Chester was standing in the road, looking at every car that passed with his heart in his eyes. I stopped to see if he was wearing tags so I could help him get home. There were no tags on his very old collar. He was emaciated and I had to pick him up to put him in the car. He ate until I thought he would burst. Of course, we kept him. His first trip to the vet revealed that he was suffering from a case of advanced heart worms. He was such a good boy throughout the entire process. Five months after he graced our home with his gentle ways and loving heart, he developed congestive heart failure. The vet said that it would only be a matter of time. For a month, he struggled to breathe and gamely took all the medications we gave him. Sadly, we made the decision to let him go. The day before the scheduled in-home euthanasia, he lay down and quietly took his last breath as I held him in my arms. He was the gentlest, sweetest, most loving dog I have ever known. He showed me what unconditional love really is. I still can see him prick up his ears and turn his head when the television would come on. I am so glad I put him in my car that day. He made our lives richer by far. His body rests near our cat, Pretty Boy, and his spirit has crossed the Rainbow Bridge to his Long Home.

Jodi McDaniel
Ashland City, TN