an "easy" time. This diseease is so brutal. And over the months I kept looking for every little sign to keep him "going", which we did for 6 months. The hardest thing now is to watch JB's old companion from 8wks old - Glennie our oldster Westie (also 9yrs). Glennie (and the 2 babies Robby & Willy) had "known" for several weeks that JB was on his way out. At the coast, the evening before JB died, we were all able to go on the beach at sunset & JB gave them all one last "talk" (which he had done on 2 previous occasions) and they said their goodbyes. It is amazing how animals communicate. For everyone going through this out there, my heartfelt sympathy to you all and remember, that our furry companions depend on us to make the best decisions for them - even the toughest ones of our lives.
JB's Mom