I began my Monday on the phone, trying to get Lady Rachel an appointment with the vet.

Krl and all the houndgirls were still asleep when I decided to run a few errands. I needed to take a valve to the hydraulic shop to have a spool swapped out, it seems we always need everything to do their job a little differently. In the course of my errands I went to a welding supply to pick up a cylinder of argon gas and some welding rods. Another stop by the Rv storage facility and I was watching my watch. One last stop on the far East edge of Abilene at at repair shop and I was done.

When was this doctor going to call?

I made the decision to head back to the house, hoping that by the time I got there the doctor would have called. On my way I made a quick jaunt into La Popular Bakery and grabbed Krl and I a breakfast burrito.

That was a good move as it turned out that is all we had to eat all day.

When I got home Krl told me she had called the vet, they said they had tried to call me, but Lady Rachel had an appointment at ten-thirty. I walked into the bedroom where Lady Rachel lay and gently patted her head. She gave her quick signature wag of her tail before becoming still again.

We had thirty minutes before we were scheduled at the vets.

I prepared the SUV, trying to make Lady Rachel as comfortable as possible. Of course Phoo Doo had to make it difficult as she escaped out the door and down the street, Krl giving chase. (I say let her try it on her own, hopefully she is smart enough to come home.).

In the message I had left the vet, I told him what was going on with Lady Rachel, coughing blood, difficulty in breathing, and that she was extremely weak. We needed to get her in and let him evaluate her.

When I picked Lady Rachel up, blood drooled from her mouth. She has always been such a proud hound and this was humiliating to her that she could do nothing about it. We arrived at the vet's office right on schedule. Krl went in as I told her I would wait with Lady because I didn't see any reason in making her feel any more inferior about her health by drawing attention in the waiting room.

Krl returned and told me they were ready for us. I gently picked up Black Dog and walked inside. We were headed into the examination room when this "hussie" of a receptionist told me that Black Dog had to be weighed.

"How are you going to weigh her if she can't stand?", I asked.

"I have to have something to write in the record", she replied.

If the situation hadn't been so bad, I probably would have taken this woman to task, but I turned and held Black Dog over the scales, her feet barely touching them.

The "hussie" got her weight for the record.

Krl had brought a comforter in from the SUV. She has always thought the cold metal tables in the examination rooms are cruel. We placed Lady Rachel Black Dog on the table and stood with her, gently speaking to her, gently patting her.

The doctor came in and confirmed our fears. "All of her parts are just wearing out", he said.

I could see a noticeable increase in how hard Lady labored to breath after I carried her in my arms. It was almost as if I had made her hemorrhaging worse.

Krl and I both were in agreement. Quality of life was paramount. Krl and I said our tearful goodbyes before I kissed Black Dog on the head and let the doctor take her.

Lady Rachel, Black Dog, Freeman left this world at 10:49 am. May 12, 2008. Her forwarding address is GOD's yard where she joins many family members who were waiting to greet her.

She may be in a better place, she may be young and healthy again, but she will never be loved more.

We waited as the doctor placed her body in a small casket like box, he met us at the front door and carried her to the waiting SUV. I appreciated his soft words of condolence. Krl and returned home. I moved Lady's body from the SUV to my pickup, Krl and I talked briefly before I left headed to K.O.'s and his father's farm.

K.O. was aware of what was going on and he told me he would meet me at the shop. When he arrived he asked me what I needed to do. I knew that Duchess, Lady Rachel's mother was buried there on their farm (Rian had buried her there about twelve or thirteen years ago). K.O. was aware of where Duchess was buried and I told him I would like to bury Lady Rachel close to her.

I've always heard that a friend will help you bury your dog. If this is true, I had three friends help me bury Lady Rachel. K.O., his nephew, and a mutual friend Marolen.

We laid her to rest at the top of a gentle knoll on the edge of a large coastal hay field, under what will one day be a large tree.

There are those of you who know the story of my relationship with Lady Rachel. For those of you that don't, read on.

When Krl and I learned that Duchess and Shadow had mated and we were expecting puppies, we talked and planned. I built a wooden box, large enough for Duchess to be comfortable in during labor and also large enough for her to suckle her pups in afterward. We talked of names, we talked with excitement about the approaching births, we talked of the apprehension of neither of us having ever gone through delivering puppies. (I had seen and helped numerous bovines, but never a dog).

During one conversation, I told Krl that odds were we would lose one puppy, either stillborn or it would die after birthing. I felt it was magnanimous for me to warn Krl of this.

Krl told me that was not acceptable, she would not allow me to allow that to happen.

I am glad she did.

The first puppy was born breech, a big butted little boy dog. When the second puppy arrived, it was not breathing. Duchess tended to the umbilical cord, but she was more interested in getting away from what ever was causing he so much pain. Krl was reminding me of what she had told me as she became more animated.

I had placed the "birthing" box in the master bathroom when Duchess had gone into labor. Using what resources I had available, I turned the hot water on in the tub. There was a tupperware pitcher that Krl used to rinse her hair and I filled it with cold water before the hot got to the faucet. I began to dunk the stillborn puppy in the cold water, then place it under the hot water coming from the spicket (Krl had adjusted the temperature where it wasn't too hot). Back and forth, repeating the process over and over, gently giving the little bat looking critter a full body rub. Finally I began blowing gently on the mouth and nose. Blow, dunk in cold water, hold under hot water, body rub! Over and over. Finally the little puppy began to spit and sputter.

Hello world, this is Lady Rachel (who would later become Black Dog) Freeman.

Krl always told me I gave Lady Rachel life. I didn't. GOD did that. I just kind of assisted in the process. Besides I had an ultimatum. We had five pups that day and we didn't lose a one.

We were there when Lady Rachel took her first breath, we went through all the growing pains, taco neck, many light and joyous moments, and Krl and I were there when she took her last. Through it all she was a great joy!

FATHER, we commend to YOUR care Lady Rachel Black Dog Freeman. She is, and will always be special!

I knew this week was going to be hard towards the end of it, I just didn't figure it would start out that way too. I need a good cry, I've been needing it for almost a year.