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When I come home, my dogs are excited to see me and they enjoy doing what they do. When that is no longer the case, it is time to let them go. If an owner's decision is based on not wanting to let their friend go, then it has probably gone too far. Prolonging a dogs suffering might help the family cope with it, but all it does is prolong an animal's suffering. If you look into their eyes and put your emotions aside, you know.
We've got an eleven year old Border Collie German Shepard mix who has pretty bad arthritis and hip dysplasia. She's been on medication for a couple of years now and really started to slow down. She's the best dog ever but I know she wont be around forever. She wags her tail and still jumps when I come home. She's happy. I've told myself when she is no longer happy, when she's in pain, when she can't wag her tail, it's time.