We lost Lori yesterday.

[Adam Helmer]

Lori was a 55 pound Yellow Lab/German Shepard cross. We got her in August 2005 when she was 3 months old at the SPCA shelter. Yesterday at 1:40 p.m. she got the needle at the vet's office. She had been slowing down for the last year and finally could not get up without my help and she hobbled on three legs as her right hind leg was only dragged. Yesterday the other hind leg gave out; she dragged both hind legs to get to her feed dish. So, I made the call to the vet.

My nearby vet is a dog lover and a good man. Once before he came out of his office and gave the needle to my Golden in the rear seat of my club cab truck. The same happened yesterday for Lori. I was holding Webley and Lori at their end. I believe I am guilty of waiting too long to do what was necessary. It was a hard decision, but Lori had no quality of life and I did what was needed. That in no way ends the pain of the loss of my best buddy and range officer. Lori rests now in the big hayfield here on the farm next to Webley. One day I will also rest there. I prefer to rest among my best friends.

Adam