I often recall her last days. I would go downstairs and stay with her in the garage till around 9 p.m. when I would go back upstairs. She often lay on her mattress and pillows looking at me while I worked. I would read or made bead necklaces.

It was always so hard leaving her to go back upstairs to sleep. She was a wimp, I often called her chicken. She did not like to sleep alone. During winter months, she would climb the stairs to our bedroom and slept with us. Only summer heat was able to get her to sleep downstairs alone. And now she had to sleep all alone in the garage. It fair broke my heart.

Limping or hurting, she never missed her morning walk. However, during the last months, there were days she would tell me she was not going anywhere. I let her take the lead. She started limping more and more.

The weather was getting hot. I knew I had to let go of her. There was no way she could sleep in the garden in the humid summer heat. Not unless I get an air conditioner for her and knew hubby would never say yes.

And so one day, I decided it was time and brought her to the vet.