THis week has been the hardest week I have ever lived. My best friend of (9 years) Sampson was put to rest. My vet couldn't believe how hard this dog tried to stay with me. He said 99% of dogs would have done given up. We tranquilized him first, Sampson never liked the muzzle and it was a fight to put it on him, he would always open his mouth wide. we didn't want to fight him to kill him. It took a long time for the tranquilizer to work and even when he laid down and I stood up he got back up like we were leaving. I cried buckets of tears all week but I had to do it. He had lost alot of muscle mass but his belly stayed swollen due to Liver disease. I dodn't think he would last very long but he did a few months. We kept walking daily and playing catch. If you couldn't see his belly you wouln't think anything was wrong. I bought him a steak and fed it to him before we went to the vet. What made it hard was soon as I dropped the tailgate his tail went up he barked and as we passed every car he barked as he always did. He stood up on the side with his head up over the cab as always. I told the vet I don't know he's acting so well. The vet pushed me and I'm glad he did as I looked at him I knew he needed to go on. I guess dogs are really on loan even humans, the song says those tears you shed are just interest on the loan." What the heart has once known it shall never forget" that was on the card the vet sent me. I'm a little better now I buried him underneath my bedroom window. He would lay outside whichever room I was in. He loved me and I loved him so very much. I guess I'm starting to look for another Shepherd, I'm wanting another german import pup. Later on I may get into sch. Comp but regardless I want a dog with that drive and spirit and intellect that Sam had. When I found Sam I had just lost my 1st GSD. My wife says it was devine interrvention, Sams owner had just gotten him at 8 weeks he had him 2 weeks and realized he couldn't keep a dog, he was in college and the hours were too many and he didn't want to deprive Sam of time and love, so I found an ad saying sable pup. I got lucky and no one had called for 2 days as soon as I saw those ears he ran and jumped in my arms, I knew he was for me. I paid 100.00 for the smartest and loyal friend I had ever had. I miss him tremendously but the memories I'll have forever.