I know how you feel Dred...I had to put down my first dog "Buck" (see avatar) 6 yr's ago after I found out he had cancer, he was almost 11 yr's. I still get tears in my eyes when I read posts like this. Then 2 yr's ago my 4 y/o golden was hit by a car and died of internal bleeding at the hospital an hr later. I've always gotten a new dog soon after the loss and this has helped me the most. Now I have a 4 and 2 y/o goldens to brighten my day.