One of my favorite pet sitting pets, laid to rest today...

As many of you know, I own and operate my own pet sitting business. I care for animals when their owners are away, and I have many clients that I see their pets routinely throughout the year. I bond with them as much as if they were my own. This weekend I watched one of my favorite dogs, Bear. He's a 16 year old Golden Retriever that I have been sitting for, for about 4 years now. Perfectly well behaved. You couldn't ask for a sweeter or better dog. He always got haircuts that made him look comical, and they always put a cute bow or bandana on him. He was a big flirt.
He hasn't had many health issues until recently starting kidney failure, and his mind is still as sharp as can be, but his poor old body just can't keep up anymore. He developed very bad arthritis and his muscles started wasting away. This weekend I had to say goodbye to him. When his owners got home, they found that he hadn't been able to control his bowels multiple times throughout the weekend. I had no idea, because this 16 year old marvel somehow climbed the slippery wooden stairs, who knows how many times, to go in the basement. This weekend was their deciding factor to end his suffering. They brought him to my clinic today and all I could think about all day was that Bear was coming in today. I couldn't help with the euthanasia, I couldn't even bear to see him. I feel a little guilty for that, but I talked with his mom on the phone yesterday to make the appointment and told her I couldn't be there but I would be there in spirit. The girls I work with were all very supportive as I struggled to keep my composure throughout the process and in the hours afterward. They kept him out of my view as they took care of him afterwards and made a beautiful paw print for his mom and dad. There are times in my job that I feel like giving it up, to do something with a happier outcome. After a little while, I realize that meeting and taking care of all of these wonderful animals enriches my life that much more, and I wouldn't give it up for the world. Please say a prayer for Bear and his family, who loved him so much, yet had to let him go.

Oh, that is so sad. I will pray that bear is happy and healthy playing over the bridge..Poor little guy.

It is amazing work you do and I hope you never give it up.

Godspeed over RB, Bear! And MenagerieMama, please accept my condolences. I am sorry that your work does have the too-frequent sad times, but I thank God that caring people like you somehow find the courage & love to carry on - where would those animals be without someone with your love & strength to be there for them in their time of need?? Alas, there are too few special people such as yourself in this world to do all the work helping these wonderful creatures - you are a real treasure!! Hugs, Susan
P.S. I am sure that your concern for Bear and sadness at his passing gave comfort to the greiving family.

Bless his little heart I hope his family, and not forgetting yourself Shannon find the strength knowing that Bear is jumping around over Rainbow Bridge now

Have fun Bear

I'm so sorry to hear about Bear.

Bless your heart. Sometimes we are so caught up in our own grief that we forget about the ones who deal with this all the time. I will never forget the look on my vet's face and his wife, who works with him, when I had to make that decision with Max last summer. I knew they were hurting and would loved to have changed things for Max and me. All of you are special people.
Thanks from the bottom of my heart to all of you out there.

My condelences Shannon
RIP Bear

Deepest condolences on the loss of Bear. He sounds like he was a wonderful dog.

I have found in working as a nurse, that when it is your close friends or family who are ill or dying, you need to act as a friend or family member, not a nurse. I think that since you are Bear's friend, you were right not to act as a vet tech when his time came. You were right to step aside and let your co-workers help him over the Bridge, while you were there in spririt only, as his friend.