My heart hurts for my mom

Yesterday when I got home from work, there was a voicemail message from my mom.  I was pretty sure I knew what it said, and I could tell from her voice before any words were spoken that I was correct.  She had to put her dog down and yesterday was the day.  I can't even imagine the pain as she drove him to the vet and said her final goodbye to him.  My mom is an animal lover, and especially of dogs.  It is something she and Thomas have always shared.  I could only imagine how empty and quiet her house must've felt.  Because my mom usually has two dogs at a time, since October 1977 she has only been without a dog for two months at the end of my senior year of high school.  And of course during that time my sister and I were both living at home and my dad was still alive.  It breaks my heart to think of her emotions right now.  I spoke to her last evening and of course, she is an incredibly strong and philosophical woman, but it doesn't keep her from being sad.