this is shelby learning how to swim. it's 5 years later and she can't walk. today is the day of her passing on. it seems a short life, but in that time the kids grew up, with shelby chewing up the house and sitting quietly in a chair by the window looking at all the activity in the passing  world.

... shelby is still with us! my sister felt it wasn't the time, and asked for a sign. shelby got out of her crate and climbed up the stairs to jasper's room. i felt a little relieved and heartened that she was trying so hard to be with the family. but now after talking with r. i feel like it may have been a feat of will that got her up the stairs because she knew she was at the end. 

so now they decided to return her to the shelter where they found her, thinking that someone will fall in love with her and take her even with her disability, and it's a no kill shelter, but i imagine she would just languish there, for how long, wondering why her family left her. this is a terrible circumstance, but i'm going to write and say i think they should stay with the idea of letting her go, and give her all the love at home they can until her last breath. 

if shelby goes back to the no-kill shelter and she isn't re-adopted she will languish there, and feel abandoned by her family. and no-kill shelter means they don't kill the dogs, but they may hand them off to kill shelters. and there are so many dogs, often in perfect health, needing homes. it's a terrible thing to have to face, but if you think clearly and with compassion, with the dog at heart, you know what to do.