This is Freckles, our Dalmation, and long companion of Lady. We got Freckles when we had had Lady about a year. At that time, we had just lost our black Giant Schnauzer to ovarian/mamorian cancer due to a bad spaying. Lady went into a tail spin depression, as she viewed our late Giant Schnauzer as a kind of 'mommy dog'. We headed down to Delta, Ohio, damned near to Colombus, and picked up this spotted wonder nerd(one of my favorite nick names for the clown of a Dalmation he was). He had just turned 11 years old in April, just a scant 8 motnhs before we lost Lady. He was battling Arthritis of the hips, and a spinal condition that we had held at bay with natural rememdies such as Glucosamine, Colastrum, and other natural supplements. After Lady passed on, his condition worsened, dispite the medicine, and wonderful treatment of our vets. We had to have him put down on February 7th, 2001, just a fleeting 5 weeks after we lost Lady. The loss of these two friends in my life marked a turning point for me. I no longer cared about much, or anyone. For nearly 8 months afterwards, a black cloud of depression hung over me like a death shroud, until I finally began to accept their passing, and allow myself to love our new puppy, a shaggy furball of a Giant Schnauzer named Lieb(full name is Liebling, it is the male conotation of 'little love' in Hoch Deutch). he has been the light that has brought me out of that depression. It doesn't lessen the pain, but it makes it bearable. Merry Christmas all. Remember to remember those who have passed on, as we will meet them again. Thank you, and good night. Abe AKA BladeWolf