[cpg_imagethumb:1,misty.jpg] Today the family dog, Misty was put down on advice from the vet. She was with us for 12 years.
For the last couple of years Misty has been going downhill healthwise. Her joints deteriorated making walking painful for her, and she generally slowed down a lot. She was on medication for her joint pain and it did help a lot, with it she was far more active than without.
Last night my dog took a fit, it lasted only a few seconds and afterwards she was shaky, but ok. Apparently today she was being sick, and extremely slow when my dad took her for a walk. For some reason touching her was painful to her. So my dad took her to the vet.
I still remember the day my folks went and got her. Our previous dog had died a few months earlier and my dad had decreed that there would be no more dogs. Naturally he’s the one who decided to go get a new one. I came home from work to find them in the kitchen with a young labrador cowering behind my mums legs. She had been previously sold by the breeder, but returned as “unsuitable”. We suspect she may have been mistreated by the man who bought her initially. It took several days of spending time with the new pup before she would accept me and not run terrified.
Still 12 years is not a bad innings for a dog, but losing them is always sad in it’s way. I think this time it’s less of a shock, we’ve all watched her go downhill and have been expecting it for some time. I’m sad to see the old mutt go, but glad she won’t suffer anymore and I will always have my fond memories. Even if she did eat my trainers!