[WorkinDogz]

Some of you know that my male GSD Apollo was diagnosed with cancer recently. I had plans to euthanize him; here at home with the help of the love of my life standing by for support...this past Thursday.

Circumstances prevented that from happening (one of the street dogs working with a local PD broke a K9 tooth off and we needed to make a trip to the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan for a root canal and filling instead. By the way.....Dr. Carmichael was the Boarded Specialist that took care of Hudson's tooth and I can't say enough positive things about this gentleman. Exceptional Veterinarian and a true credit to all DVM's.)

So I walked in from a very long day that began at 5 am.....to Apollo greeting me at the door.

I decided that instead of following through with the plans today; that I'd devote this weekend to doing all of the things he loved so much in his youth.

We took a walk.....went to his favorite "hill" and relived some of the awesome times we shared since I brought a tough, confident, comic, PITA-puppy, full-of-himself dog home 9 years ago.

I told him how much fun I've always had with him...and that even though he wasn't the "top dog" I've ever trained; he was BY FAR the dog I had the most FUN training. That boy NEVER failed to make me laugh.... in trial...in training.....around the house.... every single day...I could count on Apollo to do SOMETHING that would make me shake my head laughing and smiling.

I told him that he always made me proud; even when he "messed up"; because I knew he did whatever he did knowing that if I didn't approve; he was willing to meet the consequences with no excuses.

I told him that I loved him very, very much.....even though he wasn't a dog that needed the physical affection that some of the other dogs crave....and that sometimes; I knew the reason he loved me was because I know how to drive and could and would take him bye-bye. He isn't the dog closest to my heart even today; but he most certainly has his spot there secured in stone...just in a most unique way.

I told him that it was a very sad day for me a year ago.....when I woke up one morning and that he went from me telling him to "grow up and act his age already" to him getting *old* seemingly overnight. One day he's raring to go and the next.....he was a 9 year old dog.

I told him that I understood his pain and discomfort.....and I promised my most favorite boy that I wouldn't allow him to suffer any more...... Let's just have one more fun weekend.....and then on Monday......I'll let him go.

Monday night.....there will be a spot; right next to my bed that was occupied for so many years; that won't have him there.

Tomorrow.....we're going to his "Oh have I been good!" place (Dairy Queen. He always got a baby vanilla cone when he did something 'above and beyond' the call of duty.) Then.....my Michael will come over and allow him to take a couple of cheap shots on the sleeve......

Aik.....get ready. The ultimate thorn in your side is coming to the Bridge. You know what you have to do.......prepare the masses....cause he's coming to stir the pot!

It's a very good thing that "All Dogs Go To Heaven" because there were times when I thought he might just be the exception to that rule ;)

'Pollo-man..... I love you to pieces. Let's roll buddy. One more day.......