Over the last few years, he’d lost his hearing and most of his eyesight. He was occasionally experiencing seizures, his balance was starting to fail, and (perhaps worst) he had a perpetual cough, caused by the slow collapse of his windpipe.

After a bad incident today, Rebekah called so we could talk it over. Putting him down seemed like the best decision; a way to spare him ongoing deterioration and suffering. It wasn’t a quick decision, as we’d discussed it off and on over the last few months.

He’d been part of our lives, together and separately, for over 15 years. I have a hundred stories about amusing or interesting things he did during his life. He was a great dog and will be missed.