For the fur babies everywhere.

Starchip
2002-2014

This post is for our greyhound starchip. Sadly, we put her down this morning.

She was one of the good ones. Never barked. Loved to graze. Happiest being alone to do her thing.

Pets are part of our family. It hurts when you have to make that decision... even when they are suffering.

We have old dogs. We had 5, until one passed in 2012. Then we had four. Now we have 3.

So long went by when we assumed children weren't in our future. In fact, on our 6 month anniversary (of dating) we adopted Hero our beagle. 13 years ago last week.

In retrospect that was a huge mistake. She was completely insane and had separation anxiety. She would poop and pee in the house every single time we left. Every. Single. Time.

So we adopted more dogs to ease the anxiety.  It makes sense right? (Idiots!) Within 3 years we had 4 more.

Hero, Starchip, Tully, Billy, & Chucky
This was our Christmas card a few years ago.

Chucky was the oldest greyhound. He was 8 years old when we adopted him. He had never had a family before until us. He lived in a crate his whole life.

His long gangly legs had arthritis in them and he always leaned on Starchip. As much of a loner as she was, in his last weeks she was his crutch. There was rarely a time he was standing that she wasn't there to let him lean against her.

Chucky's last days. Starchip lurks in waiting in case he needs help.

 When we had to make the decision to put Chucky down, he was just a skeleton with one swollen limb, a host to bone cancer. He wasn't eating, he could barely walk, and he panted nonstop... a sure sign of doggie pain.

It felt like we were murderers. Our hearts had been ripped from our bodies and we would never be happy again. As time does, it healed our wounds and made us promise to do a better job with the others: More treats, more walks, more hugs.

Nothing could change that, even the arrival of our daughter 3 months later. But change happens whether you like it or not.

Barking would send me running with an angry face and a "SSSSHHHHHH!!" Which they would just look at me like I was crazy.

Filling the food and water bowls was a nuisance. I was constantly vacuuming dog hair.

Even the clicking of their nails on the hardwood floors would grate my sleep deprived nerves.

One dog started peeing in the house. We took him to a vet and they said it was emotional. He never stopped. It's been 2 years and a lot of diapers but we deal with it because he is a part of the family.

The joy of taking care of the dogs was replaced by annoyed thoughts - "just another 4 more beings to take care of before myself!" Now I want to punch myself in the face for those thoughts.

As much as I was annoyed, I still understood that our dogs were old and they had never been around babies, or children... or probably anyone that was under 21.

One day the inevitable happened.  Our oldest dog was napping on the living room floor. Kenzie was 12 months old and had just started getting more confident on her legs. She was twirling and fell over on him.

He jumped up and bit. As I turned around I just saw her crouched down on the floor with her head down. I grabbed him by the collar and ran him upstairs behind the baby gate. Kenzie sat crying on the floor and there were two little tooth marks on the back of her head.

I was furious, mostly at myself. I knew better than to leave him in the room with us. I couldn't do anything to him. He is old and partially blind. He wouldn't have learned anything from a spanking or yelling. I just vowed to never have him in the same room as the kids ever again.

Our dogs are old. All of them are headed down that road to weight loss, arthritis, and diapers.

I need to remember that they didn't ask to be stuck in a house with two tiny children during their golden years. They assumed life would be as it always was... just the pack.

So today I grieve for my beloved Starchip, so sorry old girl for throwing a wrench in your retirement plan. I hope you find Chucky in the meadow in the sky and can graze as much as your stomach will allow.

A message from our beloved vet in Colorado springs.

Let us never forget the fur babies we cared for before children.

Rest in peace old girl.