I just had to make the harest decision of my life. I had to put my beloved Silver Dapple Dauchshund, Oxie, down. He had had surgery on his back 4 months ago. He had 2 ruptured disc in his back and could not move his back left leg. Within a few months he was the same old Oxie. Playing with his dumb-bell, helping Mommy and Daddy take off their socks, and protecting Mommy from whatever might come her way - the big bad German Shepard who lives with us or that deadly leaf blowing across the yard. Then, 2 days ago, he started to have the same problems...hunched back, moving very slowing, and knuckling his back left paw. We took to the emegency hospital. They said he probably re injured his back in the same spot. Loaded him up on steroids and painkillers and sent him home. Last night at about 9:00pm, we called the emergency hospital yet again. Something wasn't right. Oxie wasn't able to unrinate on his own and he was whinning in pain. They told me to bring him up there right away. Upon arrival and a quick inpection, they had to help him urinate. The vet came in to look at him because at this time, Oxie couldn't move either of his back legs. The vet said he would need another back operation. I lost it, I told him I couldn't afford it and I was still paying off the 3000.00 surgery from August. My only other choice was to put him down. So, at 11:30 on Dec. 6th 2009, I signed the papers to have my little protector put to sleep. It was so hard. I held him while they injected the drug into his little dappled arm. Almost right away he became drowsy and a few seconds later he was gone. My little boy was gone. I told him Mommy and Daddy loved him and asked for his understanding. Right before he was given the shot, he looked up at me, as if to say " Mommy, why are you crying?". I know it was the right thing to do, but I am greedy and I want my little boy here with me. This pain hurts so bad, I am lost without him. My little "Oxie the Doxie". He will for ever be missed by his Mommy and Daddy.