He looks just like my dog. My daschund lived to a ripe 16, but was put down for health reasons as well. Reading your story readies me for another one, possibly, sooner than I thought.

It’s one of my greatest fears, having to make the decision to put down a pet, even when I know it’s the right thing to do.

I read your story the first day and started tearing up immediately. I, also called a vet doctor to my house to have my 15 year old friend put down. It happened on the foot of our bed - where he had spent the last two days (2 and a half years ago). It seemed like he knew what was going on, because he started yapping like “please give me one more day…”. But I knew he was in a lot of pain and that he was really not comfortable.

I, too, held him down while the shot was administered. It was the hardest thing for me to do to my best friend. I left him lay on the bed for a few hours while we mourned his passing, and then carried him out to the casket I made for him the week before.

I did not want him to be ‘taken care of’ by anyone else, and wanted to bury him in my backyard. This was 1/08/04 and the ground was pretty well frozen (Wyoming). He spent the night in the casket at 15° on his bed with his blanket. The next day (I called sick in from work) I rented a jackhammer and dug out his new home in a designated spot in the yard. We put in with him his leash, ball, and can of beer.

He now resides in an attractive garden with a couple of upright granite boulders (tombstones) surrounded by numerous flowers.

Best of luck through this time. I know how hard it is.