i was 14 and i hated life my dad a drunk my mom abusive. i had no friends and just didn't want to be around anymore. the only thing that kept me sane was volunteering at an animal shelter just outside of town. one day they brought in 4 beautiful dalmation puppies about 6 weeks old i had always wanted a dalmation for as long as i could remember i finally talked my da into letting me get one. she was a gorgeous female who i absolutly adored i named her baby she quickly became my best friend. shortly after i got her i found out she was completly deaf i thought i would never be able to train a deaf dog but i love a challenge so i tried i spent every moment of every day that i possibly could with her and she was a smart girl she knew everything and she was pretty easy to train considering i now had something to live for she went everywhere with me we moved to nc when i was 17 thats where we met her daddy my husband and the 3 of us were a very happy family then when i was 19 i found out there would soon be four of us i was so excited and i thought it would be wonderful and for a while it was poor baby though she was so used to being the center of my world and now all of a sudden i was paying a lot of attention to this crying loud child and she was a bit jelous but she got used to it then at about 6 years old baby was diagnosed with severe arthritis and hip displasia poor thing she was so soar we gave her pain meds and did all kinds of home remedies and it all helped but she still had her bad days. then one day my daughter fell on her and baby bit her right on her face my daughter had to get 6 stitches just below her eye it was bad and a very close call my husband decided right then that baby would have top go and i could't argue we tried to give her to a close friend but baby got very depressed and wouldn't eat or drink she missed her mommy. and boy did i miss her we couldn't have her in the house though what is she seriously hurt my daughter one day i would never forgive myself so we had to put her down i cried for days i still cry and it has been four years i just want to say im sorry for putting her in that position and baby you saved me with out you i may not be here now i love you i miss you and i will see you again someday