so, yesterday was a sad day for us. My sister had to put her yellow lab Simba down. He became suddenly ill, too weak to survive any surgery or life-measures. Some background info for you: Simba's first test was that he was raised to be a guide dog for the blind, but had a medical condition as a puppy that kept him from joining the program. So, the family "got him" as their own. Grandma, is actually my sister Ann, and mom is Ann's oldest daughter, Claire. Cam and Flo are our parents; Simba comforted Cam in the cardiac ICU the night before he went in for open heart surgery from which he never recovered, and Simba brought delight to Flo as he visited her when she was under home hospice care.
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ODE TO SIMBA

There once was a lab dog named Simba
Who frolicked and played with his tail...
He failed the first test
But turned out as the best,
Our love for him always will hail.

We called the dog stupid and goony
He always did bark with a tone...
Then Simba got ill
And laid there quite still...
His legacy true to the bone.

Simba, we cry for you now, but know that you are loved in this family. You will never be forgotten. You brought comfort to Cam, and delight to Flo. Your grandma and mom