Circle of Life, Continued

Our beagle, Charlie, is slipping. Nine months of canine chemotherapy – less expensive and less physically devastating than human chemo – have given us extra time with a beloved member of the family. With contractors doing work on the kitchen over the weekend, the doggie door wasn’t up and running and, though we let the dogs out regularly, Charlie left wet spots on the carpet twelve or fifteen times in two days.

When he’s gone, I suspect baby won’t know to miss him but probably will in her own private way. She loves nothing more than to be on the floor and have Charlie approach. He usually passes her by on his way to a new spot to lie down, but she still clearly feels that something special has happened. And it has.