Hi Ginnie,
Yes my puppy was 14 years young and my very best friend, we had gone thru so much together and no matter how hard it got he always snuggled with me n gave me thatwonderful love only a puppy could give.
I spent he last night of his life caring for him and no matter how much pain he was in all he wanted was to lay on my lap n snuggle. I spent 24hrs awake with the end result being that he had a stroke n couldnt be saved. It broke my heart as here i sit waiting for my brain to be fixed and I couldnt do anything about his.
I brought him home and buried him under the camilia trees and I sit and talk to him when I feel sad. He was my boy, protecter of my girls and the silliest puppy who "talked". The house is quiet, our other puppy is missing him n she has very little to say. My boy would dance n sing for his food, bark n bounce when we came home and complained when the fire wasnt on. When my partner cuddled me he would jump off the lounge and tell him to leave me alone, I was his girl n he wasnt sharing lol.
He is terribly missed but the memories are there along with a video or 2 which I watch when Im down. Heres to all the puppies of the world that fill our homes with that special love n care that us humans have yet to master.

Anyone who has loved a pet like that, knows that grief. It is awful. I lost my Cat, who thought he was a dog. he was 21 years old, I had him longer than my own kids. Constant companion who traveled with me. Plane, boat, bus, train, motor cycle, Yep a motion loving animal. I think if I had jumped from a plane he would have gone with me. He sat on my art display as part of it for years, allowed in the showrooms. Memories of these family members do not fade, but become dearer as time moves on. It has been two years now, and I have another, who has greatly helped me with the grief. No one ever takes their place, and I do consider these pets as a gift. They have indeed mastered love, which humans have not figured out yet. Well some of us have!
I will be thinking of you cass, and your friend. He will be there with you during surgery as a special angel. We will be here for you too. I know it is hard to face your surgery, in spirit you are NOT alone. ginnie