KaiserD thanks...it really sucks when you can see what the magic 8-ball WILL say. We all know "when it's time", and probably some of us have seen when somebody waited too long...SAD! Why can't they just go like gramps did, sleeping in the rest home....or sleeping behind the wheel (ok, cruel lol).

Like everybody said or intimated, it's basically a "given "of pet ownership...I appreciate your compassion guys!!!! It seems several of us probably like our pups better than "most" people. I haven't met any of you, but you folks seem like square shooters to me!

Anybody who'd post a "sorry, etc" about an old retired dog you never saw is A-OK in my book!!! Hell.....maybe u did see her swim the Columbia in December/January at Brewster, Wenatchee, Vantage, Ringold, Burbank, or Patterson...NO BS...all the way across and back on multiple occasion. Enough about braggin about my LUCK in getting a great partner.

Not sure if any of you "lab guys" remember the dog trainer Eddie Salvino from the Redmond area in the early 60's until the early 80's? His nephew is a good friend of my dad (Pillar Point Days in the 70's). Eddie was the one who turned us onto Mallard Lake Kennels in Lake Stevens. Thay did have some great Lab genes in the 70's until the mid 90's (TnT).

Anyhow, thanks.