Last week my family made the tough decision that most pet owners have to go through at some point. We had to have our family dog put to sleep.

Ripley, our white Labrador Retriever, was getting on in years and had been slowly sufferring from arthritis in his hips and hind legs, as most dogs of a similar breed do. He lasted a good 14 years; an accomplishment given the life expectancy is between 10 and 12 years.

I had been expecting the phone call from Dad for a number of months, but all that mental preparation and extra pats over time was never going to do enough to prepare me for that phone call. The quiver in Dad's voice. The phone call from my Sister in an unconsolable state. It all comes tumbling down on you in one fell swoop.

It's funny how close you grow to a pet. They truly become one of your family. The uncanny thing I've always believed about dogs is that the longer they spend growing part of a family, the closer the two-way emotional attachment becomes, and the more in-tune the pet becomes with your families feelings and emotions.

When you're sad, they know.

When you're joyous, they know.

Finally, when you're saying goodbye for the last time and they're heading off on a one way journey from which they won't return, I believe they know.

I wasn't present last week when Dad finally did place Ripley in the back of the car to take him up to the vet, but I was there when this happened to our first family dog, Timmy - a Border Collie cross Kelpie, whom I received as a gift on my very first Birthday. Timmy was with us until late in to my high school years. It's not often a dog will last well in to their late teens (in human years, of course), but Timmy lasted until the age of 17. A first-class innings.

That moment was one I'll never forget.

I just couldn't bring myself to say goodbye and walk away from the back of the car. Timmy had watched me grow up. He'd watch me grow from being smaller than him and crawling around, to towering of him as he grow in to old age. When I fell over in the driveway and scraped my knee, he was the first one there to see if I was ok. I too, watched him change. He went from the spritely, young and athletic creature into a grey, withering old dog.

I liken the emotion I experienced when losing the family pets, to losing grandparents. I don't know if that's a poor reflection on me or a perfect summation of the role a pet plays in a family, but I would never give up the amazing relationship I've shared with the two dogs over my 26 year journey to avoid the 2 days of sadness. And I will gladly go through that trememdously loving and affectionate relationship with a dog in future.

R.I.P Timmy & Ripley.