We had to put our Hannah dog to sleep today. Sleep is a good description for her because she has been sleeping 20 hours a day. Hannah would have been 16 years old in February and she was really feeling her age. As happens to many dogs her rear hips were going and it was getting more and more difficult for her to walk much less stand. She was only about 35 pounds so we could carry her up the stairs. She so wanted to go for a walk, but to the mail box and back was enough for her. She has always been a picky eater, but she had stopped eating and was getting thin.
We have had Hannah since she was a puppy. She was a Chow/Lab and had the best of each breed. She really enjoyed being with other dogs and could never figure out why some dogs just wanted to fight. When we went camping she became the guardian of the camp site and watched the woods for any threats. She enjoyed going on trips and made friends where ever we went. Hannah loved going cross country skiing and would come home with snowballs stuck in her fur. She tolerated our cats, her best friend was our cat Nellie who will miss Hannah as we all will.
The emotional release has been interesting. Nena and I feel deep sadness mixed with a sense of relief that something is completed. For the last year Hannah has been like living with an elderly aunt. We could never leave her alone for long and trying to find a food she could eat and would eat was a constant worry. As every responsible dog owner knows, they are not far from your thoughts everyday. If you can not take your dog with you, even for a day, it limits your options. Nena and I have had a lot of dogs and it seems like the last one we had was the best.
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