Our sweet Charlotte has died. We found out just after Christmas that she had cancer in the left side of her brain stem. We managed her pain the best we could, but we realized on January 3rd that it was time to do the humane thing and put her to sleep. I was not prepared for how much it would hurt to lose her. I think it's easy for people to undervalue the emotional impact of losing a pet, and minimize the sadness when they haven't known the love and companionship of such a sweet pup. Everyone thinks their dog is the best, and not one of them is wrong, but Charlotte was so...incredibly...wonderful. That day was traumatic for all of us, including our other pets who were by her side when she passed. We are so grateful for the kind veterinarian that came to our house and helped her transition in comfort. In the hours leading up to it, we fed her a giant hamburger, painted her nails, shared sweet stories about her life, and cuddled here through the entire process. It was devastating and precious. My heart hurt. It actually physically hurt. She was a massive part of our daily lives and it's hard to wrap our minds around this huge void. Watching my kids struggle with so much grief is one of the hardest things I've done so far as a parent. If you're lucky enough to still have your sweet animal, please scoop them up and give them extra love for me. Health and life are truly fleeting.
