Bitter Sweet - A Pet Passes

Not Millie, but close. She was a Catahoula, and all her pictures are on a dead computer.

As usual when we travel for business, Millie was boarded at her suite at the Cumberland Animal Clinic. We got the "call" from the vet this morning: Millie died on Sunday. Millie was an old dog, hurting from several aliments and sliding away slowly. We had already made the decision to end her discomfort, but were delaying, probably, because we didn't want to let her go. We missed the signs that she was ready, but she didn't.
Millie came to us as a 2 year old foundling, wandering along the roadside with puppies. The humane society placed the puppies and deemed her "unadoptable" because she was an adult with puppies. Bullshit we said and adopted her. She was a full member of the family from day one. No "breaking in" period. It was like we were destined to be her people. One might almost think "It is Written" and not be far off. So we went through 13 years of various episodes, some joyful and some not so much. She spent much time at her "vacation" home, Cumberland Animal Clinic, boarding with her other family. She loved to go there and would run to the door waiting to get in her air conditioned and heated run. And to be fussed over by her friends there. I know her passing is as painful to them as to us.
Of late, her arthritis and other aliments of old age severely reduced her movements, and some spinal problems contributed to incontinence. She slept most of the time. She slowed way down on eating. Our old vet, "Uncle Ivan" told us on the occasions of other of our friends reaching the end, "Don't worry, she will let you know when she is ready". And Uncle Ivan was right. She did and we missed it.
She will be cremated and sprinkled with "Smiley", her pal who bailed out a few years ago. We have kept Smiley on a shelf in the garage just for Millie. Now they will once again rest together. RIP guys, no humans deserve a more peaceful future more than you guys.

Image: http://images.rescueme.org/pn/catahoula-FB.png