It is with a heavy heart that I write to tell you that we let Begonia go yesterday afternoon.

Monday night she was very restless, and she wet on every bed or piece of furniture she tried to get comfortable on.  Then about 9:30 Wednesday morning she began urinating blood.  Her breathing was labored. I knew she was in a great deal of pain.  She would not eat, but was happy to get treats, and there were no limits.

I carried her to the vet on the new bed I had got her in Hattiesburg a couple of weeks ago, and she was very comfortable, still wagging her tail if anyone said a kind word to her.  She laid her head down on her bed and never once seemed in any discomfort.  She was very peaceful.  I am grateful for that.

Of course, the dogs at home knew something was very wrong yesterday.  Stanley would not come in the house, and spent most of the day on the front porch in the heat.  Beachbaby stayed right by me all day, except when I would be loving on Begonia, and she kept her distance and did not butt in or interrupt.

We buried her very close to our dear Stella, who I'm sure has welcomed her to her new home.

I wish so much I could have known her when she was pain free.  I wish I could have seen her run and play and be the girl she was meant to be.  I wanted that so much for her.  I hope you know we would have done anything in our power to make that possible.  It just was not to be.

Having said that, I have but one regret, and that is that I wish I had taken action sooner instead of surfing the internet and debating whether we could afford one dog or two.  When I first saw her picture, I loved her and her sister, and I wish I had gone ahead and started the adoption process immediately.  I had a huge yard sale to come up with the money to adopt the girls, and had enough left over for new collars, leashes, bowls and food.  But if I had not delayed, we could have then had a couple more weeks with her.

We are sad, of course, but take great comfort in knowing she is in no more pain.  She was one of us, a huge part of our family, and she will be forever missed.

Beachbaby seems to be doing fine.  We walked this morning and she ran and barked and had a great time.  She's taking a nap now here beside me as I write this.

Bonnie Garner