At 2:30pm local time today, my dog, 'Vash The Stampede' died.

For those of you who don't know, this Setter / Labrador crossbreed had been fighting against a Lymphoma Cancer since July 2008.

He had been through a lot, always with the love and care of his family that, despite knowing there were no chances for a cure, tried everything to provide him with the quality of life he'd always had since he was adopted back in 2002, with a perky one and a half months of age.

He was always hyper, always in a mood to play, his loud and almost obnoxiously addicting happiness never fading, even when his fate had been long sealed.

Every single therapy option was considered and, whenever the painful option of Euthanasia was put on the table, he always seemed to bounce back up, and give us a couple more weeks of home.

...today was not the case...

I saw my puppy die in front of me... and it hurts so damn much...
I feel as if every ounce of happiness is gone from this house, that now feels cold and empty without the cheerful sound of his claws tapping on the wooden floor, or his chain collar jingling as he dashed around, chasing a ball.


...I'm not typing this to get any sympathy, just to try and get some closure...
...its a pain that makes me sad, and angry... that such a sweet creature had to die so violently, at barely 7 years of age...

...but, my life goes on... and if Vash were still around, he'd just lean his head on my thigh, and look at me with those dark brown eyes, as if saying "Hey, don't be sad. I'm here, let's play."

I'll be pushing life forward... Vash's medical therapy will leave a few 'more' bills to take care of...

Those of you that have a pet... dog, cat, whatever... give that friend of yours an extra tight hug today.
I know I'd give the world to be able to hug Vash again...