It is so hard to say goodbye to a beloved companion animal and to make a decision when the quality of life is not at the high standard we set as responsible and loving pet people. Yet it is precisely because we have set such a standard that we cannot let them suffer. Euthanasia was once defined in a single phrase that says it is "when we take their pain and make it our own". That is never more true than when we face the agonizing decision about what is right for our faithful companions. My heart goes out to both of you who write today of having to make that decision to help your beloved pets to a final peace. To grieve deeply and let the tears come shows the depth of our love and the heartache that does not go away even when the head is dictating what the right decision is to be. I, too, believe the spirit is never far away from us. There is a heart connection that transcends the physical presence and the limits of time. It is always there, and our beloved animals reside in a special chamber of the heart never to be separated from us. Visiting that chamber is sometimes very painful in the aftermath. It is may not be a safe haven at first, but the memories of the best times can never be silenced. In time they line the path to that special place, and the voyage there is not so painful. Smiles replace tears and the joy of knowing that your beloved companion has been and always will be unique and wonderful to this world can help the healing process. We never get over the loss one hundred per cent; nor should we have to. We can be thankful for the time we have had and the difference we made in the lives of our pets and for all that they have given us in return-- love, loyalty, devotion, companionship and much more. I hope those memories will lead you as you go along your way. May hope for the future join those memories to help you bring a balance back to your life. Seek the support of those who truly understand whether it be family, friends, or people in a discussion forum such as this. You deserve no less at this difficult time of life. Know that you are not alone in your journey. I wish you peace.