Lynda Loveland: Death of a family pet

I knew the time was drawing near, but it arrived sooner than I anticipated.

When I came back from Alaska, Halee, my 14-year-old Doberman, just wasn’t the same. She was having more trouble than usual getting around. I thought maybe, when we all get back to our routine, she’d perk back up. She didn’t.

She wasn’t sick, but she was very frail. I knew I had to make one of the hardest decisions that I’ve ever had to make. I burst into tears mid-call to the vet’s office. It ended up being a one-sided conversation because I couldn’t speak. Thankfully, Laura knew what I was calling about and set up everything. 

The next hurdle was telling the kids. Euthanizing a family pet was a first for all of us. I told them one of the most important lessons that I learned growing up was never let an animal suffer. We couldn’t let Halee be miserable and in pain. They cried and said their goodbyes.

I chose to stay with Halee till the end. I felt I owed her that. I sobbed, kissed her on the cheek and said goodbye. It was absolutely gut wrenching. 

I keep thinking about her and then the tears come. The kids are dealing with it much differently. They think of her in heaven, running and playing, with all the other dogs we know that have passed.

They think of her in a happy place. I’m trying to do the same.