When your Border Collie crosses over the bridge, it can be overwhelming,  I know, I've been there, and at times I still am.    If you need a place to bury your beloved pet and companion, let me know, we have room here at Dogwood Ridge.   A place you can visit and know that they will be surrounded by border collies playing and running as long as I am alive.  They would be right at home here on the farm...with other border collies as it should be...

When is it time?

When your pet is old or sick, you're faced with a heartbreaking decision: Is it time for euthanasia?

It's almost never an easy decision to put your dog down. You may worry it's too soon. That it's too late. That it's not right. Yet it's a decision most of us eventually face.

Unless some tragedy befalls your pet, you are going to have to make this choice.  We all hope our pet will pass painlessly in their sleep, but that rarely happens.  And while it may feel like the right thing to let nature take its course, a natural death is rarely kind if it means prolonged pain.

But how do you know if your pet is suffering, and how do you know the right time?

Before you think about putting your pet to sleep, you need the advice of a vet who knows you and your pet well, share your thoughts and fears with your vet, and get their input. Don't hesitate to get a second opinion from another vet or a specialist.

Explore your pet's treatment options and the pros and cons of each option. The goal is ultimately to give our pets the best chance of a good quality of life.

Be honest with yourself. Would you want this operation or therapy, and what about the additional or prolonged pain they may bring?

No one knows your pet like you do. You've been there for the years of love, play, and affection.

So think of three or four things your pet really enjoys -- such as fetching a ball, playing with a certain toy, or just being with you. Can they still do and enjoy these things?

Then ask: Does your pet still have an appetite? Can they maintain bladder and bowel functions easily? Are they interested in doing the things they normally do?

When there are no effective treatment options, when their bodies are failing or they’re in pain, and when most of your pet's joys are compromised, it's "probably time to consider humane euthanasia, just because your pet is alive, it does not mean that they are living.

Every day we have with our dog is precious. But consider whether getting more time hampers your pet's quality of life.

The pain of losing a dog is hard enough without the regret that they suffered. When it comes time for this decision, know that you're doing this for your pet and not to them.

There's no shortcut around grief. You simply have to let yourself grieve, however long it takes. "There are no time tables or benchmarks for getting over it.

And don't let people tell you 'it's just a pet,' because it's not ... it's a family member, even if you feel confident in your choice to put your pet to sleep, you may still feel great pain before and after. Remember the good times you had with your companion, and know that the sadness of their loss is a small payment for all the joy and happiness that our dog has brought us.