Oct. 31, 2008 will be the 2nd year marker of Festus' death. I still am, and always will be heartbroken. We had played "slobber frisbee" that night. We came in and he layed down for a nap, just like always. Suddenly, he was at the side of my chair with his head down, and not looking "right". I thought he was going to be sick, so I let him out. He got as far as the porch steps, and never stood again. We called and had the emergency vet meet us at the hospital. She exaimed him, found nothing, started some fluids and gave him a Vit. K shot, just in case. She said they would keep him overnight, and for us to call in the morning. I thought we were doing the right thing for him. My last look at him is burned into my heart forever. I told him that we would be back in the morning to get him - he believed me. He raised his handsome head and wagged his tail at me. When I called first thing the next morning - he had not made it through the night. I should have known, because at 5 a.m. that morning, I suddenly awoke sitting up in bed, with nothing but his name in my head. No one was at the hospital at that time. He died alone - I will never, never, never get over that. I failed him at the time he needed me most. I have never let one of mine go alone. I failed him at the worst possible time. He died alone.