Donna - I'm so sorry to hear about your big old bear. I lost a dog to lung cancer, but she went very fast (we had only about a week to process/accept the inevitable). Agnes was the dog of my heart, just irreplaceable.

Don't beat yourself up over what has passed. Now focus on spoiling your sweetie and getting the most out of the time you have left together. Your dog knows that you love him and that you've given him such a great home.

Not long ago, there was an essay in the Washington Post written by someone who had to let go of two dogs, one very much loved, the other whom she didn't feel as connected to. The bottom line is that she had a very hard time with accepting that the time was right to let them go. In it, she describes "the look" which the dogs gave her when they were telling her it was time. She said that she realized that they knew they had a train to catch and here she was, keeping them from catching it. Both Maud and Agnes gave me "the look"---they knew better but I promised them when they were puppies that they would never, ever suffer. Such a hard thing to face.... When we take these sweet loving souls into our homes and our hearts we owe them the dignity they deserve.

Be good to yourself, too. Me and my three goldens (including the completely exasperating, ill-behaved, sassy puppy, Margot) send you and yours big hugs. Give your goof a smooch for us, ok?