Mr W.

It is with a heavy heart that I have to acknowledge that Mr. W's time is coming near. He is a fantastic companion and we have have been blessed with his company for more than a decade. Our vet told us that he had a month to live, 14 months ago and he has soldiered on in good spirits. As of the last few days, it appears that the illness has begun to get the upper hand and that it is only a matter of time.

Mr. W holds a special place in our hearts. He pre-dates the TMG family having joined us before we were married. Since then he has been there for every major milestone in our lives. He was there to greet Mrs. TMG as she headed to the church in her wedding dress and was thrilled to see us when we returned from our honeymoon. Most importantly, he was there when we brought the little TMGs home. I am not sure that he knew what to make of the additions, but as with all things, he took it in stride.

You might think that Mr. W would be jealous of the screaming little TMGs intruding on his position in the family, but you would be wrong. He greeted each little TMG with happy wags and generous licks. He was never troubled by the late nights and always loved cuddling with the TMG babies. He tolerated unsteady toddlers pulling on his tail and ears and responded with patience, love and licks. He even tolerated chasing and dress up games. Over the years, the little TMGs have grown to love him as much we have. In fact, it is not uncommon to see a little TMG giving him a gentle pat, kiss or hug as he runs by. The little TMGs do not fully understand and will miss him when he is gone.

I took this shot tonight while he was lying peacefully on his favorite, his dog bed. I like how I caught him looking at me. He was watching me and wondering what I was doing. Once he realized I was taking pictures, he promptly went back to sleep.

I have blipped Mr. W on a couple other occasions in the past:

Our beloved Mr W.
The stand off