Liz - I have been ignoring your post for a few days...not because I don't like you or anything like that, but because it breaks my heart to even think of loosing my own baby. I argued with my now ex for several years before he finally brought the dog home. After so many fights about a dog, he asked me why I didn't want a dog (knowing I am a big dog lover)...I looked at him, thought about it and said, "because they die." When my ex and I split, every other weekend he would come and pick up the kids and the dog. After a while, the kids didn't want to go anymore and he didn't argue about it - BUT he still came every weekend and took the dog. He tried to keep the dog, so I told him to take me too court. He was too chicken to go to court (he would have lost). I have lost two dogs in my life that lived very long and wonderful lives, so I know what you are going through. This baby of mine has gotten me through the divorce and 8 years of illness. He is not allowed to sleep on my bed, but I have slept on the floor with him many times. I am very sorry for your loss...
P.S. My picture is of me on a rocking horse I found in a store over the summer. It's a Bernese/Swiss Mountain Dog...that's my baby....