Love them while you can!
We’ve had our English Mastiff for 12 years.
She was the runt. Passed over from her original litter, then passed over again when the next litter got adopted before her. Somehow, we ended up with the dog nobody picked first, and she became everything to us.
She’s dealt with thyroid issues most of her life. Medicated since she was 3. Never slowed her down from being part of everything though. Camping trips. Friday night pizza. Kicking a soccer ball around with our son, her “little boy.” She showed up for all of it. For our family as a whole, and for each of us individually, in whatever way we needed.
Tomorrow, we’re giving her a dignified passing. It’s going to be the hardest thing we’ve ever done as a family. But I don’t regret it. She’s lived an incredible life and gave us more than we could ever give her.
If you’ve got a dog, go sit with them a little longer tonight. Take the extra walk. Let them be part of whatever you’re doing, even if it’s nothing.
Dogs are only a part of our lives, but to them, we’re everything and that time goes faster than you think.
We’ll miss you, Zella. Thank you.