There comes a time in everyone’s life when you have to say goodbye to your loving pet.  It can be absolutely heart wrenching to let go of something that has been hopelessly devoted to you and your family through its entire life.  Most of us have been through this with our pets, maybe even several times throughout our lives, and it never gets any easier.  The decisions can be difficult trying to determine; are they really suffering?  Can I still see a glimpse of that spirit through the cataract in their eyes? 
So, you toy with the emotions of whether to let them ride it out, in hopes that they go to that dog park in the sky while they are sleeping, or do you take them before they get to that point, making sure that they go out peacefully, knowing you have a little more control over the situation.  This brings me to a wonderful piece of literature that I hold dearly to my heart to help out in situations like these.  The book is called “Marley and Me” by John Grogan, and for those who have never read it, it is quite the page turner.  It’s a story about a man and his dog, Marley, and the wonderful times that they shared throughout Marley’s life.  It’s a wonderful reminder of the many memories (the good, the bad, and the embarrassing) you share between you and your pet.  Even if you’re not a big reader it’s very easy to get into.
These wonderful souls waltz into your life as puppies, as strays, as a gift, or as a rescue.  It really doesn’t matter how they get to you, the fact is it’s one of the few things in life that love unconditionally, that enjoy the simple things, that seem to know when you’re down, and listen to every little thing they maybe on your mind with no interruptions. Yes, it is very hard to say goodbye.