Our family has been experiencing some sadness during this holiday which should be a joyous time.  My granddaughter, Shauna lost her dog, Mia due to a series of strokes that happened shortly before Christmas.  Her dog wasn’t that old so it was unexpected.  On that same day Mike and I took my cat, Daisy to the vet for a scheduled check-up.  Poor Daisy had been having some health problems but at the time seemed to be recovering but after xrays revealed some serious problems, including water on her lungs which was making it difficult for her to breathe, the vet recommended that she should be euthanized  because she would be getting increasingly worse.  I began crying  and decided to go to the car so as not to disturb other people who were bringing their pets to the vet for minor reasons.  Thank God Michael offered to be the one to stay with her to comfort  her during the procedure.  

That experience upset him so much that he still is not ready for me to get another cat.  I will be getting one after the holidays are over from the same shelter I got Daisy from.

Shauna has already replaced her dog with a puppy who is responding well  in his new family.  Mike’s old dog, Andy will probably be the next animal of ours to pass away.  

 We all handle our grief in different ways, but I know, I will eventually recover. My advice to anyone casually  considering getting a pet is not to do so unless you are totally committed to the idea because they require a lot of time and care that you may not be  ready for.  However, it is very joyful and comforting and gratifying to save an animal that may be doomed  to a death if someone doesn’t step in and save it.  In other words, consider all your options carefully.   Good luck  in all your endeavors  and here’s wishing you much joy and peace in this happy season.  .  .