Emmett died a little over a week ago. I can't believe how much it hurts. He was a big dog in a little dog's body, he thought he was a wolf. He protected us from the vacuum cleaner and he chased all the squirrels and bunnies from our yard. When my husband would be working on the lawn mower, near the shed, Emmett would roll his tennis ball at him a hundred times, begging him to play. Emmett had at least twenty different toys and he played at different times with each one (only he knew which toy was for which day.) He especially loved his Hedge Hog that groaned, and the reindeer I bought him this past Christmas. He taught himself to get the morning newspaper, and in the beginning, he was bringing the whole neighborhoods papers to our door. Emmett loved everyone, but he was my dog. And when I was diagnosed with breast cancer last June, he stayed by my side through good days and bad. And when I couldn't sleep, he was the only one who would get out of the warm bed to keep me company. Emmett always worried about me. I finally finished all of my treatments on February 17, and was looking forward to getting back to myself. Emmett was so happy that we could go for long walks once more, and he ran and played like he was a puppy again. He was only eight and his breed lives from fifteen, up to eighteen years old. So last Thursday, when he wasn't himself, and wasn't running through the house and looking out of all of the windows, I never thought it would be so sudden, that I wouldn't ever see him again. One minute he was fine the next minute, he needed a transfusion and exploratory surgery and because of cancer on multiple organs, they didn't wake him up, we told them to let him sleep. Em wouldn't have liked being sick. He was the alpha dog of our little doggie pack, neurotic little Mackie, who adored Emmett and had been with him for four years, and newcomer Annie, who we rescued from a shelter, and Emmett welcomed into our home. They miss him terribly, too. I hope he knew how much we loved him in those eight short years, he was a "once in a lifetime dog." Our house will be sad for a long time. I know he waited to pass until I was better. I may be physically better, but my heart will be saying Emmett, Emmett, Emmett, forever.