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The 11th of February was 3yrs since I lost my Ladiebug. That was such a hard day, letting her go broke my soul. She had mammary cancer that had spread to her lungs and heart. This made it hard for her to breathe and she’d become lethargic due to her heart. But even so every morning about 5am she’d wake us up for her walk if we weren’t already up. Our walks got shorter and slower at the end, but she still got so excited to go. I knew that the cancer was really starting to affect her, but she stayed this beautiful, happy girl till the end. Her last was spent doing all her favorite things. After her walk I made her a special breakfast of chicken with strawberries, blueberries, cheese and pumpkin. After which she and I shared a bowl of her favorite cereal, Captain Crunch with crunch berries, bite for bite. And of course she finished off the leftover milk. I then took a washcloth and wiped her fur down and gave her a thorough brushing. Then I sat on the floor next to her and gave her a very long, gentle massage from head to tail. Halfway through she leaned over putting her full weight on me with a soft grruufffft escaping as she collapsed into my arms. We layed on her bed and took a nap together for about an hour or so. I wrapped her up in my arms, holding her with my head on her chest I listened to her heartbeating so strong. We spent some time out in the yard where she made her rounds, sniffing everything throughly, as if she knew this was to be her last time doing it. I believe that she knew that it was her last day here with me, in the place she’d come to love. For lunch she had roast beef, cottage cheese and King’s Hawaiian dinner rolls. (She loved all bread, but those were her favorite and I always shared them with her bite for bite) and for dessert she got a big bowl of fresh whipped cream. We cuddled on the couch and watched Homeward Bound, her favorite movie and napped until a few friends and their dogs came by to say goodbye. She was lavished with love and treats, and she played with her dog buddies for the last time. Their play was more subdued and gentle than normal. The vet got to the house in the late afternoon, and Ladiebug and I curled up on her bed while some friends stayed to say their final goodbyes and to be there for me. I layed with her in my arms tightly while the vet inserted the IV, I rested my head on her chest, listening to her heartbeat and I softly sang an Irish lullaby to her as she let go of this life, peacefully crossing the Rainbow Bridge where she waits for me to join her. As I listened to her last heartbeat a part of my soul died with her. I held onto her for almost an hour before finally letting the vet take her for cremation. I didn’t know it then, but she passed on so there would be a place for another dog who just 13days later would desperately need a home to come to. I rescued my current dog from a horrible situation and from being put down because she was “old” and injured due to neglect. Ladiebug lost her battle with cancer, so this new dog could keep her life. I miss my Ladiebug so much, but I’m grateful that I was able to save Grunt-Grunt’s life, and give her the loving home she deserves. As I write this Grunt-Grunt, so named for the quiet grunts she makes when she’s happy, lays curled up next to me snoring softly, like only a Pug can do.