08/21/2026
Years ago when I got started in dogs a man explained to me that our job is to be fully present and responsible for their quality of life. Three elements judge how a dog is feeling about life, because they do not live in the past or the future.
1. Eating on their own
2. Getting around on their own
3. Happily engaged with their people.
If two of the three are missing for a week without some show of improvement then they are focused on their ailment and not on enjoying life.
Today I made easily one of the hardest desicions in my dog years. I have been fortunate to have lost dogs to age and not sickness over the years. And I did not fully comprend the blessing in that until today.
For the last 10 weeks Summit has been dealing with a very raging infection. Eating her cartiledge and headed into the bone. It has not mattered what medical invention we have done she just continued to decline. Hiding, not eating, not wagging. So when the choice was to dismantle her face with the high likely hood that her ability to blink, swollow and hear would be the side effect.... I struggled because is that fair? Ultimately we put her under anesthsia and her heart didnt like it... pointing to the fact that her body was absolutely overwhelmed. My amazing vet allowed me to be completely present and as a team we decided not to wake her up.
Never in all my years of dogs have I felt so conflicted... but those three qualifications let me focus on her.
Was Summy this incredible performance dog, no, did she do all the things, no. She was a pillar of our household, first an foremost our snuggler and pet.. absolutely. She was the one everyone who comes here adored. She out produced herself, she raised kittens, orphan pups, toads (lol) a lover, a beautiful sweet soul. And her most precious gift to me was Hudson... and I cherish him as my constant sidekick because Summy raised a good son.
I am absolutely torn with how I feel
Was it the right call... my brain knows it was. But my heart is broken...
Rest easy Sweet Pea... we love you so so much.