Please, Your Kind Thoughts

We are waiting, here at That Old House,
for our beloved dog Dion
to decide it is time to leave us.

At 13 years and 4 months, Dion -- our Peter Pan, our perpetual

teenage prankster -- is getting tired.  It's become clear

over the last few weeks that his life is winding down.

 Resting on Anne's lap.

Sometimes Dion wants to be with one of his people;

other times he asks to be left alone.

Dion in 2010.

He could easily hop onto all the furniture, and

even onto kitchen counters to cruise for snacks.

 Also in 2010, at my Dad's 90th birthday party,

sneaking snacks from the kids. 

Walks are short now, just around the house,

and sometimes Dion's legs don't cooperate.

He is closer to the ground than he used to be.

Even chipmunks don't much interest him anymore.

It's hard for me to reconcile this handsome young man. . . .

 with this sweet little old guy.

Dion has lost some of his special dog powers that made him

such a special dog, but he hasn't lost one bit of our love.

If you are a pet owner, you know how we are feeling.

Dion is a strong link to our past;

he is the last of our trio of wonderful Cavaliers,

the dogs our girls grew up with.

He was born when Alida and Anne were in middle school,

and they are grown women now.

They were puppies together, Dion and his "pet girls."

I'm not ready to lose him, and all the memories

contained in his small and loving self.

Wish him luck, please; he has a vet appointment in the morning,

and I'm hoping there is yet another treatment or medication.

They break our hearts, our dogs.

They also fill them.

Thanks for listening. -- Cass