Goodbye Ruby on Tuesday

I just had to make one of those calls that breaks my heart. We had to have Ruby euthanized because of her broken back. The vet tried steroids overnight and there was no change in her condition. It is ultimately the right thing to do but that doesn't make it hurt any less. Ruby was at the beach for over a year. Last year at a spay/neuter event had to drug her food with a sedative then follow her around for 2 hours before she would allow us to catch her. She was taken in for spay and a general health check and then had to be returned to the beach because she was not adoptable at that point. Ruby never got to be a cuddly, snuggly dog but eventually allowed Sandra and Jessica to get closer to her and pet her and had become a sweet and adoptable dog. And then she was apparently hit by a car (that of course did not stop to help her) which broke her back (at T-4) and she was paralyzed. Her long-term prognosis was not a positive one and the gut-wrenching decision was made. She will be very missed and will be another one of those dogs that we will forever feel that we let down by not rescuing her in time. We are all sorry Ruby.