On October 22, 2003 I took Chester to the Allatoona Animal Hospital for a bath and grooming but by the time I got there I could see that he probably would not be able to return home with me alive. I knew.

The morning started out like any other morning-coffee,juice and the morning news before my shower. As I was doing my thing, Chester was doing his-breakfast, walk outside and getting back on his pallet I had for him on my side of the bed. I knew.

After getting dressed, I got his leash as I had done for 17 years and got him up to go to the car but this time was different. He was slow and sluggish. I had to pick him up and put him on the seat next to me in the car. This time there was no climbing in my lap to look for the big trucks and watch for bikers or joggers. I knew.

I kept myself together pretty well for most of the drive. I kept my hand touching his head, touching his leg or touching the soft part of his chin where the Dr. had previously removed a cancerous tumor that had since healed. I knew.

We made it through the usual traffic to the hospital where we had been so many times before. When we got to the front of the office I parked the car, got out, went to the passenger side, lifted him out and carried him in my arms into the building. I recalled what so many of my friends who had lost their 4 legged babies told me-
"You'll know when". I knew.

We got inside the building and I spoke to the office assistants up front through tears as I place him on the floor so they could get a look at him and see why I was so concerned. I told them to have the Dr. examine him and let me know were we stood. I knew.

As I spoke, I got down on my knees with him and hugged him and told him once again that I was placing him in good hands with the staff and the Dr. at the hospital as I had done so many times before. I left crying. I knew.

The Dr. called me and told me we could keep him comfortaable with oral and needle medications. I agreed to see if he would respond to the first injection and asked her to call me back. She agreed and did later that day. I knew.

Four days later, I took that drive again to the Allatoona Animal Hospital to bring Chester home. This time I carried him in my hands outside of the building knowing there would be no looking for the big trucks, bikers or joggers on the drive home.

This time, instead of placing him on the seat next to me, I placed him in my lap where he had sat so many times before as we drove home together one last time.

My friends were right. I knew.

author Laura Coley