Hi Linda,
My wife and I have never had children. Our first furry child Woolie was dx with intestinal cancer at the age of 11 yrs. He had surgery to remove the tumor but only lasted two months afterwards. We thought it would be a tough decision but we came home after being out for a couple of hours and he looked at us with the look of someone that was ready. It still wasn't easy but we loved him so much we couldn't see him suffer anymore. We were worthless for three days, actually bedridden crying and holding one another. We had him cremated and he sits proudly on our mantel. We now have two fur children, one lab mix and st. bernard and we are sure that he talks to them from the mantel. They are not a replacment for Woolie but they are their own little souls that have filled the void that we thought could never be filled. Do what is best for Jake as that is what he excepts of you.
Tim and Kathy