Please forgive me for being behind on comments this week. It has been somewhat difficult of late at my house as my Bookman and I discussed and then decided that it was time to euthanize our 13-year-old cocker spaniel, Godzilla.

Even though he is still relatively perky he has many health problems—severe arthritis, an enlarged heart, breathing problems, and thyroid problems. Now he has cancer. It is a big growth on his ear flap. We had it lasered off in February, hoping that would take care of it for a while, but it grew back even bigger in less than a month. In spite of our best efforts he has now scratched it and it is infected. The antibiotics aren’t working.

So what do we do? We could have most of his ear removed and he might survive the surgery. He might also survive the distress of the inevitable petit mal seizures that will follow because his thyroid levels will be messed up. And the pain medication might help him get through the healing process if his ear heals properly. A month or two of pain and unhappiness might give us a happy dog again. Might, because we don’t know if he has cancer anywhere else.

We decided the odds were stacked too high against our Zilla and rather than see him sad and in pain, we have the opportunity to say goodbye on a high note. The vet will be coming to our house tomorrow afternoon. In the meantime Zilla is being pampered like he never has been pampered before. Extra doggie treats, food that “accidentally” falls from the kitchen counter while my Bookman is making dinner, walks where he gets to sniff those interesting smells for as long as he wants to, extra belly rubs, and since the weather has been nice, the pleasure of laying on the deck in the sun and surveying his backyard kingdom.

Godzilla has been a good dog. We will miss him.