Goodbye Smokey.

In early June, we had to say goodbye to one of Blake's best friends. Smokey had been part of Blake's life for almost twelve years and was the most loyal dog a man could ever ask for. Blake's sister, Heather and twin brother, Clint, had picked Smokey out for Blake right when Blake started working for Lilly.

After a couple of years of growths that we had taken off and were not significant, a large one appeared  on his foot and quickly took over his paw. It was clear to us that tumors were invading his body but for many, many weeks, he continued his insane running and ate anything and everything, as normal. Soon though, we started noticing he wasn't running as much and was loosing a great deal of weight.

We had always said that we would know it was Smokey's time when he quit eating as he NEVER missed a meal. Within a weekend, his appetite all but disappeared and we were having to give him some pain medicine and he wasn't wanting to get up much. We knew that keeping him on pain meds just to prolong his life here with us was selfish and not what we wanted for Smokey. By Monday, the gormet canned dog food Addie begged him to eat didn't even sound good to him. We knew he was in significant pain and that was no condition Blake's best friend deserved to be.

Although distraught, Blake knew it was time. Saying goodbye and loading him up to take him to Herb's vet clinic was one of the most difficult things Blake has had to do. Mike Perkins, our dear friend and  fellow black lab lover, dropped everything at his work that Monday and met Blake to be there to support him.

Having happened so fast, the positive is that we will always remember Smokey the way he always was.... sprinting around our backyard with his gorgeous shiny black coat, long legs and most of all his unwaivering loyalty to Blake.