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How to prepare for your dog’s death
It may not happen soon, but I want to be ready when it does.
Recently, I had the first close call with my dog of 9 years. He was so close to dying that he didn’t even recognize his name or perk up when I said “treat?” or “pepperoni?” — this is extremely out of character for him. I could say pepperoni from a block away and he’d come running, snout in the air, eyes so wide that their might pop out.
Being this close to death with the one thing that I have truly, completely, and utterly loved unconditionally had me feeling completely lost. I did not know what to do with myself, I didn’t know what to do with my emotions, and I wasn’t sure how I could move on. To me, this is the equivalent of losing a child— since I never want to have actual human children.
Fortunately, he recovered. And it has made me incredibly grateful that I get another chance to connect with him, but it also makes me profoundly aware of how unprepared I am for the day that he dies.
I’m in my 30’s and he’s 13 or 14 (in his late 70's), so he likely will die before I do — and I want to be at peace with that. I need to be at peace with that. My fellow dog lovers on here will relate, I’m sure. So, I decided to write about my process now in getting ready for this.
