Yesterday I lost my second pet this year. [View all]

My dogs are older and now we're entering the "great die off" phase. It was just wonderful when they were lively young pups but unfortunately, they were all about the same age. And now...

I lost a 12 year old suddenly at the end of January as a result of a nasty case of valley fever that caused organ failure. He was such a character, naughty and sweet - the best boi. I'd had him since he was a puppy.

Yesterday I lost my 14 year old that I adopted when he was just a year old. He was such a love - he had a special song I sang to him every morning when I was getting dressed. The house is empty without him.

And now I have 6. The oldest is 16 and spry as a puppy but with a chronic cough. Two others are 15, one is 14, another 11, and my baby is 7. One of the 15 year old pups misses the boy I lost yesterday - they were buds and poor girl is very confused and needs a lot of attention today.

My big mistake was adopting - actually foster failing - with dogs about the same age. Now it's hitting...and hitting hard.