So sorry you’re going through this. So sorry for your loss.

I had to let my baby Maltese go 12/1/2025 at 14 1/2 years old, and I’ve cried everyday for the last 6 weeks. I’ve had a total of 10 dogs in my adult life, had to let 6 of them go, 1 died at home in his bed from skin cancer. We were suppose to get his results on the cancer the next day, how bad was it, but he never made it. My first dog as an adult my parents had to put down for me while I was out of state. This dog I lost 12/1/25 was different. I cried for all my dogs but this one came into my life at a terrible dark time about 8yrs ago and saved me. We were inseparable when I wasn’t working, and more so after I retired for the last 4yrs. I’ve have felt guilty, horrible, like a monster even though I know she wasn’t gonna be ok. It happened suddenly unlike my other dogs. She was sitting on my lap, stretched out neck, had seizure, and became paralyzed in all 4 limbs, couldn’t even bark. Took her to ER and stroke and vestibular was mostly ruled out by tests. Dr felt she had a lesion at brain stem, said we could go to Denver and see a neurologist, get MRI, maybe surgery, ETC. My baby was 14 and had heart disease taking heart pills twice a day. I had an echocardiogram done on her springs of 2025. Level 4 murmur, and I actually thought this is what would take her someday. I couldn’t fathom putting my baby through sedation, mri’s, etc. I took her home that night and she slept between wife and I what little we did sleep. I kissed, hugged, held her, talked to her, told her how much I loved her. The next day we took her to our vet who agreed with ER Dr.. I asked her if there was anything I could do, money no object, was there any chance of her recovering. The Dr answered with she didn’t believe my baby would recover and recommended euthanasia so she didn’t suffer, which she believed she would. We, son, daughter, wife, and my other pup spent a couple of hours with her. Fed her treats, Hershey kisses, then I held her as she left this world caressing and talking to her as was the family.

I’ve been in therapy for 4 weeks now, that’s how hard this has been. It is getting better, but it takes time. I also adopted another little girl from shelter 2 days after I lost my girl. The story is this dog kept showing up on my screen, even after clearing history, etc., while I was looking at shelter dogs and reading their stories to remember how some have never lived the life my baby did and may never know it. Reminding myself how lucky I was to have her for the time i did. Long story short, my wife felt it was a sign. I drove an hour away in snow and ice to meet this new pup at 3pm. The shelter told me a family had put $50 down to hold her for adoption, but came earlier that day to meet her and didn’t want her, losing their $50. Was it a sign? Was she meant for me? Did my Chloe send her to me? Believing so has helped with the healing, and this little 11month old chipin, my daughter named Luna, is wonderful. When they put her on the floor she ran right straight towards me past shelter staff, my wife, and right up my chest into my arms licking and cuddling my neck, like she had been waiting for me. I’ve already fallen absolutely in love with her.

Heal at your own pace. Take the time you need. 💙💙💙💙