by Jackie Spiers

Being an animal lover, I think the most agonising and heart wrenching decison I have had to make so far in my life, was to have my loving and loyal best friend of 16 years, put to sleep.

Jake, was a German Sheppard kelpie cross who I acquired from the Peninsula Animal Aid, while I was working there as a volunteer when I was a teenager. Jake had been injured and I nursed hime to good health. He has lived a comfortable life.

However, the years had rolled on and unfortunately old age caught up. Jake was suffering from osteo-athritis and despite treatment was becoming frail. It was heart breaking to see him struggle getting up to walk. He gradually became too weak to walk without falling.

I had to step back from my emotions and really look at his quality of life and whether he was happy the way he was. I found myself asking, "Am I doing the right thing?" " Is now really the time?" When I looked at Jake, I saw a tired old friend. I knew it was time to let him go with dignity.

So often, at work I have to help clients with this painful process. It is always best to make the experience as smooth and peaceful as possible. For me, I decided to have Jake put to sleep at home and have him cremated. I laid him on his bed in my room, held him and let him drift gently off to sleep for the last time. He went to sleep peacefully and I was comforted by my family. Steve and Angie from Pets Eternal Peace were wonderful, arranging his cremation and promptly returning his ashes in a white urn which now sits on my bedside table.

Sometimes we love our pets so much we become selfish in our decisions and refuse to let them go. Once Jake was gone, I missed him, but I was relieved for him. I still have the special memories and will have forever.

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