Had to finally make that decision for my beloved Sassy this morning. Her eyesight as well as her physical body were just going. She was almost totally blind in her right eye and her left would have been in a not too distant future. Not having her hearing didn't help either as she couldn't hear my voice to orient herself especially in my yard at night. I had to stay out with her these past few nights of potty calls to make sure she found her way back to the door as she was stumbling into the ties I have around my deck and sidewalk. I was so afraid that she was going to walk into my clothes poles or trees. She was also bumping into walls and furniture in the house as well. Plus the arthritis in her hips was giving her issues with laying down and also getting up she was getting wobbly too. I noticed this past week that she was being very cautious waling as she was afraid of where she was going. Lost interest in her daily dog walks that she always looked so forward to going on. During the nights, if she got up and moved around, she was always bumping hard into my bed which woke me up and sometimes I had to escort her to her water dish as she couldn't see in the dark hallway. So I was not getting my sleep and also getting stressed out worrying about her injuring herself.
Now I have a big empty hole in my heart as it's the first time in `12 years that I haven't had a furry companion here. When I sent Penny to Rainbow Bridge, I had Dancer, followed by Sassy and then Tessa, so when one went another one was here. But it's been quiet around here for the past few months as Sassy no longer barked after losing her hearing and was sleeping pretty much all the time anymore.
I'm sure there will be another dog joining me in the future, but for now, my heart has to heal and be ready to love another dog. I don't know if those of you in TX have heard about the big collie seizure in the Tombull bankruptcy case, but I am watching it and my heart is going out to those dogs. Who knows, maybe I will give in when time comes to let them go to new homes. I also have a pup coming from a future litter from the lady I got Sassy and Tessa from. So we shall see.