It’s time to put our dog to sleep

Our little pup-

• She is paralyzed
• She is helpless
• She snores too loud
• She barks too much
• She licks my hands right after I wash them
• She is our first family dog
• And we love her for it…

We have had her for 8 years, since Tater was just a baby… they were babies together and now we have to let her go. It is a decision that I have been trying not to make for the past 3 years, since she first became paralyzed. Things have been ok, and her quality of life has been good, but recently things have gone downhill for her and we all see that it is time for her to leave us.

Tater loves Sienna and is devastated about losing her, we have been preparing him for a couple of weeks now. He has been very mature about the whole thing and insists on going with her to the vet so that he can pet her and tell her that he loves her. It was so touching when we told him originally and one of his first questions was “where will she go?” I explained that they would take her ashes and spread them in the mountains. This was NOT acceptable to him, “How will I know where to visit her?” “The wind will blow her ashes around,” I tried the whole “she will be everywhere, she will be all around us” bit but he didn’t go for that at all. I explained that she will be gone, she will be in heaven, but he is so worried about having a place here on earth where he can feel close to her.

In the end it was decided that Tater will indeed go with Jason tonight to Sienna’s final vet visit (which I cannot bring myself to go to) and then we will get her ashes and bring them home. I feel like we just need to do whatever makes Tater feel best about losing his puppy right now… including buying her special food and treats so that she can have a great final weekend full of the kind of food that she never gets and as many treats as her little heart desires.