[fordgasm]

I know how you feel....even though I don't have any cats, I do have several dogs and your story reminded me of one of my dogs that truely was my best friend.

Her name was Bailey and she was a springer spaniel, at the time I had a couple of springers that I used for hunting but were also our family pets. Now Bailey was not the best hunter but held her own and after much work she was better than average. But, what she was the best at was being my best friend.

She never cared how you looked, just wanted to be by your side, never cared that you just came in from cutting the grass and were all stinky and dirty, she just wanted to be by your side, even while hunting if I would take a break and sit down on an old dead fall, she just wanted to be by your side, even while my other springer would continue hunting around, Bailey just wanted to be with me. As I sat and watched TV she wanted to sit on your lap and lay her head on your chest, she was truely my best friend.

At about 5 years of age she started having seizures, the vet prescribed some pills that just never did help, the seizures got worse and we kept increasing her dosage, she became lathargic and just wasn't the same dog. The vet thought she may have had a brain tumor since the meds did not seem to help.

So I made the decision to put her down. I made the arrangements with my vet which was located next to a McDonalds. On the day of our appointment Bailey and I went to the drive up and got some of the foods she was never allowed to have. We had ice cream cones, french fries and a cheese burger. We then spent a little time together under this shady oak tree waiting for our appointment. Funny how us big mocha motor head, weight lifting, outdoors tough guys are really just big teddy bears.....as I held Bailey in my arms and felt the life leave her body I wept like a baby. Strange how even today, after several years have passed, I get a lump in my throat just telling you about her.

So Chris, for what is is worth, many of us know how you feel. Just remember, the reason why our pets love us so much, is because they are not here on this earth very long so they make the most of the time they have.