I've kind of been avoiding this thread because it hits too close to home, I guess.

I have an elderly dog who is probably not going to last out the year. According to the vet, she can't walk (she does) but she's definitely getting to the place where she can't walk anymore. She was run over as a puppy and her hindquarters are a mess, it's a long story that involves multiple incompetent vets over a 10 or 12 year period, but I've seen the x-rays and she SHOULDN'T be able to walk. I expect to lose her soon. She's 17.

Not exactly a pet, but my elderly father lives with me and the last year and a half has been a struggle with his health, and it looks like we're about to lose that struggle to a 3rd bout of lung cancer. I expect to lose him before the year is out as well. He's 89. It's been a bad year for him.

I feel for all of you who are about to or have already lost pets. You have my sympathy.