For a few days I could not even talk about it with out crying. I had to have my faithful Cocker Spaniel of 11 plus years put down on Christmas day of all days. I am sure he had cancer he was getting skinnier and skinnier in the past month or so and he started to pass a lot of bright red blood. On Christmas Morning he really passed a lot and would not eat it was so sad. I was crushed with a huge hole in my heart. He was there for me when my mother died from old age 9 years ago this Feb and I used him as a crutch for consolation for my grief. He was also there for me when my brother died a couple of years ago from Cancer and again he was something i could hold on to and grieve. Well when I had to end his suffering there was no good friend to help with the pain like he did. Every one said get an other dog. No way I could never go through this again. I have had other dogs and it is always rough but this time it really tore me up.Christmas night it was so quiet since I live along I could not stand it I went out the next day and bought a parakeet. Just something for some noise and to talk to. He will never take the place of my dog but he might help with the loneliness.