It's just not fair!

[hotfxr]

For those who don't know it already, I am the person who likes dogs a whole lot more than I like people. Except for my time in the Navy, I have always had a dog or three. And when their time is up, I feel a part of me dies with them. Today, at 2:30, I am taking my last furry friend to the vet to say goodbye. Chloe was my problem child who would always try to take off and explore on her own. Until she blew a knee a few years ago, she was another amazing pheasant dog and has spent the last few years hunting gophers in the back vineyard. At 90 pounds she could dig out a Chloe sized hole in 15 minutes. For the last year she has been having trouble walking on the wood floors and mostly slept. Until I said the magic words, "gopher hunt" and she would turn back into a full fledged Labrador for an hour or so. The last few nights she has been slower and slower until last night where she laid down in front of the couch and hasn't moved from there since. She just turned 12 in February and I am angry that I have to let her go too soon. It is just not fair that they are allowed to take over our hearts then after what seems like a few minutes, they are snatched away. I try to be stoic and lean on my mountain man/biker exterior, but I am already truly lost. Fortunately, I will recover and life does keep on going, but I plan to wallow in self pity for a while. I know most of you feel the same way, which is why I am ranting here today, among my (virtual) family. 

[doggoner]

Just know that she isn't hurting any more and is on an unlimited gopher hunt. Keep the memories in your heart and in a while get another "Friend". My brittany Judy was special to me and Ike is not Judy but he is Ike and is making his own place in my heart.

doggoner

[Papa]

Hotfxr,
Been there and done that, it's never easy. They become your best friend even when they act like the devil has their tail. Sorry for your loss.

[hotfxr]

Well, it's done. She wound up being in worse shape than we thought so I feel much better about taking her in. Our vet is outstanding and made the whole process bearable. It's funny, I've had maybe 15 dogs in my life, and they were all different in how they affected me when they were gone. I miss them all, but in different ways. So in reality there is no "replacement" dog in my future. Each is a unique critter.
For some reason, I feel pretty good about today and there will be no wallowing. Time to get back into shooting, maintaining social distancing of course.