Helping Family Deal with loss

Question:
 Junior has been my good boy since I was 7 years old (I am 22 now). He has been with our family since he was 8 months old, and has been my best friend since the day we got him...I remember sitting my his cage at the Humane Society, like a spoiled brat, refusing to leave until my parents said that we could take him home. He is a lab/cocker spaniel mix and the sweetest thing. When I was sad, I would just lay next to him and cry and I could see in his eyes that he understood. I have since moved out of the house, gone to college, and am working. My parents and younger brother live with Junior, and his health has gotten progressively worse. We live in Central FLA and with the hurricanes this past season, every time my parents went without power for extended periods of time (the longest was 11 days), poor Junior would not do well with the heat. About 6 months ago, he started losing control of his bodily functions, and would pee and poop as he was walking, sometimes even just laying there because he can't always get up. He walks sloooooowly and you can tell that he is just not happy. He doesn't cry out in pain, or whine or anything, he is such a good boy. However, since the hurricanes, my mother and I have been talking about putting him down. My dad and Junior are bestest friends, and I know he will take it the hardest. My brother is also having a hard time with it. I know that it is sad, and maybe it's easier for me since I don't live there every day with him, but I HATE going there and seeing him like that! So at Thanksgiving I said my goodbye to him. My dad and brother wanted to wait until after the holidays, and they are over now. I think they are finally planning to do it either this weekend or next week. I know that it will be a gut-wrenching day for the entire family, he has been with us going on 15 years! I know it is best for Junior, but I can see what it is going to do to my father and brother as they had such a hard time even coming to terms with the fact that it has to happen. I am going to be devastated as well, but we have been talking about it for so long now that I feel like I've gone through it a million times already. Is there anything that anyone can suggest to make this whole process go more smoothly for my family and I, especially my father? Probably not, but I thought I'd share my story: if you sense that your dog is in pain, or even that they are not happy and their quality of life is gone, it is unfair to keep them going...I have repeatedly fought with my dad and brother over this, and in the end, it's what's best for the dog. He will always be our good boy and as I am writing this and crying just at the thought of it, I know he will be better off. If anyone has suggestions for anything to help my family, I am all ears. Thanks
Answer:
 :( Hi, I'm sorry. My thoughts are with you and your family for the loss of Junior, one your pack, you sound like quite a close family so try and stick together to help each other as best you all can, keep in contact, it's a nightmare losing a beloved dog and support from friends and family, even some kind of pet bereavement counselling if needed, is essential in order to get through. I lost my boy, a Griffon called Ganny 3mths ago, it was his 9th b'day. I'm 31 but emotionally I've been reduced to a 10 yr old, still crying pretty much every other day, he was my world ! It's very hard losing a constant companion, it was sudden for me and I was well unprepared, but I don't think knowing it's going to happen will be any easier to deal with. It's a complete involuntary change of life, the hardest thing I've ever had to face. Think long and talk hard about possibility of getting another dog, sometimes it's not the right thing to do, but it helps to just talk it over because it enables venting of feelings for loss of Junior. I have 2 kittens which has helped, got them 3mths before Ganny died, but can't bear the thought of another dog just yet, Ganny can never be replaced. I think you're right ~ it's unfair to prolong suffering in any animal who hasn't much quality of life. I don't know how I would've made the decision if I'd had to, knowing Ganny was suffering, I'm sure you're all torn. Tell yourselves Junior knows you all love him and he's loved his life with you. Ganny knew I loved him to bits and he absolutely loved it, that's really the only thing that helps me now he's gone. I wish you all the best through this sad event in your lives. Beagles are beautiful by the way, don't miss a thing, I had Ganny from 8wks and time just flew by faster each year, still feels like yesterday, I wish to some kind of god it was.
Answer:
 Thank you so much for your support and words of comfort. Due to time restrictions, my parents have yet to take Junior to be put down. Part of it, I am sure, is just dreading the fact that it has to happen. The new plan is to do it tomorrow or this weekend, depending on my dad's work scehdule. My mom said last night that it has gotten to the point that every night, as she helps Junior get up to go outside (I guess he wakes them up barking throughout the night--like he's lonley or someting?) all she can do is cry and apologize to him. All I can think about is my poor baby, in pain and just wishing for it to happen one way or another. I don't want to remember him like that, and I'm sure he doesn't want us to see him as bad as he is. He has not been eating too much, and it's just heart-wrenching to think about. I know that these are his last few days, and in that I take comfort. Soon, he will not be in pain anymore, and while our grieving and pain is just beginning, he will always be with us. I look at my baby beagle now with such a new appreciation...and thank God that she is only 7 months and it will be a long time before I have to think about this with her. I see how my dad is with Maggie (the baby) and have thought seriously about giving him some time to get over Junior, and then getting them a beagle of their own. He loves Maggie so much...but I hear him say he doesn't want another dog. It's a hard and confusing time for all of us. Thank you for your kind words, and I am very sorry for the loss of Ganny; I read your story in another post. Like you said, these animals know how much we love them, and for that they will always love us.