I am overwhelmed with emotion today. We had to put Ivy to sleep. Ivy was the mother to many wonderful puppies, and when she retired, she lived at the Nursing Home in Litchfield. She was loved by so many residents. She was the perfect dog. She was so calm and sweet. Many people in town would comment on what a difference Ivy made at the home. This week end the staff called to say Ivy was not well. I picked her up and could see as the days went by, she was getting very uncomfortable. This morning I took her to the vet and he said she had a large mass on her spleen, making every movement painful. She was almost eleven years old. I brought Ivy back to the Nursing Home to say good bye to all the wonderful people who loved her. It was so sad. I questioned whether we had made the right choice to let Ivy live there. As I thought about it, I realized what a gift she had been to those people, and as hard as it is to say good-bye, there were two and a half years of joy and happiness. I don’t regret it. As the vet gave her the shot, I told her how much I loved her. Her entire life, all she knew was love. It is so hard to let go of such a sweet, wonderful dog. I just feel so very, very sad that Ivy is gone. She is a treasure, and I will never forget her.