Misty became ill on Monday night.  I woke up around midnight and she had a very hard time breathing.  I knew she was very sick so we called our Veterinarian, and his answering service referred us to the animal hospital about 10 miles from our home.  I thought we would never make it on time-it seemed like 100 miles away.  After some tests we were told that Misty had fluid in her lungs and that she was a very sick little girl.  I already knew that.  The Vet gave her a shot and some medicine and told us to take her to our own Vet the next day-he would be in touch with him.  Dr Alford is a very compassionate man who knew Misty from the very first day we had her and I trusted him.  I knew he would do the best he could for Misty..I spent every night on the floor next to her to make sure I was there if she needed something.  By Wednesday Misty started getting worse, she quit eating and was too weak to even go out... by Thursday our Vet ran more tests and told us it didn't look good at all, to call him on Saturday morning and to be ready for the worse-How does one get ready to lose their best friend?  He told us we might have to have Misty "put to sleep".... I couldn't even think about that.   There was no way I could do this to my little girl...I asked my husband to call on Saturday morning (in my heart I already knew the answer) and we were told that it was time to let Misty go-the appointment was made for 11AM.  My heart ached so bad and I knew I couldn't let my little girl go.  She was my best friend, my baby.  We took her outside by the gate where she used to love to lay and look around.   I held her in my arms and talked to her.  She kept looking at me and I told her that it was OK for her to go...mommy would be alright  ...I knew she was ready to go but I was not...I just couldn't face losing my baby.  I took some pictures of her and I told her how much mommy loved her.  When it was time to take her to our Vet, I sat in the back of the van holding her in my arms, petting her little head and talking to her.  I knew she understood everything I told her.  When we pulled in the parking lot Christy  was waiting for us.  She carried Misty inside and I told her I was coming too.   There was no way I would let my little girl go without being there with her.  She gently placed her on the table and I held her in my arms.  She then looked at me, I kissed her and told her once more how much I loved her and then she was gone.  I know Misty knew how heartbreaking it was for me to have her "put to sleep" so being the loving little girl she was, she spared her mommy of having to do so.....
These were the last minutes of my little girl's life and I will never forget it.  It doesn't matter how hard it is, but please, please never let your best friend be "put to sleep" and go alone, unless it is absolutely impossible for you to be there...The last thing I wanted Misty to see, when she closed her little eyes,  was her mommy and the love I had for her.
This happened in 1999,  6 years ago, and I can't even write about it without crying-oh yes I am crying, even now, and I guess I will always do...I have shared this with only a couple of my very close friends in the past.  I hope this will help others when the decision has to be made.  It is not easy but sometime it cannot be helped...
We had Misty cremated -something I thought I'd never be able to do- but having her little urn with her ashes on my dresser, in my bedroom, has truly helped me... As strange as it may seem I have found comfort in it...Misty is still partly with me.
Misty was such a big part of my life.   She was a loving little dog and very protective. She was devoted to all of us. I lost my precious little girl June 19th, 1999.  To  this day I still mourn her passing.  I know to many people, she was only a little dog, but to me she was so much more ----
 

She Was My Little Girl

On September 29, 2000,  we adopted a six months old Border Collie with Misty's blessings -his name is Jessie.  Both Misty and Jessie share my heart and my love.  Jessie is so much like Misty in many ways...

Misty - taking a nap in my bed

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. 
You are his life, his love, his leader. 
He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.
You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."
-Author Unknown

This little Dog Angel 
comes from "In Memory of Pets"
Please do visit their beautiful site
for comfort and love!

Many years ago, this story appeared in one of Ann Landers column:

Dear Ann Landers, This short story is based on my own experience and I think it will touch anyone who has ever owned a pet. I wrote it with tears in my eyes. Will you please print it? Charles B. Wells Jr., Palmyra, NY- 

DOGS DON'T HAVE SOULS, DO THEY?

I remember bringing you home. You were so small and cuddly with your tiny paws and soft fur. You bounced around the room with eyes flashing and ears flopping. Once in a while, you'd let out a little yelp just to let me know this was your territory. 

Making a mess of the house and chewing on everything in sight became a passion and when I scolded you, you just put your head down and looked up at me with those innocent eyes as if to say: "I'm sorry, but I'll do it again as soon as you're not watching." 

As you got older, you protected me by looking out the window and barking at everyone who walked by. When I had a tough day at work, you would be waiting for me with your tail wagging just to say, "Welcome home. I missed you." You never had a bad day and I could always count on you to be there for me. 

When I sat down to read the paper and watch TV, you would hop on my lap looking for attention. You never asked for anything more than to have me pat your head so you could go to sleep with your head over my leg. 

As you got older, you moved around more slowly. Then one day, old age finally took its toll, and you couldn't stand on those wobbly legs anymore. I knelt down and patted you lying there, trying to make you young again. You just looked up at me as if to say you were old and tired and that after all these years of not asking for anything, you had to ask me to do one last favor. 

With tears in my eyes, I drove you one last time to the vet. One last time you were lying next to me. For some strange reason you were able to stand up in the animal hospital - perhaps it was your sense of pride. 

As the vet led you away, you stopped for an instant, turned your head and looked at me as if to say: "Thank you for taking care of me." 

I thought, "No - thank YOU for taking care of ME."