Doggone it.

If you have ever had a pet you know the love that you experience from them, and the love you have FOR them.

I grew up with dogs as pets In our homes, specifically Boston Terriers. Our family always had one. They were family members. We had Pal, and then Ace, and one we named Deuce. The only time I ever lived without a dog was when I first graduated from college and lived in an apartment with a girlfriend. I don’t think pets were allowed and in my early 20’s lifestyle of long hours of work and then going out after work it did not make for the sense to have one.

So – One of the first things my husband and I did when we got married was get a dog. We got a Boston Terrier puppy named Ralph. Then because My hubby grew up with German Shepherds we got one of those too, and we named her Ally. When we had our daughters and as they were growing up we got two little toy poodles, cute, holdable girly dogs.

Now we have two pugs. Who doesn’t love a pug?! They are unique with smashed in noses and curly tails. They were bred to be pets for the royals of China. And since then they love royal treatment! Working dogs? No! Ha One of our pugs, Honeybee, I got from a breeder in North Carolina, and she became ours at just 8 weeks old. Our other pug, Daisy, was a rescue so to speak. She was a victim of a divorce, and the husband who was able to keep the house also got to keep her. But he didn’t care about her. He let her run the streets. Anyway, long story short we got Daisy and are glad we did.

Here’s the thing… all dogs are wonderful, but they don’t live long lives and it’s heartbreaking to go through their old age and then have to make decisions about them. It’s really, really tough. They are like children. They are best friends. They love unconditionally. If you have had a dog you know this.

We are going through old age right now with Honeybee and she has been diagnosed with some age and trauma issues. Her back hips have dysplasia and her spine has two places that are worn down with no cushion left. Bone on bone. Just like with people. We just had a full body scan on her. Her bone issues can’t be fixed, but we can reduce swelling and pain through medication. She will need meds the rest of her life. I think she also has some dementia too – she likes to stare at walls. Plus, pugs have eye issues and so she doesn’t see well anyway. Maybe she doesn’t know that she is staring at a wall. She trips over things. She needs doggy steps to get into bed. She has fallen off the bed a few times in the middle of the night. She walks slowly. She loses her balance over the water bowl.

It doesn’t seem fair that dogs don’t get to live longer lives. Other animals can live much much longer. Tortoises. Elephants. It doesn’t make sense.

So, unfortunately, our thoughts turn to how long we will have Honeybee. It is always an extremely difficult decision for any owner/parent of a pet to make. Wondering when quality of life is gone. Wondering when the pain is too much. For now, we think she still has some good days. She loves being with us. She still eats. We think we have a little more time together and for that I am thankful.

On Tim McGraw’s latest album he sings a song called “Doggone It” about a favorite dog that has gone on. Here are some of the lyrics:

If there’s one spot of sun on a porch up there

I bet you’re lying in it.

If there’s a Chevy I bet you’re shotgunnin’.

If there’s huntin’ and fishin’ in heaven…

I hope the good Lord lets you tag along.

If there’s a mailman, bet he’s running.

And I know you’ll be waiting for me at the pearly white

Picket fence…

And I’ll miss you ole buddy til then.

Doggone it, amen

Doggone it, man’s best friend.