Spookie came into my life unexpectedly. I stopped by a pet store closing down to buy food for someone else's pet. Then I saw HIM. The cutest, sweetest puppy I'd ever seen. He looked like a tiny bear cub. The manager said rudely "If you like him so much, you better get him. After we close today, he'll go to the Humane Society"! He was 3 1/2 mos. old, had fleas, earmites, worms & in much need of love. It was meant to be.. He was extremely intelligent,& had quite a personality! He would talk with his eyes (and actions too if need be). 3 yrs. later I met Jim. He & Spookie became great friends also. We'd take him everywhere we could & had wonderful adventures: Kennesaw Mtn. in GA, Blue Ridge Mtns. including Clingman's Dome, Mt. Mitchell, Chimney Rock, Laurel Falls, etc. He also enjoyed running figure 8's in Colorado snow, playing with the waves&chasing birds in St. Augustine, Fl.! We'd only go to motels that allowed pets, & either get take out or find a place w/ an outside area to be sure Spookie could join us. He was a celebrity everywhere he went! He also howled to Hank Williams "Your cheatin heart" & "I'm so lonesome I could cry". He LOVED to eat, & always wanted whatever we had, but we were careful to share the healthier things like salad, apples(1 of his FAVORITES!), carrots celery watermelon peanuts & almonds, of course cheese! He also showed his teeth & growled like a wolf if he needed to express "back off"!, even to me! We thought it was adorable, and let Spookie be himself, cool. Then when the food was gone, he'd go back to kisses! We also loved walking. As he got older & had some arthtritis (duralactin, glucosamine, & deramaxx combo worked wonders), but he still couldn't go 2 miles, so I got him a pet stroller. He would walk 10-15 min. then it was time for the stroller so he could still enjoy being out longer (and he DID!) also loved "going bye-bye for a ride in the car". For his age I got him pet steps & a coolmat. He loved both. On a rare occasion that I'd ever cry, he was there to make me stop, not just to comfort me, but he didn't like it! There are thousands of treasured memories & trips with him through all the years....Then at age 10, he got very ill & diagnosed w/ pancreatitis. We had to adjust his diet & meds, but much overall he did very well & still enjoyed life. Then at age 12, diabetes & cushing's joined in...a trifecta that had his days numbered. Although I didn't take any of this lightly, never missed a pill, dose, anything, didn't realize just how bad these conditions are. Especially with his stoic demeanor. He slowed down bit by bit, but still had a good quality of life & enjoyed lots of love & massages, etc. as always. We moved 6 mos. ago to a home with a lg. fenced yard finally. He loved spending lots of time in it walking & sunbathing, as well as our stroller walks by the pond. We acquired another Schipperke puppy named Spyder 5/24/07. Spookie accepted him since he was so young as we figured he'd do..and they really liked each other, with us being mindful to separate the puppy at times so it wasn't TOO much. All the while, Spookie being #1, top priority. He was "the man"! So after the pancreatitis diagnosis, he'd have "flare-ups" of not feeling well & we'd do the best to get him better & provide the utmost care by us & a great vet. 7/25/07, Spookie took one final turn for the worst. It was late at night & I could tell he wasn't feeling well, actually quite possibly in pain. So I gave him a painpill. He didn't come to bed, so I brought a sleeping bag into the office & laid it on the floor next to the coolmat where he was sleeping & slept next to him, knowing we were near the end..By morning, his equilibrium was off & it was obviously time to go to the vet although I knew in my heart it would probably be the last time (But had a glimmer of hope just in case..)Halfway to the vet, we stopped off for a QUICK potty break, & he was even WORSE off. It was terrible & obvious he was dying (sparing some details). For the 1st time EVER, the Cherokee wouldn't start. Feeling a panic inside, I didn't know what to do. Jim got someone walking out of the Burger King & pleaded "help me w/ jumper cables"! The engine didn't turn. I had Spookie in one arm, trembly & stiff, cellphone in the other & called the nearest vet. He was there as quick as an abmulance, but Spookie died in my arm while he was on the way.(This all happened in about 5-10 min. or so.)Words cannot express it but being the worst day of my life. A nightmare, tragedy. My precious son was gone. Jim took him from my arms then sobbing "I don't want to let him go! I don't want to let him go"! Some people say it was "divine intervention" that we took the exit at that time, the car didn't start (which had NEVER happened before), & that he left this world in my arms. The vet (who had seen him just 6 days previous), said given his conditions & our descriptions of what his last moments were like, that there would have been nothing she could have done at that time, a blood clot had formed & caused a heart attack. And that if we hadn't stopped, he would've passed away in the car. Normally he was always in my lap, but that morning due to his pain & condition, we had him in the backseat on the coolmat....so maybe it was divine intervention although it was so tragic and everything. So Deceased Pet Care picked him up for cremation a few days later. We asked they clip a lock of his fur to add in the urn, which they promised. It is the "coming home" design with 3 white doves. We placed it in a safe deposit box with forest green crepe paper, Jim's gold medallion of Jesus he's worn for 25 years, and a laminated picture of Spookie smiling, taking in nature with mountains and a waterfall in the background, taken in the Smokies. Whichever one of us passes away first, he will be buried with. Once again, words cannot express everything but I hope this conveys how special he was (and still is). I would say to him "I love you forever"! And it's true. 13 years was just the beginning. The love of my life. My son. My sun, moon, and earth.The most precious boy on earth (to me) are just some of the things I'd say to him. There were several nicknames over the years, but "Little man" was the best. We truly had a soul connection and I hope that my belief that we will be together again when I pass on, is true. Other than that, it's something we have to accept. We don't make the rules. Although it hurts so much, I have to say it's worth the love we shared. No more pain for the baby. Living a Prince life at Rainbow Bridge waiting for Mommy and Daddy. We miss him so much.....