Rest in peace, Holly girl

My Holly girl died sometime in the night. It was not unexpected. She'd stopped eating earlier in the week and there was only so much I could do with a syringe and at 15 years old, heroic measures were not appropriate. I cuddled her for several hours last night but she was really beyond caring. When I went to bed she was cold and unresponsive but breathing peacefully and I knew it wouldn't be long.  Her death was quiet and serene and her cuddle buddy, Whisper, curled around her until the last breath (I can't confirm, but that's where she was when I went to bed and at 2:00 when I checked on her). Since I had to go to bed so I could go to work this morning, I'm glad she wasn't alone. It's interesting...I haven't seen Whisper pay much attention to her before, but this last week, every time I would come into the room, Whisper would be lying next to Holly in such a way as to allow Holly to rest her head on her back.  You can't tell me that animals don't understand death and know how to be compassionate.

It's so hard to lose a companion of 15 years but she had arthritis and chronic rhinitis both of which made her uncomfortable and I'm glad to know she's not in any pain.