Replies to '03/21 Is This Normal?'

My oldest dog Sammie is 13 (Sept.9). He is blind,mostly deaf, and has trouble walking. But, on the other hand, he is still eating well, and still responds to our love. So, what I've been doing is, since he can't get around well, I carry him out to do his business. I take him outside, set him down, he does his thing. I pick him up and bring him back into the house. If he was a big dog, I would not have this option. He has been our bud for 13 years, I cannot stand the thought of having him put down because he is old and blind and arthritic.  I know he may get to a point where he might NEED to be put down. I'm praying that he will just die a natural death. Time will tell. I realize that we have the responsibility as his people to figure out just when enough is enough. But, for now, I think what I'm doing is reasonable.

I have never thought of any of my pets as human. But, they ARE a big part of our everyday life. And when you get attached to them, you don't get unattached.