by Megan Barton
I had a 4/5 month old Black lab/Pitbull mix puppy. He was given to me by someone across the street. The person that gave him to me had a brother that didn't want me to have Duke!!! He got so mad that he was calling our family names and stalking me and the pup when we went on walks!! There was a festival going on in the month of October in Illinois, the month Duke passed away. I was volunteering at a stand when my mom called the stand owner and told me to go home and check on my Dukers. We had put him out on a chain that morning because it was nice outside. He was with my 3 year old English Setter, Buddy (A.K.A. Bud Stud), and my 6 year old German short- haired pointer/Pit mix, Shiana....You wouldn't think that this 15 year old kid would have poisoned my baby puppy, but I guess i thought wrong! I came home to find my puppy not able to move, eat, or drink. He was very dehydrated!! For the rest of that night, I forced Gatorade, water, and Pedialite into his system hoping that it would help! A few hours later, we knew that we were unable to help him anymore. We were to take him to the vet that morning to be euthanized, but before we could get anything set up, he died in my arms! My mom, my friend Lisa, and I took him to the backyard to the opposite side of his playing area to burry him there. Now there are vines and wild flowers growing there. We all miss him!! I regret not being home that day to prevent this from happening!! WE love you Dukers, From all of us: Bud Stud, Shiana, Melissa, Mackenzie, Lisa, Mom, Furball(missing in action),Izzy, Mickey, Stitch, and of course... ME!!