WATCHING A BELOVED DOG "AGE"

Pinky is 12 plus... its my practice to stop counting after 12 years old. Its too hard to think of the loss or aging of my dogs, so I stop counting at 12.
I lived in a house with Tippy and her puppies for 4 years. When I moved to a smaller apartment, I could only keep two of my five dogs. I was heart broken. I gave Coochie to my nephew, Yoni, because Coochie was as laid back of Yoni. I gave Precious to my Aunt Bronka because she had lost a dog. Blue Beany went to a friend nearby, Each of the dogs loved their new homes... and they changed with their new owners.
Coochie got even more laid back and sits on a lap 24/7. Bronka likes to hold Precious across her chest. As the tiniest one of the dogs, sitting across a comfortable chest is a great pillow. Blue beany became a JAP! This was difficult for me. I thought of my five dogs as a rock n roll band with an attitide. Seeing one of them all girlied up was a bit too much for me.
I kept Pinky. She was the most nervous of my dogs. I worried about her and thought she would have a hard time without alot of attention. In truth, it is Pinky who has watched over me for all these years.
In the last year, last few months I see her age. It is difficult to see a beloved dog slow down. I am seeing her change more radically than ever before and I keep holding her close.
I find myself saying "dont' go .. I am not ready...

evie litwok/ tippy/ the tippy story