I haven't had a working computer at home for the past few days, and I'm at the office right now to post this.
My beautiful boy, my Bichon Frise named Buffy, died on Friday. He had been just not up to par for months, and I had him at the vet and at specialists. Just last Tuesday, I found out that he had a massive liver tumor which had metastasized into his lungs and lymph glands. I made the terrible appointment for Friday, but Buffy was gasping on Friday morning, so I took him in a little early. He was in his stroller, in "that back room" with me when the vet went to get things ready. Buffy & I looked at each other with love, then he put his paw on my hand and died.
It was on his terms, no needles, no medication. I know you're thinking, "Buffy? Stroller? How weird is that?" but Buffy (AKC Mr. Buff) had been the stud for a breeder before my mother got him, and his vet personally thought he was the perfect breed standard, and since we went to Bichon Bashes, we'd put him in that to get him to the staging area. Thank heavens we did - he walked very little in the last week. Buffy was all guy, and to be honest, a little conceited, but very loving.
I've had this vision of Buffy galloping like a puppy, all four paws in the air, right into my mama's arms, and my daddy saying, "Who the heck is that?!" Thank you all for your kind words - God bless us all.
PS: Forgot to add - we used to refer to him as our Alpha Delta Paw Sweetheart!