In the past two weeks two friends have had to have their dogs euthanized. One was a boxer/lab mix and had been with the couple all their married life of eleven years and with the wife before the marriage. The other was a newer member of a family of a couple years, dearly loved by three daughters and promised to the oldest when she married this summer. Moe was a Sits Zhou with a fluffy little face.

Tiffany, the boxer/lab just simply got old and feeble. In her prime she would show off the colorful neck scarves I would buy her for holidays, like July 4th and Halloween. A stuffed Nemo, the animated Disney fish, was her favorite toy. She was allergic to most things dogs love to eat and had she been a human she would have had suspicious thoughts when her owners drove through the drive-through Wendy's window on that last day. Allergic to wheat and beef, she was treated to three Wendy's hamburgers. A happy last meal.

Moe's primary owner was finishing up school in Chicago, set to return to the area for her wedding in August. Moe was diagnosed with cancer, incurable, with the treatments to prolong life worse than the disease. There was no alternative.

There is an empty place in the home and heart when a pet dies. Until then you never really realize how big a part of your life they have become. You miss the cold noses, the unconditional trust, the way they just don't have negative emotions, even when you have a rotten day at work, fight with a friend, get fired or a flat tire. Dogs are just always happy to see you and let you know that you truly are the most important person in the world to them. These two furry friends will be missed.

But so as not to leave my readers on a sad note, here are some reasons why men have dogs instead of wives:

1. Dogs are happy to see them, regardless of how long they've been away or how late they come home.
2. Dogs don't care if you call them by another dog's name.
3. Dogs are happy that you leave lots of stuff all over the floor.
4. A dog's parents never visit.
5. Dogs agree that you should raise your voice to get your point across.
6. Dogs like to go hunting and fishing.
7. Dogs never wake you up at night and ask, "If I died, would you get another dog?"
8. If a dog has babies, you can put an ad in the paper and sell them.
9. If a dog leaves, he won't take half your stuff.
10. If a dog smells another dog on your clothes, he is more interested than angry.

And that's what I think about it.