My avatar is my dog Stitches. He will be 18 in October. Every year at this time, my husband and I go on vacation. We had made our usual plans and cancelled. We didn't feel comfortable asking anyone to care for him or to put stress on him in any way. Were we disappointed.....absolutely, but what a gift, to still have Stitches with us and enjoying a fairly decent quality of life still. We have heard "he's just a dog" a thousand ways to Sunday. He comforted me while I was recovering from major surgery. He forced me to get out of bed and put one foot in front of another when I lost my father, mother and only brother. I've had dogs all my life but this little guy is the one of a lifetime; my BFF for certain.