We had to do the unthinkable as we put our beloved Lab mix Chloe in her forever sleep...to do anything less was just selfishness on our part as she was in constant pain...still it was with the heaviest of hearts we said goodbye to her. She was smart, funny, loving...and always up for a snack. I know we did the right thing for her, but I still have all these "what-ifs" running through my head, and it hurts a lot.
We had the good fortune to get Chloe when she was 7 months old. We were going to do a one night trial run and see how it went. And boy, it sure went! Over the next 15 years she helped raise our sons, and I felt made our family complete. Ryder and Chloe were besties instantly, as a 10 year old boy and his dog usually are. AJ was just 3 and he was not so sure about this big, doofy lug of a dog that was in his house, and when I was tucking him in that night he asked me to have those people take the dog back. I told him we should give it a chance and sure enough, by the next morning, AJ was singing a different tune as he playfully wrapped his hands around Chloe's neck and loved on her as she wagged her tail and ate her breakfast. You could feel the love, and really the rest is as they say, history. The boys and dog were pretty much inseparable, and when Ryder moved out the bond between Chloe and AJ grew even more. I am so thankful we had the time that we did, and my boys were able to grow up with such a wonderful pet, who gave the love back and who taught us so much about life and each other. I will always cherish those memories, and Chloe will never be forgotten. Rest In Peace, you sneaky rascal you! And I hope you do find your friends Noodle and Tessa in Heaven...because we know that all dogs do indeed go to Heaven. We love you Chloe, and always will.
Photo: Chloe Thinking About Bacon...