My household was already pretty full with two outside dogs, two outside cats and two inside cats. So what was I thinking when I took in a dog I had found on Valentines Day 2001. He was just wondering around Restland cemetary in Dallas-I had gone to put out flowers on my parents graves when I saw him. He looked hurt. I easily caught him and took him to the emergency vet. They said he had been hit by a car, but would be ok with rest, and also that he was almost blind, pretty much deaf, about 12-13 years old and, oh yeah, he has a heart murmur. did I want to keep him or have them turn him over to the pound? being the softie I am I bundled him up and took him home to meet the rest of the family. Even though he was the littlest of the canines, he immediately went to work to become alpha dog.....and he succeeded. I had never had an inside dog before, but I sure had one now! And oh how he took over the household. He slept by my bed on an old rug and followed me everywhere when I was home, never letting me out of his limited sight. I grew to love him like I never imagined. So, when I came home from school last Thursday, I noticed he was stumbling. Then, later that afternoon he couldn't control his back legs. We rushed to the vet. A ruptured disc was the diagnosis. He was in pain. Without surgery it wouldn't heal. Steroids might help, but might not. Surgery was going to be around $1500. I didn't have it. I didn't have means to borrow it either. So with a big shot and two bottles of pills we went home. By Friday night he was worse. He couldn't control his bladder, he wasn't eating. I called the vet.....I had to make a decision. So, on this past Saturday, a fall day with a beautiful blue sky, I gathered him up in his favorite towel and took him around to touch noses and say goodbye to Fred, George, Burt, Keebler, Tyson and Beavis. They all could sense that something was very wrong. We drove to the vet and I held my precious little friend as he drifted quietly away. He was only with me a few months, but what an impact he made on my lonely life. Always there to listen to anything I had to say with a look of utmost care and concern. If he could have spoken I know he would have given me excellent advice...he was such a good listener. Tonight, the inside cats and I are feeling the emptiness throughout the house. The outside cats are wondering why that little, brown dog isn't at the front door anymore. Fred and George wonder why their little buddy hasn't been out in the backyard the last few days. I miss reaching over the side of my bed and giving him a goodnight pat with the whispered, "I love you little boy". Isn't it amazing how much love they can give to us? I love you Little Bud, my monkey puppy, little pupster, precious, cherished companion..........I will see you at the Rainbow Bridge........and don't worry..........I'll bring extra treats.