Rehome an older dog or put to sleep?

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As per title, what's the kindest option for a 12 year old healthy dog whose owner is going into care and is unable to take her dog which she's had from 8 weeks old? Will the dog pine for her owner or will she adapt to a new home?

Has anyone rehomed an older dog in a similar situation and how did the dog cope with being separated from it's owner? The lady in question thinks it would be kinder to have the dog put to sleep, but I personally am struggling with this option. Any and all comments welcomed.

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I believe it's a cross welsh/english springer accident; lovely temperament though and would be a shame to have her put down, imho.

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The current owner is the one who thinks it would be kinder to have her put down, not me. I need to be able to reassure her that the dog will be happy in a new home, but whether I can is a different matter. She is convinced the dog will pine for her and would not be happy, hence the reason she'd rather have her put to sleep. I'm not a dog psychiatrist so have no idea whether she's right or wrong.

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Thanks all for your comments; if I didn't live in an apartment with a no dogs policy I'd happily take her in myself. The crux of this is trying to convince the owner that the dog wouldn't pine for her; any dog psychiatrists on PH?

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Thanks for the voice of reason moorx, the owner isn't some old biddy, she is still relatively young but has become disabled and will need constant care; she is also devastated at the thought of not being able to take care of the dog who is fit and healthy, gets lots of walks and is as mad as a box of frogs in the nicest possible way.

Myself and others are doing our best to find a good home for the dog and also convince the owner that this would be the best option. A local rescue centre informed us that rehoming a dog of that age can be very difficult; a local vet said he didn't have a problem euthanizing a 12 year old dog as the chances of rehoming it would be slim and was possibly a sensible solution. Not very promising but we're not giving up just yet.