Weds 18th Dec: Those difficult choices

Young Murphy always loved swimming

Suddenly it was summer again - just for the day - so I took advantage of the warm weather and my day at home to give Murphy a bath, something he really loves.  If you've been following me at all over the past years you'll know about Murphy and that fact that he'll soon be turning eighteen, and has no eyes but all of his teeth (which he sometimes uses for things other than eating).  He's the main reason I can't ever stay away from home at night and have to hurry back, because he's at the age when nocturnal wandering is part of life and he needs me to help him.  Happily he's otherwise healthy and is still enjoying life, food and his daily outings.

Having a geriatric dog is pretty much like having a puppy in terms of the time and attention they need, the main difference being that with a puppy you know they're going to grow up and things will get easier, whereas with an old dog it's the opposite.   You know the decline is inevitable and the end is going to come, and as with all of my old dogs I always hope that it will happen at night in their sleep.

Tufty in 2012 and she still looks the same

Murphy's the oldest but not the only senior as I also have Gigi, who looks and acts like a very old lady, and Tufty, who's in great shape and looks nothing like her fifteen-plus age.  Over the years I've had to deal with many deaths, not all of them old dogs unfortunately, but making the final decision about when the time is right to let them go never gets easier.   The most recent dog I made that choice for was Curly, and I had once before booked the appointment to take him for his last journey but had backed out when he'd struggled so hard to climb out of the buggy.  In the end I waited until I knew for absolute sure that it was time, even though those last weeks were difficult.

A recent cosy evening at home with Tufty on the right

How do you know when it's time to let a dog go?  There's no real answer to that, even though I wish there was.  Having a very old dog is hard and can impact your own life as much as the dog's, as it often means sleepless nights and constant care required, with emotional as well as physical toll, not to mention the expensive vet visits.  Making the decision to have a dog put to sleep when it can no longer live a full life, or is in pain or distress, is really tough but it's the right thing to do.

BFF together forever!

Moving on from that difficult but necessary subject, I can share the happy news that Twiglet and Bongo have had their adoption together confirmed and they have the best home we could have hoped for.  There's really nothing better than knowing a dog's life has been changed for ever, and when it's two at the same time then it's doubly rewarding.

Sisters Beauty and Angel are still waiting and hoping that they can also win that big lottery of life and a home together.  They're such sweet girls, surely there's that one special home for them somewhere?

Beauty's skin is completely better now, and both sisters are small and lovely