At 8:30 this evening, with the help of our kind vet, Punky Doodle went peacefully to sleep for the last time. He was such a trooper with all he had gone through. We spent many months taking him back and forth to the vet for tests, electrocardiograms, ultrasounds and surgeries and though it all he constantly held on to the joy of life. All his ailments finally became more than he could take and he began to go downhill in the last few weeks. As much as we wanted to see him pull through it all, we knew that he would not get better. Tonight it became obvious that it was time to go. We took him to the clinic where the doctor met us and we held him and told him how much we loved him until it was all over. We brought him home with us and buried him in a wonderful little spot in our backyard while my wife read this poem over his grave and a candle burned in his honor. A little cross To tell my loss A little bed To rest my head A little tear is all I crave Under my very little grave. With nothing more upon it than "Here lies the little friend of man" Right now, I feel like my heart will break. We love you Punky Doodle and will never forget you. You were my little buddy. Rest in peace little boy. Mike, Wanda, Max, Peanut and Woodstock. [Posted in FML issue 1767]