Sorry for your loss. I feel your pain. I lost Java last year at only 9 years of age. Thought he would be with us for alot longer. He was always healthy, never sick, and acted like a puppy his whole life. Then cancer got him and in mere months he was gone.

Best wishes for you and your wife,
Duane

Thanks everybody.  Pets are people too and it sure hurts when they're gone.

Sorry to hear about your loss, It's never easy to loss a pet. Just last year my dog passed away and I truly miss him just I am shur that you miss your dogs.

Mike

Always wanted to name a pet Dave. My family thinks its hilarious when I say that. Or another common human name.  How about Warren...oops thats MY name.

Very, very sorry to hear it.  

[I am still tearing up when I think of our lab Dexter.  He was 14 with seizures and spiralling down with issues we think were caused by a growth on his spine and I could see the pain and confusion in his eyes.  He lived a good life, but I have NEVER cried so hard as when he died in my arms. At least our vet makes house calls and our family was there (and the kids at school).  So hard, and even almost 6 months later I still hear sounds that make me think he's coming, I automatically close doors and gates, and miss that dead weight on my legs that helped put me to sleep soundly at night.

And we do laugh though as we only discovered after his passing just how messy our kids eating habits are, and have to credit him with keeping the floors absolutely "fallen food crumb free". He was affectionately known as "the family Hoover". ]

It's been a bad winter for a lot of people.  We lost all our pets including a 3 year old Hamster, and a Beta fish.

I'm all about the video man - so I found this documentary to be one of the best emotional treatments: "Last Minutes with ODEN" http://vimeo.com/8191217 (Don't watch it alone Bally Boy, you'll be a mess.   )

Sorry for your loss.   
My cat is 14 years old this year.  she is still pretty active, and loves me (But hates the dog), but i know it is just getting to be a matter of time.  I've had her longer than i've known my wife!
I've only had to put down my wife's cat as far as pets, she was very sick, and always hated me with a passion.  but i still cried like a baby when we brought her to the vet.

I  am sorry to hear about your loss. Anyone who has had a dog or any other pet knows that they are very much family. They teach you some basic values like unconditional love, trust, they protect you, they will keep your feet warm and yes they even teach you about the loss of a loved one. That is the hardest lesson to learn but it reminds us just how special man's best friend is.

Rick