my poor arlo

Yesterday my sweet dog Arlo got out of my yard, and was struck by a car. A man in the neighborhood called me, as I was out on an errand.

After about an hour of painful hysterics on my part and through the help of many people I got him to my vet. They stabilized him and gave him morphine to ease his pain. They took x-rays and made an assessment.

His pelvis was broken in several places. My choices were to take him to a specialty hospital where they would continue to monitor him, give him pain meds, and probably recommend multiple surgeries that may or may not have given him his quality of life back, or to euthanize him. My vet was very straight with me; he told me that euthanasia was a completely legitimate course of action, and that he would tell me if he felt otherwise.

I chose to have him put down. Because of the extent of his injuries, the great lengths that would have had to be taken to try to fix him and the huge cost that would have incurred, and lastly and most sadly for me is the fact that I am not well enough to tend to the recovery needs he would have had.

I got home today from an appointment and his absence was like a 10 ton anvil slamming down on my heart.

I plan to have him cremated and to bury his ashes under the fig tree in my back yard. I will also sprinkle some above ground so they can blow away, because he did like to run off and have his adventures. There is not a particular place that he loved ~ he loved anywhere he was able to get attention and food. He was sweet and funny; every time sirens go off and I don't hear him baying his elegant mournful beagle howl my heart will miss him.