A Realtor on www.ActiveRain.com, Neal Bloom, wrote Man's best friend and brought up a subject that is hard to discuss, that of euthanasia for sick pets, when it should take place, and how to react after you make that decision.  I had to make that very difficult decision not once, but twice last year and am still grieving.  Neal responded to the comments in his post and mused about the fact that he almost wished he hadn't written the post.  So, I'll share this with you as encouragement to keep your hearts & doors open! 

Rosie was a Boxer mix who was rescued from the Augusta GA animal control facility after being used to hunt pigs (she was surrendered because she wasn't aggressive enough!) and was full grown when we got her.  She lived with us and blessed our lives for 16 years.  When they were younger and smaller my kids used Rosie to pull their wagon's around the farm.  She loved to swim in the creek and chased anything that moved.  Last summer she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.  After being on Lasix and several other medications, she was having great difficulty breathing and the decision to euthanize had to be made. The night before I held her in my lap on the floor with her head up, so she could breathe easier and I cried all night.  We are fortunate to a have a local veterinarian who comes to our house, so her last moments were spent in peace in the front yard laying on her pillow.

Buster, a purebred boxer was rescued from the University of Georgia after being used for a feed study.  He was also full grown when he came into our lives and was with us for about 7 years.  Buster was a "Bouncing Boxer"  he probably should have been named Tigger.  Buster loved to lay on the couch and insisted on working with us in the appraisal office when either myself or my husband went to work and he HAD to sit in a chair, even though he didn't fit and really didn't look all that comfortable.  Last summer, Buster started losing weight and not eating and was diagnosed with stomach cancer (after visits to tow different specialist for diagnosis, numerous xrays and finally an ultrasound).  We fed Buster Ensure with a syringe for 6 weeks while exploring options, but there just weren't any, when he got to the point that he couldn't hardly go outside and he had lost 35 pounds, we just had to go ahead.  Buster also went to sleep in our front yard surrounded by family, his friends below and all the cats, who loved him.  Last year was really tough!

Two weeks before Buster passed, we received a call from a friend about a 6 month old Boston Terrier who was being surrendered because his owner was being called to active duty in Iraq, so even while feeling the pain of Buster's illness we decided to bring him home....meet Bo below!  His antics brought smiles to our faces from the day he arrived. 

Bo's best friends are Holly, Spot,  & Sparky.  Holly & her litter-mates were found by the Dawsonville Sherriff's Department, abandoned in a ditch during a snow & ice storm in North Georgia in 1999.  Holly, a lab/terrier mix was smaller than my hand and she was the only one who survived.  She is a ball freak and it took her a little while to learn to share her toys with Bo.  She is solid white, but very much a tomboy who hates being clean!

Spot (who was named "Killer" by my nut of a child...and I just refuse to call him such)and his brother were found abandoned on a dirt road in Madison County several years ago by my oldest son, Jeff.  His brother was blind and in very poor condition and was not able to be saved.  Spot, a Dalmatian mix, is nicknamed "Mister's little friend" because my son found him, so he is technically "Daddy", but his favorite place to be is on my husband's lap.  David, my husband, was not ready to be called granddaddy just yet, so he became "mister".

Sparky was a University of Georgia rescue, after her mother was brought in for a study program. Sparky has been with us about 10 years.  She is a catahoola mix and spends her time herding everyone around and playing peacemaker.  Her nickname is "Rudy Roo" because when everyone goes out to play she stands and barks at them all to settle down and she sounds just like she's saying "Rudy Roo".

Spot & Holly (covered in leaves, just after a bath)       Sparky, Bo & Chris (my youngest son)

My son is advocating for another dog and claims we are "short at least 1.5 since Bo only counts for a half!  He searches the animal control websites and dog rescue group pages daily and keeps changing the screen-saver on his dad's computer to show great dogs in need of good homes!  I'm sure we'll give in and add a little more love to our family soon.  I will never forget the dogs who have blessed my life and been members of our family, but we keep our hearts & doors open and have 4 dogs who help us live with joy today! 

If you are considering adding to your family, please visit the following:  Athens-Clarke County Animal Control, Madison & Oglethorpe Counties Animal Shelter, Barrow County Animal Shelter or any of the other shelters or rescue organizations that abound in the area!