Sometimes the sweetest blessings in life can be the the bitterest pills to swallow. That’s how it is with an aging dog. If both the dog and owner are aged, it becomes a concern when it’s time to put the dog to sleep. I thought putting my own dog down was hard. I found out that putting my Mom’s beloved Molly to sleep was a hundred times worse.
Mom didn’t want a dog, inside or outside of the house. But Dad died, and Mom was left alone for the first time in her life. After a month or two, we kids decided to give Mom a choice. Either she would pick a dog out, or we would bring one home to her. She opted to pick her own and filled out a form at the Humane Society stating what she wanted. Mom prayed about choosing the right dog, and two weeks later, on a Sunday, Miss Molly came into Mom’s life.
Molly was a stray and had to be shaved of her once long hair. But home she went and that was the beginning of 14 wonderful years together. Mom was 65 at the time, and Miss Molly was 2. Fourteen years later, Molly started to show odd behavior; the vet said it was kidney failure. There was no cure, and Mom knew what was coming.
Mom and Molly struggled with new sleep, potty, and eating schedules. We were all concerned about them, but we knew it was Mom’s call as to when Molly would “go home.”
The call came late one morning; Miss Molly was worse. I drove Mom and Molly to the vet and held Molly while the vet administered the first shot. Looking at my mom’s face, watching the tears stream, I wanted to protect her and Molly. Mom comforted Molly, and soon, her woolly little friend was gone. We took her home and buried her with her blanket, dolly, and treat.
Mom is grieving; I don’t see that ending soon. There are several pictures of Molly around the house, and one bed remains in the kitchen. My prayer is that Mom will find another Molly. I fear if she doesn’t, that special joy in her will be lost forever. Molly brought Mom out of her shell and softened her after Dad died. No pill could do what that wonderful dog did for her.