My boy, my joy, my gift from above -- Butch is gone. I helped him to the bridge at 6:20 AM Friday, February 13th. Sandee and Sara, I don't think you'll have to help him find Maggie and Chloe, I know they were there waiting for him. Butch and Maggie were lifelong companions and were together 6 years when Maggie left us last September. Butch and Maggie would have been with me 5 years in March. Chloe was only with us 9 months but she loved Butch, she looked up to him since he was the big brother. After Maggie left she tried to hard to be the 'Alpha' and take care of HER ferrets. And Butch let her. Butchie had been slowing down but was still trotting around, eating and enjoying his plastic bags (even after that horrible accident on Christmas Eve day) but I noticed on Monday night something wasn't right. All I could think he was considering going to the bridge. Thursday night he couldn't seem to walk very well but regained his balance. Since he'd just piddled on the kitchen floor I thought heed slipped. Something told me that this could it my final night with him. I put some soft music on, and sat with my big guy and we talked for a long time. We talked about the bridge, how Maggie and Chloe were there and that it would be OK to go ahead and go if he needed to. CB and I would miss him but we would understand he had to go. We all went to sleep until about 3 AM when I heard him crying on the floor. He couldn't walk and had pooped on himself. At 5:30 AM I knew I couldn't wait for our vet and took him to the emergency clinic. The vet there was wonderful and Butchie made his transition in peace with me holding and talking to him. Butchie, no more vet visits and being poked to see what your BG is this month. No more nail clipping. You can dine at the Ferrivite River and have raisins again. You're with your girls big man Butch. Connie and CB Missing Butchie, Maggie, and Chloe who are playing at the bridge. "I am sometimes asked, "Why do you spend so much of your time and money talking about kindness to animals when there is so much cruelty to men? I answer, "I am working at the roots." George T. Angell [Posted in FML issue 4424]