Roo

After nearly 17 years of companionship, my best friend and traveling companion (Ruach Wanderer; Wandering Wind) Roo for short, has died. Roo had been fighting a cancerous tumor in his sinus cavity for the last 6 months. He had been doing pretty well until 2 months ago when it ulcerated creating Rob Zombie like blood fest throughout the house. It was the second time it had happened. I was hoping for the same results as the first time.
The first time it happened, 8 months ago, Roo had gone from being lethargic to being relieved of all the pressure and he was once again running around like a maniac keeping order in the house and herding the cat.
This time that wasn't the case. He was more panicked and his breath was coming in gasps it was painful to see. After a few days he was leveling off but his constant napping and long gaps between breaths let me know his leaving me would be pretty soon.
It wasn't soon. I had to make a decision about his life that I wasn't ever thinking I would make. I had to decide to put my dog down; put him to "sleep"; whatever the polite words to describe it, I had to decide whether or not I wanted to KILL my dog, My BEST friend.
When I think about Roo as being my best friend it makes the decision much simpler. My Human friends, Bill, Fred, Karl, Nathan, would not be happy with simply existing, breathing in short gasps not ever getting to walk around the block, not able to play with their favorite (chew) toys. They all enjoy Life far too much.

I'll write more... but I need to get packed.. we are moving today.. and this really has me down... J