Remembering Frank

Many of you know our trials with Frank as he got older. We knew from the vet that it was a neurological issue and that the time would come when he would lose the use of his hind legs and bathroom control. Over the last month it had become worse and he was having trouble getting up and down, he was dragging his right foot sometimes, and having numerous "accidents" in the house. Okay, I admit it he was going to the bathroom inside more than outside. We took him to the vet Monday to be put to sleep and the vet did some tests and confirmed that this was the right time given his declining condition. It was a difficult day given that we have only had him for 3 years but we know that he lived a better life with us than he did as a stray dog wandering around Sacramento. Many of you know the story I tell about all the reasons why we should never have gotten him but he was a great dog and we miss him dearly.

He did not really seem to know what was going on when we brought Josie home but whenever he heard her cry he would go to where she was to make sure things were okay. When he saw that we had the situation under control he would leave the room or lay down where we were. We wanted some pictures of them together and he just laid there on the floor and when we propped her up against him he just sighed, looked up, and then put his head down.

I put her next to his head the next day and he just laid there until she started crying. Then he just looked at me as if to say "Do you have this under control?" When I picked Josie up he put his head back down and sighed. We wish that she could have had the chance to play with him.

Ernie seems sad and has become very clingy with both Jay and me.

He was Frank to the end - he peed all over the vet table. We will remember him fondly.