The last few days have been really rough for me.

I took my sweet old dog Astro to the vet yesterday for the last time. He was over 16 years old, which for a large breed dog is beyond ancient. Two days ago I tried to send him on his way myself with an overdose of pain medications, but instead he got really perky and felt great. So much for my career as a poisoner.

We got Astro second hand 7 years ago this week. His former owner loved him so very much, so much in fact that she realized that she was working way too many hours and needed to find a family that had a kid and time for him.

He was such a funny dog, and thinking about his antics is bitter sweet. He loved chasing helium balloons, and he'd figured out how to pull them down by their strings. Other favorite games of his included anything with Water, being a Lab and all, tearing apart cardboard boxes and demolishing pumpkins.

Being a Lab, he loved to eat as well. Some of his favorite foods were lettuce, eggplant, thai food, flour and Cookies of all types. The only people food I would give him with any regularity was veggies, and he sure loved his radishes. Of course, he would turn up his nose at mushrooms and tomatoes, but watch your fingers with eggplant!

All evening I kept expecting to hear him walking across the hardwood floors, or making the chuffing noises he would make in his sleep. My house is eerily quiet now. Even the chinchillas wonder where he is.

I miss my old dog. My old yellow dog who was so old he wasn't even yellow any more.

Even the vet was crying when he put him down.

I'm so sorry Crystal. It's so hard to let a beloved pet go.

Oh gosh, so sorry to hear about Astro. Our loving Luke died in our arms last year after being with us for 17 years and "raising" our kids. Sooo incredibly hard. Sounds like your vet is very compassionate.

Yeah, it's probably best you don't go into the "poisoning" business alright!

Again, so sorry for you. (HUGS)

Huggs Vines on the loss of a dear old friend.

Hi. These are the hardest threads for me. They render me speechless. He was lucky to have such a funny and loving mom in return.

A Pet's Loss: In your heart, you probably realize that in time the sadness you're feeling will fade. For now, just know that it's all right to hurt... it's all right to cry... it's only throught cring you learn what it's like to laugh... only after feeling sadness can you really experience joy. So allow yourself to feel what is natural... but know that someday life will be better... It will be easier to smile.

Aw Crystal.

I'm so sorry. I hope Astro is running in green fields and sunshine.

Hugs!