Had to put down my Best Friend today.

He was a 15 lb terrier mix. Scruffy. We had him for almost 10 years. Adopted him from a rescue. We were his 5th home because people kept returning him.

I actually adopted him for my wife. But he latched on to me and was always by my side. I work from home - he has a bed by my side in the home office. He slept on the bed with us upstairs at night.

It wasn't unexpected. He had kidney failure and was slowly getting worse. He woke me up at 5 this morning, whining. I took him outside to pee. He peed, then started having a seizure. That's when I knew it was time. The mobile vet didn't open until 8, but I texted them anyways. The next 3+ hours were rough.

After the first seizure, he was not the same. He wanted to get up and walk, but he can't see or hear. He kept going in circles and falling. I tried to hold and comfort him, but it was challenging. I finally got him to relax on the bed for a bit.

Then he got wiggly again around 7. Ended up having another seizure. He came out of that one and I comforted him again. Got him back on the bed to relax. The ETA for the mobile vet was 9-930. Each minute felt like an eternity. I was so sad for him to leave us.

9:00 hits and the vet has not arrived. He's still calm on the bed. Around 9:10, he started having another seizure. It was bad. When he stopped seizing, he was howling and barking, seemingly in pain. The vet showed up a few minutes later. She gave him the sedation meds which calmed him, but basically zonked him out. But at least he was at peace.

We said our goodbyes (again) and she gave him his final dose. We held him and comforted him until the end.

I carried him out to the car (he will be cremated) and watched him leave us.

Buddy, I miss you and love you. I know you'll be waiting for me wherever you are.