Milo was put down today. We had an appointment scheduled for 4:00, and I did my best to be around him and keep him content for the last few days. I carried him upstairs to sleep in my room overnight, as he can't climb them anymore. I mae sure each of my family members saw him at least once over the last few weeks, my dad being the last today.

Milo was a Blue Merle Australian shepherd, something I've repeated often. What it actually means is that he was a gorgeous, friendly dog who...