I've been dreading this moment for over a decade, but the day is here to say goodbye to my companion, my best friend, my little girl. Sigrid's health has been in a pretty rocky decline since May, and last night, on my 37th birthday, we made the incredibly difficult decision with our veterinarian to say goodbye.

Trying to stay ahead of whatever was hurting her has cost a lot of time, energy, and at least about $4,000 from our savings. And I'd do it all again if I had to. I am super hesitant to ever ask for help, especially financial help, as anyone who knows me knows. But the additional costs of her final round of medications (that ultimately didn't work), the euthanasia service, and the aftercare (private cremation, urn, etc.) are another batch of high costs that is one flat tire from pushing us into a significant financial hardship or crisis. All I'm hoping to do is get help with these final costs; as far as I'm concerned the money I've already spent was money I'd have spent anyway, and I had it to do so. The alternative was to let her die slowly and/or have her communally cremated. But, I've had a lot of people really close to me suggest I start this fund to try to help put Siggy at peace the way she deserves without risking putting ourselves on the streets in the process.

It feels even worse given that so recently so many wonderful people donated to the first round of vet bills, and I feel like I'm asking for too much. But Siggy has been there for me through thick and thin. She got me through more than half my career in the Army, she was with me in Kansas, Germany, New York, and now Atlanta. She's brought so much joy and love to us and the people who have had the pleasure of meeting her, and she deserves to go in dignity and peace.

Thanks to anyone who wants to help, but also thanks to those who just give kind words and shared happy memories; that's just as comforting. Thanks to everyone that shared a bit of the joy Siggy brought to our lives, whether you met her in person or just loved her through social media. It's one thing that will always connect us, and the best part of her that will always endure.