We lost a best friend today.
Fifteen years ago we got our first Cavalier, Sancho. There were a pair
of Jack Russell terriers next door and Sancho (who was named after
Sancho Panza from 'Man of LaMancha' Don Quixote's faithful friend) and
the terriers would run the fence-line every day, back and forth and back
and forth. When Sancho was four I got transferred to Kansas City. We
got a nice house, but there were no dogs next door. So, we went looking
for a companion for Sancho.
We found a tri puppy and went to see her. If we had known then what we
know now we would have recognized a not very good backyard breeder and passed.
But fate works in mysterious ways, and she came home with us. A tiny little thing
that we named Dulcinea, who immediately became Mrs. Stonepounder's dog.
If she wasn't sleeping or outside with Sancho, you would find Dulcinea curled up
next to Mrs. Stonepounder. (Dulcinea was the love interest in 'Man of LaMancha').
All dogs are welcome in our bed, and Dulci would always curl up next to Liz at
night. When Sancho died suddenly at age 8, Dulci went into a depression
that lasted almost a year. And she became even more attached to the Mrs.
When I retired we moved back to Northern Kentucky, volunteered with
Cavalier Rescue USA, eventually growing our pack to five. Lately we noticed
that Dulci seemed do have a problem in the back of her mouth in that she
kept developing a crusty mass of hair at the back of her jaw, that hung
down like a goatee. We pointed it out to the vet a couple of times
when we were there for other things, but they didn't seem to think it
was anything to worry about. Then, a little over three months ago, our
vet looked at it again and thought it might be as a result of a bad
tooth. So, we set her up for a full dental. We took her in early on
the morning of November 11 and dropped her off. We literally had just
walked back into the house when the phone rang. It was the vet. He had
discovered a large tumor in the back of her throat which he suspected
was cancerous. The lab ended up confirming his diagnosis and found that
it was an extremely aggressive form of cancer as well. The vet told us
he took out as much as he could, but that he knew he didn't get all of
it and it would grow back.
The last couple of months have been torturous for us as we have watch
our sweet Dulcinea go downhill. We kept altering her diet as it became
more and more difficult for her to eat. Then as the tumor kept growing
she began having trouble breathing. She became withdrawn, sleeping
behind an end table rather in bed with us. Yesterday she stopped eating
entirely. Today we made that devastating decision that she was telling
us that it was time. So we made the gut-wrenching final, one-way trip
to the vet.
Run free Dulcinea. Go find Sancho, have a good romp, and wait for us.
We will be along in the fullness of time.
= new reply since forum marked as read
memories overtake the stress and sadness of her diagnosis and final days. The love for our pets never dies 
.
I love Cavaliers but always avoided getting one because of their health risks. They are the sweetest dogs. Her name suited her! 
Fifteen is a testament to your excellent care, I'm sure!! I would dearly love to have one, but we are about to get another corgi! Not sure how many more puppyhoods I have in me! LOL
It's so hard. My heart goes out to you and your family.
will play and get all kisses and tail wags that were saved up since you were temporarily separated. It will be as if you were never apart for a second.
I heard her and felt her and it wasn't spooky. It was unique ans specific to her and what she used to do around our home. I am an atheist and believe ghosts exist and I know what I experienced was real. It lasted for about a week. I have since heard other people describe similar experiences with the death of their little loved ones too. I hope we are united with my current little girl. The thought pleases me. 
& pack, I am so sorry for your loss.
You'll have quite the welcoming committee when your time comes. Hug your other family members tight. Peace to you and your wife.
Ji Jang Bosal Dulcinea
Your memorial for both is lovely. Peace to you.
and I hope that you too will be free from the awful grief you are experiencing.
Run free indeed!
Take care.
I'm so sorry. My thoughts are with you.
I won't intrude except to say I understand both the love of Cavaliers and the sadness of that time coming up. Our girl is 13 and has congestive heart failure. You know how it is.
May Dulcinea cross easy, to wherever good, good girls go.
One of our vets once told me that we take our critters into our lives and hearts knowing we will most likely outlive them, but we do it anyway, because life is so much better with them as part of it.
Grieve not,
nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk of me
as if I were beside you -
I loved you so -
'twas Heaven here with you
~Isla Paschal Richardson
May the memories give you a few smiles in this time of sorrow.
