In the cold weather, we’ve moved the two old girls out of their kennels at night into warmth by the fire inside the house. They spend most of their day asleep inside as well, when not being escorted outdoors to empty out. This happens often as Spook has wonky back legs and a leaky bladder, and Ebony has arthritis and doggie dementia which means she tends to get restless and wanders around the house, sometimes getting trapped behind furniture. We occasionally see some of their old behaviours, some random puppy playfulness or telling off walkers in our street. They get specially prepared dinners with fresh chicken offal and generally have a good appetite, although today they both seem to have been hit with the same tummy bug and have been unable to keep anything down. I have to credit H. with taking care of these two, he has always been the first to step up with the dog baths and visits to the vet, and has taken on the lion’s share of caring for them in their old age.
As the girls’ health has deteriorated, we have raised the topic of euthanasia and agree that while there is the enjoyment of life it is a life worth preserving. All of our dogs have meant a great deal to us both and we still feel an acute sadness when remembering those who are no longer with us. The sadness is more poignant when thinking our current two may not be with us much longer, it makes us determined to ensure they have a good quality of life for the time that remains.