It is a sign from someone..

Awwwwwww, I'm so sorry you have to make this decision.  ((warm hugs))

You'll know when it's time, and Nikki will never stop loving you.  You will be the one she runs to when you finally get to the Bridge.  I always say that it's the "in between" time that hurts the most. 
I miss the smell, the fur, the bark, the special sound of her paws padding around the house.  Her sneeze, her soft brown eyes, the ever so subtle affectionate butt nudge, her tail high as she runs over the grass on a Spring day, her sitting on the jumpseat in my big rig, her waiting at the mailbox for me to fish out the bills, her lapping vanilla ice cream on every birthday...  You will miss a lot, but that's because, just as I had, you made a life with this dog that was full, happy, and filled with love.  Godspeed Nikki - Dancer will be there to show you around. 

Nikki is a beautiful girl, and I agree. That looks just like an angel Nikki.

(((((((((((huge hugs))))))))))) for you, and congratulations, for Nikki, for finding such a wonderful home. Twenty one years is a long time. She must be an amazing little dog.

Wow - I hadn't even read your entire post and I saw the dog image right away.  That's remarkable!  Angel, I'm so sorry you're facing this heartbreaking time.  As everyone else has said, it's a tribute to the incredible love and care Nikki received from you that she lived such a long, long life.  What a very special relationship!  If she was abandoned at age 10 by her previous owners, I'm thinking she was determined to live MORE than 10 with the woman who truly loved her, so she HAD to stay on earth at least 21 years.
 
When Tonka was failing and clearly not going to recover, we prayed everyday that he would simply go in his sleep.  I also prayed that if he didn't, then I wanted a sign to know when it was the right time.  We never got a clear sign - nothing as comforting and profound as what you've received.  I know the goodbye is truly devastating no matter how or when it occurs, but you're blessed to be able to have a calmness lead you to this decision, and to know you can spoil her in everyway possible.  Because we didn't make a planned decision, we had to say our goodbye to Tonka in an emergency clinic, without having time to serve him his favorite ice cream.  Goodbyes like Nikki's and Dancer's are inspiring to me, and I hope Tonka can meet them at the Bridge so he can share in their special lives somehow.
 
My heart goes out to you.  Take care.

Oh my gosh, I just stared at the puppy's face and thought oh my God. 
 
I am sorry you are having to face such a difficult decision. 21 yrs old, that is amazing and you have had her 11 of those years. 
 
This is such an emotional week, Dancer passed.  Now you are faced with this.  I go to trial next week and hope to God I can save those dogs from getting put to sleep.  It seems like all I have done is cry, and kill Romeo with love, poor sweetheart, he probably thinks his mommy lost all her marbles.
 
Please know we are here for you. 

I have stared into the eyes of that image so long and hard, all I get is happiness bounced back from it.
 
Last night I gave Nikki her all time favorite treat... vanilla ice cream... Man did she enjoy that! Made my heart happy.
 
Today we will see what trouble we can get into together. I think come Monday, I will be ready to release her spirit and I know Dancer will be waiting for her to show her around being the therapy dog she was and always will be.

I am reading all the posts while listening to "Somewhere in Time" by John Barry, is actually one of my favorite scores.  And my heart feels like is going to give out, from all this emotion.
 
Enjoy this weekend, celebrate her life, your friendship, the love you two share. 
 
My little one is patiently waiting for me to take him out for his time to go play with the squirrels. 
 
Just remember, we are here.  Lots of love and a big hug from Romeo and I.

Thank you all for your kind words and sentiments. It does mean a lot to us.

We intend to have a wonderful weekend, a peaceful, joyful one together. I try not to cry too much around her or when I am holding her in my arms. I choke back the tears because I don't want her to feel my pain of loosing her. I know they can pick up your emotional moods. I am trying (struggling) to stay calm around her this weekend. Just so her journey is a pleasent one when she does leave me behind in this world. I do know I will see my Sweety Tzu again some day and it will be a time of celebration between the two of us. And until that day comes, she will be forever etched in my soul.
 
I will also miss her "warfs" the smell of her fur. Her gentle cleaning of my legs in the recliner nightly. And the soft snor's at my side in bed at night. The warmth of her body next to mine. I can only take one day at a time when she does leave and I know in time my broken heart will heal and the pain will subside.
 
It is just sooooooooo hard to let go........

Our outing did not last long, is 98 degrees here today.


Yes letting go is hard, but is also a form of love.  She is 21 yrs old today, because of you, your love.  You have had 11 wonderful years with her, how lucky are you.

One of the hardest things for me to accept with Romeo (already a senior when adopted from shelter), is the fact that no matter how well I take care of him, I have not been able to undo all the damage that was done to his health prior to coming to live with me.  He is "healthy" with me, but his body  has physical problems that can create pain and depression for him, and no doubt will keep him from having a long life.  I am often quite challenged to not be so over caring.   He lets me know when his body needs minor repairs, so we fix those.  I know he loves his life with me, I see it in his face, in his personality.  When he came to live with me, he was afraid of everything and now, he thinks the sun rises and sets on him.  And that makes me intensely happy.  I know the past can shorten a lifespan, so I am focusing on his quality of life, and when his time comes, I only hope that my love will keep me strong for him and will guide me in doing what is right for him. 

I am sorry about going about Romeo, but he is the light of my life.  But after my husband passed away, I often found myself feeling very lonely although my parents moved in with me and I was never alone.  Now I live "alone" with Romeo, but I am never lonely.  And I know that will be the hardest thing to give up, when the time comes.  In the meantime I love him with all my heart.  It is my wish that I can be as fortunate as you and have many years with my Romeo.

You will be in my mind this weekend, I hope the weather is beautiful where you are, so you can get in lots of fun trouble with your baby, and create even more wonderful memories.

Take care, Romeo and I will be here.  A big hug.

Im so sorry Angel.  Im so glad you found that image and got peace from it.  Were all here for you while you deal with your grief... 

Bless your heart.
 
During Misty's last year of life, she didn't have a lot of energy but she could get around, use the litterbox, eat, drink, hiss and swipe at Shadow when necessary. But she didn't have the energy and flexibility to clean much. So, I would have to groom her fur or cut out mats. It was always in my mind that it might be her last year. And when she had drastic kidney failure, I knew it was time. But it hurt like a son of gun, anyway.
 
I'm reminded of the lyrics from the Queen song, "Who Wants to Live Forever?"
 
"There's no time for us.
It's all been decided for us.
There's only one sweet moment
Set aside for us."
 
Boy howdy, ain't that the truth? Have an absolutely lovely weekend, a big hug from DW and me, and a big, wet doggy slobber from Shadow.
 

This has been a hard week, huh...  I am so sorry that you are going through this - and at the same time, my heart is full of happinness and contentment to think that your little Nikki was so well loved and lived so well these last 11 years.  You are both truly blessed.  I will be thinking of you and praying for you all weekend - I hope that your have a beautiful weekend together and that when it is time, Nikki goes to the bridge peacefully, secure in the knowledge that no better a life could she have had than the one she had with you.  You have been given a sign for sure, you know what to do and I am so glad that it has given you strength. 

Nikki and I went to the beach today. One of her very favorite places to go when she was younger, at ten, she used to boogy board with the kids and I was forced to buy her, her very own.
We went to the beach, took her old boogy board with us and her fido float of course.
As soon as I stepped foot on the sand, holding Nikki in under my arm, she started to wiggle. So I put her down and she stood there on the dune, with her head high in the air taking in the smell of the salt air. I stood there and watched her for the longest time. I pondered on whether to take her into the ocean or not and said to her, well, Mrs. Wiggins, a nick name I call her, do you think you'd like to feel the ocean waters? Knowing she is blind and deaf, I looked down and her little tail was just wagging. She knew where she was. I put her fido float on her and we made our way to the edge of the surf.  In a blink of an eye she launched herself into the wading pool and started swiming.  We got froggy and decided to go for the big waves. Placed her on her boogy board and off we went. She loved it.
After we decided to go to Dairy Queen for her favorite treat in the whole world. Vanilla ice cream. Rinsed her off in the shower on the boat ramp, washed her coat out with her shampoo and off we went to get our ice cream. I ordered a small cup for us to share on the way home. I came to a red light and was watching something or another, distracted, from what Nikki was doing. I reached down to pick up the cup, and 3/4 of it was gone. I said Nikki you pig.... as I looked at her, she was shivering from an ice cream headache, and had the "Got milk" stache on her upper lip. I laughed so hard, I started to cry. I cried all the way home with her naping in her booster seat next to me.
 
What am I going to do without my sweety tzu? My Mrs. Wiggins, my heart???
 
We are going to go for a sunset sail this evening. Something the old girl loves to do, is sit at the bow of the boat and have the wind flow through her coat and face. I stopped at the store and got her her favorite fruits, cheeses, crackers, and by golly even a beer to share with her.
 
The way she acted today was like there is nothing wrong with her. Just like old times. And now I'm confused yet again.

Oh Angel, I'm afraid I'm not going to be any help here at all.  As I was reading your lovely story about your wonderful day at the ocean (long before I read your final sentence), I thought, "Nikki can't leave yet - she seems so engaged and happily enjoying the stimulation of her remaining senses!"  But then I thought about how it might be better for her last day(s) to be blissful, rather than waiting for a very unpleasant or uncomfortable one to be the day when you say goodbye.  This very dilemma is one I'm all to familiar with -- we had decided that it was time to say goodbye to Tonka on a few awful days, only to have him shortly thereafter greet us with a wagging tail, eagerly enjoy food,  so we'd change our minds.  The state of conflicted emotions and indecision was agonizing.  My heart goes out to you as you face these doubts.  I think someone who is more psychologically healthy than I, and whose heart is stronger than mine, would choose a truly happy day to be a furbaby's last one, rather than hang on too long like I struggled to do.
 
I wish I had something helpful to say.  Just know that someone else shares your struggle, and that I'll pray that you find a peaceful state of mind again.  Hugs to you and Nikki.
 
P.S. - The way you wrote about your beautiful day was so vivid that I could picture it in my mind, and almost feel the ocean air myself.  My eyes filled with tears as I read it. 

Angel, your day together at the beach was beautiful.  I, too, could picture the two of you in my mind.  I don't know what I could say to make things any easier, or to help with the confusion you feel.  I know you love Nikki, you know her best, and ultimately you will do what is best for her.    {{{Hugs}}}for comfort & strength to you.