So. How does one go about scheduling a death?

Sometime tomorrow, the deed which I have always held in disdain, we will do.

And the blind masked heeler will lose her third and final sister.

Mind you, I have nothing against euthanasia. It is the animal "owner"'s final responsibility. It is an all too common part of my job (ask me why I've been carrying around a bottle of potassium chloride the past two days).

But the scheduling of a death has always bothered me.

Either it is time to have mercy and put the animal down, in which case you do it now, immediately...

Or it is not. And if it is not necessary today, then why should it be tomorrow? Or the next day?

The little maskless heeler lost sensation and use of her left rear leg weeks ago. X-rays suggested a disintegrating disc in her spine. When the right leg started to go this week, another set of x-rays showed the disc is gone.

But paraplegic canids can survive, maybe even still be happy.

But kidney failure, on top of the paralysis? The constant thirst, without an ability to drink. Ravenous hunger with an inability to swallow, or keep food down. The constant discomfort, pain and difficult breathing.

It was time.

The vet was there, called in on a Saturday for more examinations, and more x-rays, blood tests. Almost all of us were there, and eventually we all were.

The decision was made. But with a caveat.

The past few hours had been horrible, painful, frightening. No way to end a life. Can we give her the fluids and medicine for one more, one last peaceful, comfortable night at home?

The IV is already in her wrist...

And sometime tomorrow, when the chosen vet has finished preg testing and gets back to town, she will give us a call.

And we will have to say goodbye.

..

Time to go rejoin the pack in the bedroom.

After I get the tears dried.