Sad day in 2022

Yesterday we said goodbye to Duchess, my almost ten-year-old Great Dane. She was the sweetest giant, and I will miss her so much, but her health issues had gotten bad over the past few month - her hips were stiff despite medications and supplements, and we realized over the weekend she was nearly incontinent.

Anticipation is the worst part. We made the decision on Monday and I cried for two days. But my good friend works for an in-home euthanasia service, so she came yesterday while the kids were at school and it was tremendously peaceful. (We had told the kids about it the night before but didn’t want them to be there for the actual end.)

I cried during and afterwards, and drank two bottles of wine last night. I went to bed at 9pm and slept really, really hard. This morning the house feels more empty, but surprisingly I don’t have a hangover.

I know it was time, but I will miss her so much. I told our remaining three dogs they all have to be better animals now to compensate for her not being with us.