Since so many of your beloved animals have passed recently, this story
may help.
Although, it's not about dogs, it's poignant and the idea is the same.

"

*The young couple had made their usual hurried, pre-Christmas visit to
the little farm where dwelt their elderly parents with their small herd
of horses. The farm had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge
pine which topped the hill behind the farm, and through the years had
become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a landmark in the
countryside. **

**The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the years had taken
their toll, but they sold a few foals each year, and the horses were**
**their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at day's end.
Crossly, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the**
**old folks. "Why do you not at least dispose of "The Old One". She is
no longer of use to you. It's been years since you've had foals from
her. You should cut corners and save where you can. Why do you keep her
anyway?" **

**The old man looked down as his worn boot scuffed at the barn floor and
his arm stole defensively about the Old One's neck as he drew her to him
and rubbed her gently behind the ears. He replied softly, "We keep her
because of love. Only because of love." **

**Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his wife
a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness stole
through the valley. **

**So it was, that because of the leave-taking, no one noticed the
insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn. None saw**
**the first spark fall. **

**None but the “Old One". **

**In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry
flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and**
**despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he raced
to the barn to save their beloved horses. But the flames were roaring
now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing to the ground,
helpless before the fire's fury. By the time the fire**
**department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins were left, and the old
man and his wife. They thanked those who had come to their aid, and the
old man turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as
he clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red bandana. Brokenly he
whispered, "We have lost much, but God has spared our home on this eve
of Christmas. Let us, therefore, climb the hill to the old pine where we
have sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon our home
and give thanks to God that it has been spared." **

**And so, he took her by the hand and helped her up the snowy hill as he
brushed aside his own tears with the back of his hand. As they stepped
over the little knoll at the crest of the hill, they looked up and
gasped in amazement at the incredible beauty before them. Seemingly,
every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught up in the
glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it was
aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top most bough, a crystal
crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had a mere mortal created
a Christmas tree such as this. **

**Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy as he
pulled his wife forward. There, beneath the tree, was their Christmas
gift. Bedded down about the "Old One" close to the truck of the tree,
was the entire herd, safe. At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed
the door ajar with her muzzle and had led the horses through it. Slowly
and with great dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the
hill, stepping daintily through the snow. The foals were frightened and
dashed about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling,
hungry flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their
lips and hopped like rabbits. The mares pressed uneasily against the
"Old One" as she moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the
pine. And now, she lay among them and gazed at the faces of those she
loved. Her body was brittle with years, but the golden eyes were filled
with devotion as she offered her gift - Because of love. **

**Only Because of love."
*

A Beautiful Story,
It is storys like that, that remind us of how lucky we are & how fragile
life is...
Hugs to all & the fur kids too.

Beautiful story!! It brought to mind of what some one told me not so long ago. Their dog is around 13 same as our Sam. They told me that if they have to dump money into their dog because of health problems they would just have them euthanised because the dog was old. Well Sam is the same age and having surgery in the morning. When the Vet told me the estimated price it didn't come to mind of gosh thats alot, and he's just a dog, it was "When can you get him to have it done." Kori and I hear his bones creak at times, notice the trouble he has getting started up the stairs, realize he's loosing hearing, sleeps more than he's awake, ever watching of his humane kids. When you get a pet its for life. Some would say its just a dog!. WEll that dog has been with us long than our oldest son.

Sounds like that poor old dog needs new owners. They also sound like the type that would dump "grandpa" in the nearest ER if he were sick, and leave no address
or any other contact information. To people like us, our dogs are family and if they need care we see that they get it. Like most in this group, I wouldnt be capable of doing anything else.