On Sunday evening, we had to make one of the hardest decisions we've ever made and let the love of our lives go due to her severe cognitive decline.
Minnie was 15 years and 8 months old.
We adopted Minnie in May 2023 when she was 12 years old. At the time of adoption she had a grade 4 heart murmur, spondylosis, 29 teeth removed in one dental treatment, mild cataract formation, separation anxiety, and was on medications for pain management & to improve blood flow to the brain. She was perfect.
Despite these challenges, Minnie was the most joyful and energetic little old lady. Even at 13/14 years old, she was still jumping on and off the sofa and racing upstairs.
In the last year of her life, Minnie’s care became round-the-clock. She couldn’t be left on her own in any room of the house, lost most of her eyesight and hearing, could no longer climb stairs, and needed to be carried onto the sofa or over obstacles on walks. Her dementia led to incontinence and meant she could no longer sleep through the night. We would stay up with her for hours as she circled restlessly, trying to keep her calm, holding and rocking her until she eventually drifted back to sleep. Despite all of this, she still loved her food, loved her walks, loved people, and never stopped wagging her tail.
Minnie was the love of our lives, and we are lost without her, but also incredibly grateful to have spent three magical years with her. Everyone who met her instantly adored her, and we never tired of people stopping in the street to say hello to her.
She was the gentlest, happiest, sweetest, quietest, and funniest little character. The biggest personality in the tiniest body. I will never forget how the home-from-home coordinator at the Dogs Trust where we adopted her had her own German Shepherds and usually preferred bigger dogs, yet there was something about Minnie that completely won her over. Minnie had this effect on people everywhere she went. Even the grumpiest or most intimidating-looking men in the street would instantly soften when they saw her, and family members who had never really been animal people became utterly besotted with her.
Minnie was our first dog, and initially we were worried about taking on a senior dog with medical issues. But people like Steve Greig (@wolfgang2242) and Niall Harbison inspired me not only to keep showing up for Minnie every single day, but also to make the decision to continue adopting the overlooked senior rescues who need love and care the most.
At first, I didn’t think I could cope with the demanding care, the anticipatory grief, or the inevitable goodbye. But as heartbroken as I feel after losing Minnie, the pain is ultimately worth it for the sheer joy, comfort, and endless love she experienced in her retirement years - and that's what matters more than anything.
We love you forever, Minnie.