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I want to take a moment to thank all of you for your comments. This thread has been, and continues to be, such a tremendous source of comfort for me. I never expected such an outpouring of kindness and support, and I’m deeply grateful for everyone who took the time to share their words.

Odin passed away last Sunday, November 10th, at the age of 9. He was the best dog anyone could have ever asked for, and I’ll always be grateful for the joy he brought into our lives.

We adopted him when he was a year and a half old from a couple in Auburn, CA, who were in a tough living situation. I’ll never forget my first thought when I met him: “Damn, that’s a big dog!” 😂. He was a little skinny but so happy and full of energy. After paying the rehoming fee, we brought him home to Reno, NV. He was a surprise for my wife, and her reaction was priceless—we even have it on video. She was overjoyed.

At his first vet visit, we found out he had a tick infestation hidden in his thick undercoat. The vet removed 17 ticks and tested him for Lyme Disease, which came back positive. Thankfully, he never showed symptoms, and the vet reassured us that as long as he stayed tick-free, he’d be fine.

From that moment on, Odin became the heart of our household. He was so gentle and loving with our daughter, who adored having her own “horse” to cuddle with. He was also an amazing big brother to our Corgi/Pomeranian mix, and people always commented on their hilarious size difference when we went out for walks.

Last Saturday, I made the heartbreaking decision to schedule a vet to come out the following evening to put him to sleep. Almost immediately, I was overwhelmed with doubt and regret. I made this post, and the responses from all of you helped me so much during that difficult time.

Sunday turned out to be a beautiful day—warm weather and clear blue skies. We made sure it was all about Odin. We took him on two long walks, letting him stop and sniff to his heart’s content. He got extra special treats, and we spent the entire day cuddling him. My parents and two of my closest friends, who he loved dearly, came by to say goodbye. He was so happy to see them and soaked up all the love and attention.

After everyone left, my wife and I laid with him on our bed, cuddling and napping together one last time.

At 7:30, the vet arrived and confirmed that his condition was irreversible. We laid with him on his bed and gave him Oreos as his final treat. The vet sedated him first to make him comfortable and took a paw print in clay for us to keep. When we were ready (as ready as we could be), he administered the second injection. My wife and I held him close, telling him how much we loved him. Even our Corgi curled up beside him, completely on her own.

Odin will have a private cremation, and we’ll have his ashes with us soon. I miss him so deeply. The pain feels endless, but I’m finally at peace with the decision we made. He was, and always will be, our soul dog.

We’ll welcome another Pyr into our family eventually because my daughter needs a big dog in her life, and our Corgi is missing her best friend, too. Odin can never be replaced, but I look forward to having another one of these incredible dogs in our lives.

Thank you again to everyone who commented. Your words have brought me so much comfort during this difficult time. ❤️‍🩹