Jordan, or as I call him, Doglett, made it through the night on Monday. Perhaps it was Obama's words that inspired him to get up, but he is walking and eating again, as proud as can be. We always knew he was something special. Most Labs live to be 12. He is now 14 and never fails to jump for cookies. Eggs continue to make him shine.

It's a tough question, but as the old get older, whether they are dogs, cats, gerbals, humans, etc. I wonder....when should we pull the plug on life and how does one make the call to terminate another's life?

My grandmother died in agony, in absolute pain. She was addicted to pain meds, but that happens when you have arthritis for 20 + years and have a doctors free flowing prescription of percocet. She was in the hospital, asked for more meds, but no one could give them to her (they said the amount had reached the max capacity to prescribe). She lived to be 91, remarkably. She said some really mean things to her daughter, my mom, as she muttered her last good-bye. She was in too much pain to survive any longer. The last words she said to my Mom have forever been embedded into my psyche. I won't repeat them here and I never wish for a dog or human to hear those words again.

Life is about triumphs, love, forgiveness, humility, perseverance, getting through the rough and tough, seeing someone smile at the end of a long day, but there comes a day when you just want to chill and hope that all that you gave to this world will end in the right hands of another's decision. Someone who will see through your eyes and understand when it's time to decide the end of the physical but never the end of your spirit and soul. That person(s) has a hard decision on her/his hands. ..and to know when is always a challenge. Love and sometimes selfish desires often muddle that decision.

The great thing about my dog is that he will give his farewell with so much dignity and no one will fear he/she made the wrong decision. The decision to NOT put him to sleep this week was collective and we figured he was just sick. We were right. He was up and about the following day. The next time that decision comes our way, we will collectively make it, and one person may have a bigger impact than the rest. We love him with all of our hearts, we forgive him for any misbehavior each day. We haven't always done this as quickly, because lessons need to be learned, but as he gets older, time reinforces the importance.

I've learned that one must treat others as one would his dog. We will miss his life but we will know when it's his time to leave us. He will look up at us with those starlight eyes, and let us or one of us know. And we will decide with trust. We will always know we did the right thing without cruelty or injustice, but with understanding and a whole lot of love.