'Til we meet again

We had to have our dear and very beloved dog Lou put down last night.  It was totally unexpected as he'd been mostly his usual self, albeit the 12 year old slightly arthritic and diminished version, until around 6 p.m. last evening when he began evidencing some serious symptoms.  My son Stephen and I got him to the vet and after several hours it was determined that Lou would not recover.  We were with him at his blessedly peaceful departure from this world around 1:10 a.m.

Our house feels emptier than when hubby and I saw it, unoccupied, for the first time.  Lou completed our family when we got him in May of 2000.  It is with immense sadness mixed with love and gratitude that we bid him fond farewell until we meet again.  Hubby wrote this last night in his motel room somewhere in Kentucky after Lou's passing:

Doggerel, 7 April 2011

For faithful friends,

Whose hearts outpour,

For those we love,

We thank Thee, Lord.

But most of all

In this day's log

We list our thanks

For Lou our dog.

For us, his wags,

For flies, his snaps,

His trusting soul,

And peaceful naps.

And now he starts

His final sleeping,

At least until

Our final greeting.

Finally, a few pictures:

Rest in peace, good a faithful friend.  We will love you forever.