madbaker | Oft Gang A-gley

A couple weeks ago I got the name of a home-visit vet euthanasia service recommended by our regular vet, so that we didn't have to scramble looking when it was time. But they didn't have any openings until tomorrow. I didn't think Galen could wait two days - we just needed to end his pain. Also, I really didn't want to make our 20^th wedding anniversary about that. (Between the lockdown and this having happened, it's going to be hard enough to celebrate.)

So much for advance planning. They suggested I try the list of other home-visit vets from their website. I was able to contact a vet in Martinez to come out. Yes, we had to pay for her travel time, but at that point that was about the least of our concerns.

She showed up right on time. Somehow I doubt traffic was an issue, although parking turned out to be - with SF not enforcing parking limits, our street is jammed with (probably) hospital workers. (I suppose I shouldn't complain about that but it just means they're parking here rather than in the garage across from the hospital.) Of course she was in full mask and gloves and apologized several times for not offering hugs, etc. We completely understood the need for precautions.

Galen had had some lap time earlier in the day, but now was just lying in his heated bed. He didn't react much to the vet, or to either of the injections. I think he still continued to fight the sedative, but we could tell he was tired. As I said earlier, his will was still strong but the rest of him wasn't. It did its job and he drifted off.

We cried. The vet took him off. Eventually we will get his ashes back to bury in the yard.

Of course I keep looking out of the corner of my eye for him, and expecting him to show up at the top of the stairs when we come in the front door. That habit will take a while to fade.