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entire family were very fortunate in that my brother knew a veterinary technician that was willing to come to our home, keeping him from the car rides and vet offices he always feared. My brother had to drive nearly a thousand miles to see his dog off, but when I told Plato that he was coming home for him one last time that dog got up, dragged himself up the stairs and ate something while he waited. When everyone was there we brought him into his beloved back yard and held him while he took his final breaths.

Knowing when to help an animal die is really the subject of a different article, but suffice it to say that love must not blind you to the fact that this creature that loves you so completely lives far longer than it ever would in the wild, and sometimes you must fulfill their trust by mercifully taking his or her life. It is the most difficult, and most important, decision you will ever have to make with a dog. I am glad I was there when Plato died, and I do not regret our decision. Don't be surprised if you sometimes wonder if you did the right thing; these are the same thoughts that make some people question if they should have acted sooner.

It takes a long time to heal from the loss of a dog, longer even than your friends who have been through it will expect. Much of your healing will be alone. Do not underestimate the power of ritual, such as a funeral, in helping with the process; also do not feel the need to rush it. You will never forget your dog.

Learn more about this author, Terence P Ward.
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