We are agreed on all of it. So it's decided. She can have December, and we'll do our research. She might have to be poked and prodded a bit, probably x-rayed again, but she doesn't mind that too much as long as we're with her. I have even more powerful reservations about the necessity of another surgery.
Quality of life is paramount.
I will ask myself the difficult questions of how long, and what then, and will she suffer more now or later. The thousands of walks we've been on. The thousands of dog biscuits we've thrown for her, each and every one a delightful surprise even though she knows she gets one after each walk. Her disdain for the cats, who adore her. Her endless love for us even when we're late for her walks, or don't go the way she wants to go, or take her to the vet.