he couldn't get up stairs anymore without help, and her pain was evident. Walking was difficult, but she always got up to greet you. The vet came tonight and put her to sleep. She was a good dog. As good a dog as you ever had. She was a constant, a nose in your palm, and a leaning tower of yellow fur shedding on your leg - wagging - always wagging.
I left, moved out, moved on, and she never missed a beat. A day, a month, it didn't matter - the greeting, the enthusiasm, always real, like I had just brought her a big steak. I never brought her much of anything. How do you match the love of something that loyal? The selfless, boundless, fervent love these creatures have for their flawed owners. I don't know about dogs going to heaven, but they certainly bring a bit of heaven to us. It's fetch on a spiritual level.

My parents are bearing the brunt of the loss, as she was their daily companion for all these years. Sons may come and go (for laundry, food, or the like) but Cassie never wavered. Mom & Dad have been through this before, but it's never easy. It was the right time to do this, and the whole family mourns. My brothers were there tonight, and my uncle kindly built a casket for her. I wanted to be there - badly. Instead I'm in Atlanta, crying in a hotel room. I write about these sad things, and wallow and grieve. I was blessed so much to have such a wonderful creature. I do her a disservice by spreading my grief to others - she taught me better than that.

She was a good dog. As good a dog as you ever had. Goodbye Cassie.