Another 'Niki'

I frequently house-sit for people, and although I take on the random job, mostly I do for a few different familes.

This one family I have been sitting for more than a decade now. They had one dog when I first met them, and adopted another through the shelter I worked with. The one dog, a shih-tzu named Niki, was getting to be quite elderly (I believe she was 18) and has been slowly going 'downhill' for a while now. Her dad had previously asked me when it is 'time' and how he'll know. A question that doesn't really have a good answer, and is far too personal to put into words.. "you just know" is the only way to describe what it means to make the decision that your companion is no longer enjoying quality of life, and then accept responsibility to end their suffering. She wasn't living in pain, she wasn't debilitated and suffering, but when is enough "enough" ? I've often wondered that about my Pyxie, and I pray she makes it easy on me, either by going in her sleep (actually possible with her disease!) or by making it clear to me that there is no other unselfish choice.

And I think Niki finaly did that for them and they offered her a last gift of peace.

When I found out I was (obviously) heart broken for them-she was their 'first child' and had been with them through many stages.

I don't cope well with grief. Especially publicly or for others. I don't know eloquent words meant to express empathy. I know heart ache and loss, and that there are no words to ease such burdens.

and I know clay. and I cherish the opportunity to make a miniature figure of a beloved pet

So this weekend when I house-sat for them for the first time since Niki's death, I left behind a miniature...

 



It won't do any big part to ease their loss, but I hope that they took it as a gesture of empathy.

<3