The end of an era...

Today we had to do something we knew would come eventually but were hoping it wouldn't come so soon.

We had to put our red heeler, Ginger, to sleep.

We have had her for 9 years and she has been an amazing pet/protector for our family. If you know anything about heelers, you know that they are fiercely protective of their 'people'. She only loved us and wanted to take out anyone she thought was a threat to her family, which was practically every other person on the planet. She has been our doorbell for all those years as well.

She is/was silly and hated thunder and fireworks. So she always managed to get out of the backyard and try to come in the front whenever she felt frightened. Well, this year on the 4th, she got out and we weren't home so she ran to try to get away from all the noise, and this year she didn't come back.

I called the shelter and they had an older dog who had been picked up and was hurt. We went to look and it was her. So we got her out of "jail" and took her to the vet to see about her leg. It was broken and it was not a simple fracture and would have required surgery. She also had lots of arthritis and the vet wasn't sure how well she would heal or what her quality of life would be. Then throw the cost of the surgery on top of all that and we made the heart-breaking decision that it was best for all of us to euthanize her.

I told my DH I never want another pet. I can't handle the emotional pain associated with this and I feel so guilty for having to make this decision for another living creature who depended on us for everything.

I hope she knows how much she added to our lives and how much we loved her. I hope she knows that we did what we thought was best for her and that it was very difficult to let her go.

I hope they have lots of basketballs and tennisballs in heaven for you, Ginger. And that there is someone there who will throw for you.

We miss you already!