About two months ago my family found out my dog had cancer...she was 14 years old so it really wasn't too much of a shock. The vet told us she either had 2 months or 2 years left. Pretty vague. So, my parents decided to get her pain pills. Not only because that would help her, but it was the only option since she was too old to have surgery. She was doing better. She was able to walk around the house more and she was more playful and didn't hate to be pet. Then, she slowly started getting worse. I didn't want to see it at first, until I had to force myself to realize she might not be with us much longer. She wasn't eating...she laid around all day...and she didn't even want to go outside to go the bathroom. The vet also said if she started vomiting it was a bad sign...guess what happened? I was at my friends house and we were watching movies and playing games on the Wii. She was helping to distract me from the dramas of my life (my break up with my boyfriend, my sick dog, and my sister moving to Florida with her now husband) and for a little while I thought, "Hey, maybe things are finally turning around." It was about 3:30a.m. and we were saying our good byes when my phone rang. It was my mom..typical. I figured I was going to get a call from her soon because I wasn't home yet. But this phone call was different...she sounded exhausted and distressed. She asked if I was coming home or staying the night at my friends & when I said I was just about to leave she blurted out, "Penny's sick. Your Dad and I are going to take her to the vet tomorrow morning and she might not come back." I had no idea how to react to this...the dog that I have had since I was 6 years old was going to die. On our hand none the less. I rushed home to find my mom and sisters crying and sitting with her in the living room...and, of course, I joined them. We were up until 5:30am with her. When I got up at 8:00 to get ready for work my family was already awake...it was a sleepless night in the Rate household. My dad came home and we said our final goodbyes. He put her leash on and walked her out to the car and she started wagging her tail because she was going for a ride, even though it was her last. I said, "Don't be excited!" and we couldn't control our emotions any longer...this was one of the worst days I had had in a long time. She was my companion. My best friend. Whenever I had a bad day I would hug and pet her and sometimes sing/dance around the room and she seemed to like that. When she would look at me it was as if she was saying, I'll be ok Stacey. I'm here for you." It's going to be hard coming home and not seeing her. In my mind she still isn't gone. It just feels like she is in another room sleeping, or she's at the groomers getting a haircut. I don't think it will sink in for another few days. I still remember everything that happened the day we got Penny...and I will never ever forget her. She was the best dog and will be irreplaceable.
