On that fateful day, as if by divine intervention, my brother informed me of Duke's plight and I drove frantically to save him. When I first saw him he was all dirty and disheveled and was lying sadly in his own waste. I think he knew that he was on death row. Regardless, I knew right away that I loved him and that I would finally give him the loving family he longed for.

When he was released from his cage, he dashed quickly to my waiting car, tail wagging and full of happiness and joy. He was very excited and barked repeatedly on the way home.

In December 2005, Duke began to grow feeble and coughed a lot. The vet said that Duke was slowly dying of old age, his lungs were gradually filling up and that he would eventually die of congestive heart failure. It was an enemy that neither we or Duke could defeat.

Over the next 6 months, we made his life as pleasant as humanly possible. Whatever his heart desired or wished was our command. It was the least we could do for all that he gave us.

Duke's condition worsened and I knew in my heart that the fateful day was fast approaching. Even though you know that it must be done and that it is in his best interest, I can honestly say that it is the hardest thing I have ever done.

On that fateful day, I took the day off from work. The sickness had finally ravaged Duke's once-strong body and despite every effort by the vet and our daily prayers, his illness was intensifying.

I remember calling him to the car – how he loved car rides!! However, on that fateful morning he couldn't even walk. It was as if he was giving up. I gathered his 60 pound body in my arms and slowly carried him the waiting car, all the while crying my heart out uncontrollably. I could no longer put off the inevitable and sobbed all the way to the vet's office.

When the procedure was finished, I paid my final respects to my friend and embraced him. I apologized to him for not being able to help him in his hour of need & said my final good-bye.

Mt heart ached as I drove home. I already missed Duke and have been missing him daily since June 27, 2006.

We had him cremated and buried him in the back yard next to his favorite resting place – Duke's fish pond. How he loved to sleep there throughout the day just listening to the water gently falling.

On the day he was buried, I finished mounding the dirt with my bare hands. As I stared at my dirt-stained hands, tears instantly welled in my eyes and I reflected on the past and absorbed all that had happened.

Duke was a part of our family until his death on June 27, 2006 – a mere 3 months from his 16th birthday – quite a feat for a Bassett hound. In return for our love and appreciation, Duke filled our lives with his joyous expressions, comforting nudges and companionship.

We all miss him dearly and put a single rose on his grave at Christmas, his birthday and of course the day he left us to go to be with God.

I hope that I did the right thing by giving the authority to take his life and I know in my heart that he is now pain free, enjoying the company of our other pets. I know they have found the most beautifully shaded spot, near the clearest, sweetest stream. My guardian angel and friend waits patiently, knowing some day we will be together again to share once more the love we treasure so much.