Today, we said goodbye to Rowdy. His 3-month long battle with lung cancer had finally gotten to the point where he had accepted the fact that it was time to go. Last week, he weakened to the point where he had to be picked up in order to stand. His appetite -- amazing during this span -- dwindled and our ability to find anything that he would eat was strained. Although a Rib Eye Steak with Vanilla Ice Cream for dessert worked for 3 straight nights! On Saturday, Linda and I finally came to the same conclusion: it was time to say goodbye. We scheduled him for this morning.

Then, on Sunday, our Golden Retriever, Crash, collapsed in the back yard. After 4 1/2 hours at the Emergency Vet Clinic and lots of tests, we learned that Crash had a large inoperable mass in his abdomen which had also compromised his lungs. So, we decided to take him with Rowdy to our regular vet for a second opinion.

This morning, both boys managed to wolf down SnickerDoodles and Milk Bones. Both managed to do their business without being held up. Both climbed into the van and rode the hour to the vet with their butts against each other's.

Crash was checked out first and our vet confirmed that he had a very aggressive and very advanced form of cancer. So, reluctantly, we decided to euthanize both Crash and Rowdy. There is some irony in the fact that Rowdy and Crash are heading off to the Rainbow Bridge together. During their 9 years together here on earth, they were both best of friends and occasionally worst of enemies. Rowdy had a hole in his left ear courtesy of Crash. So we think that Rowdy is going to lead the pair over the bridge just to warn all the other Rotties there that the fluffy dog is no pushover.

Here are my favorite pictures of each of the boys.





And, please, when you think of these boys, don't be sad. Smile. Because each day they were in our lives, they made us smile -- including today. There is a large hole in our household and in our hearts.

Jim