Teddy came into my life just 2 months before the birth of my daughter. He weighed less than 1 lb. but was the bravest soul I ever would know. He looked exactly like a tiny bear so his 'official AKC name' had to be Barely Ted. So frail & sickly the vet advised us to return him to the pet shop he would valiantly set off chasing a bitty rubber pig which had been his favorite toy at the shop. Ted would stop to cough, so hard he'd fall over and have to rest...then up he'd stand and fetch that pig; bring it back & bark to do it again. Months of hand feeding & medicine every 6 hours made him strong & made me fall completely in love with him. When my daughter was born I was very experienced with caring for tiny helpless things & she was a whopping 6 lbs. (she always joked that Ted was her 'brother' & mom always liked HIM best). For 16 1/2 years Teddy was my best friend, my confidante, my 'protector' & my love. Everyone said I belonged to HIM! Teddy lost his sight in one eye & his teeth; he had seizures that required medication twice a day. Ted had arthritis that made him limp in the winter & one year he had insomnia & would wander the house barking until I'd wake up, find him & cuddle him in bed; then 2 hours later do it again. Somehow I never really minded. The vets were amazed at his stamina; just a few weeks before I found the lump that would end his sweet life the vet needed 15 minutes & 2 stethoscopes to find his heartbeat. My husband joked he'd had a hunch Ted had died years before but my love kept him walking around. Even I never really thought that horrible day would ever come; but when it did (so quickly after we found the cancer) there was absolutely no question of what we would do. I got a chance to shower love & comfort, treat & indulge & spoil him rotten for 1 month. My husband works at home & it was such a relief to know Ted was never alone. Even his death was precious; I held him and sang the little lullabye with his name in it that always made him lick my face & as he was given the last shot I buried my face in the back of his neck and told him what a good boy he was & how much I love him. We buried him in my friends' yard next to her old dog. I can feel him near me, see him run, hear his distinctive bark. At night I dream such clear dreams of him & hold his little body close & talk to him. I know love never dies & that Ted still somehow exists & knows me and loves me. I believe with all my heart I will be with him again and we will never be parted. I am so grateful to have been loved so dearly & blessed to know I could love as deeply as I did. I will always love you, Teddy, "guard the house, Mama will be home soon".