Thank you to everyone who emailed me about the loss of my Arthur. I truly appreciate all of your kindess. We're fortunate to have so many wonderful newschannel 5 viewers and newsnet 5 readers:)

As many of you know, it is so very hard to say good-bye to a four legged family member. After more than a week, I still have a hard time saying his name without crying. I can't bear to put away his things at home but looking at his dish and leash reminds me how empty the house feels.

Arthur has a new space in our home now. We had him cremated at the Western Farm Pet Crematory and Cemetery in Grafton last week. My girlfriend told me about them and they were so wonderful! Jason and Debbie were so kind to us and helped us get through a very difficult experience. We got a chance to say good-bye one more time in the little chapel , and we waited there while Arthur was cremated. We talked to another animal lover who lost her dog, we shared stories and for a moment I felt better.

Although, Camille is only 13 months old I think she knows something is different. She loved her four legged big brother:) She points to his pictures all the time and smiles. I've been asked a lot lately if we will get another dog, probably. I don't want Camille to grow up without one. But, I've also realized that although I will love our next puppy no animal can take Artie's place in my heart.

xoxo,

Tracy

We brought Camille home on one of the coldest days of 2007. She was home just minutes before her 4 legged big brother greeted her with a bark. She never even flinched, I guess she was used to hearing him bark all those months in my belly. My Arthur was 16 years old at the time. People warned me that he might not accept my "other child". I never had any doubts. Arthur

was with me through many firsts. My first job, first apartment, move to new cities, my wedding and now a baby. He welcomed her with open paws. But, just days after Camille came home, Arthur got very ill. I thought we were going to loose him. It turned out we had tainted dog food and he had suffered severe kidney damage. The vet said he only had weeks, maybe months to live. Arthur had already beaten the odds by beating cancer a few years earlier. So again, I prayed and begged him to fight, to make it through her first year. He did, almost to the day. He was there to celebrate all of her firsts, including her first birthday. Just days after her birthday party, he started getting very sick. This time, I knew it was different. He wasn't going to get better. He stopped eating and there wasn't anything the vets could do. Arthur was in pain and was dieing in my arms. We took him to the vet and took his pain away. Camille is obviously too young to understand, but she knows something is different. Her 4 legged friend that she crawled with and played with is gone. She can tell Mummy and Daddy are sad, she just doesn't understand how heartbroken I truly am.

xoxo,

Tracy