Hey, It is so HOT down here that we are all down and out! Mom and Dad put the boat in yesterday and me and Bog tried to swim/wade, but the water was like bath water. It was no fun! When we got home, mom got on the web and saw the Poem about "Just a Dog"...OHHHHH that really riled her up! You see my mom had a Beagle a long time ago who had problems with her neck (she was about 5 years old then) the vet then told her that she needed to have a surgery that was going to cost about $500. Mom said where do I take her...but the vet tried to discourage her. Mom almost went to jail over that one! Finally, the vet gave in and mom got Winni fixed of course everybody was WHAT! That much money FOR A DOG!...this beagle, then went on to be attacked and shaken like a rag doll when she was about 20 years old, thought to be dead...Mom intervened...for 2 months mom (who was working 4 days a week at 12 hours a day) hand fed her, changed her bandages and rolled her from side to side (she couldn't get up or walk), and gave her baths (cause she was peeing on herself while she was down), when she started trying to move, mom was her PT! I wasn't alot of help cause I was still young and I wanted Winni to play with me like before. But I did lay down with her and kiss on her when she was in a lot of pain. I could tell that she enjoyed my attention when she was down and hurting...Eventually, she recovered and was walking around as mom called the Frankenpuppy walk. She was still stiff, but not in pain She then continued to live until she was 21 years old. Mom was camping down at our campspot in Milton, KY and was sitting out by the fire she had built. "Winni" insisted that mom let her lay out by the fire on her "Blankie" (you see Winni was a BAWL mouth beagle) so when mom left her in the camper on Her Blankie and then went outside Winni complained! Very loudy to say! She even hurt my ears! So mom went and got her and put her and her blankie next to the fire...Win layed there in peace, cause she was close to mom and then she stood up and walked over to mom and wanted to be picked up! Mom took her blankie off the ground, picked Winni up and held her like a baby...it was then that Winni left my mom and us!...I was just a few feet away and it tore my heart out the way my mama cried! I couldn't do anything for her except give her and my old sis (even tho she was gone) kisses to let them know I CARED! We aren't JUST DOGS! we are family! And we can break your heart! Mom has other heartbreaking stories over the past 5 years, if you want to hear them let her know! Sorry it's so long...but Mom gets really upset about the phrase "IT"S JUST A DOG!"