The tough times started about six months ago when the struggling economy hit home for the Van Horns. Gary is retired, but works part-time to help pay the bills at a local marble and granite counter-top company. He makes minimum wage and earns most of his income through commission.
Not surprisingly, not many people have been shopping for redecorated kitchens in the last year.
“It’s really been nip and tuck ever since,” Van Horn said.
With no money coming in at work, they now depend on their Social Security checks. They struggle monthly to pay rent, and set aside just enough to keep a roof over theirs and Knick Knack’s head. As Van Horn’s income shrunk, a problem was growing inside Knick Knack.
A mass on the right side of her abdomen, at first a bump, months later a tumor the size of a golf ball, came to torture her, and her owners who were left helpless to aid her.
“I was hoping to get customers in so I could get something done for her. In the meantime, we’re going downhill. Our situation is getting worse ... we’re just sick. We can’t take care of the dog, can’t take care of my wife. It just got to a point where my wife and I said we got to put her down. I still take her for walks, she’s hurting, but she’s still got life, you know?” Van Horn said, choking up. “I’m overwhelmed because I’ve been living through this pain for months of watching her hurt and not being able to do anything about it.”
It came down to a choice: let Knick Knack, a source of joy and peace for the Van Horns live in pain until her end, or spare her the pain humanely.
