This is not the best of days. I'm going through the motions of laundry, picking up, and what have you despite the fact that I'm indifferent to what the house looks like right now as well as a few other things. I feel quite numb and sad.

The hardest part, I think, will be over tonight. I'll call my daughter after supper, if any of us can eat, and tell her what is probably going to happen tomorrow morning. Silly as it might seem to some, I want to give her one more chance to share a moment with what was once her dog.

Shottie is not doing well. The medicine they gave him helped and yet it didn't. He seemed to be getting better until today. He hasn't eaten much in the last week or so and has been drinking a lot of water. The latter is normal this time of year, but it's like he's trying to flush his system. He seemed to be getting along better, was even bouncing about.

I let him out today to go do his thing, waited a bit and couldn't see him. My first thought was hopeful ... that he had made his way over to the side of the house where he likes resting, but when I went out to look, there was no dog. Had Tom look on the other side where I have trouble walking. The dog was out behind the game building. He was alert and seemed alright. BUT ... when he came inside, he was dragging one of his back legs. The joint isn't working like it should be. At best, this is an injury that needs attention, at worst, his body is giving up and it's time to say our goodbyes.

I made an appointment for tomorrow morning. The odds are we will be coming home without him.

This post will become public after Liz is told. I don't want someone to tell her "I saw it on the net," before she hears it from us.