It's never easy to see an old and very much loved family pet depart for the great beyond, and when one has to decide "when it's time" the ordeal is ever harder. But, last week our 13-year old Alaska Malamute Mystee could no longer find the strength in her hind legs to move herself, so we had no choice. She had been holding her own for the past six months or so, but even with medicine and loving care we could only do so much. She had a great life, and for such a large dog, 13 years is a very long one. She was the second Malamute we have had, the other was a large male. They were both great dogs, and as many have said, if you've ever raised a Malamute then you definitely know how to deal with dogs. The breed can be very stubborn at times, but no dog is more loving.
It's going to take a few weeks to alter the daily routine we've gotten into with her walking, feeding, petting and so forth. Plus, not having to step over her large body when walking down the narrow hallway where she liked to lay, or constantly picking up clumps of her shedding hair mostly throughout the year will take time to forget. But, we still have the two cats around doing "their thing".
