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Making a miserable day even worse, today, September 11th, was the day we put our beloved dog Eno, and this site\'s mascot to sleep.

In the context of the sorrow and suffering of those who lost loved ones on this day five years ago, the loss of a pet dog is rendered insignificant but it was our dog and our loss and we feel it deeply.

A Bernese Mountain Dog, he lived to be 12 years and almost two months, though the average lifespan of the breed is now less than 8.

Making a miserable day even worse, today, September 11th, was the day we put our beloved dog Eno, and this site's mascot to sleep.

In the context of the sorrow and suffering of those who lost loved ones on this day five years ago, the loss of a pet dog is rendered insignificant but it was our dog and our loss and we feel it deeply.

A Bernese Mountain Dog, he lived to be 12 years and almost two months, though the average lifespan of the breed is now less than 8.

He survived two cancers (nerve sheath and mast cell) thanks to radiation therapy and handled it like the champion that he was.

Shortly after his 10th birthday, he was diagnosed with lymphoma. We were told that for a dog of his age chemotherapy might buy him six to eight months. He survived 18 months and when he passed, his lymph nodes were still not seriously swollen but they were getting so by the day and he was having trouble swallowing.

During the last month, he couldn't get up by himself and had trouble walking, yet he persevered. He learned to deal with it by barking to let us know when he needed something. With a baby monitor close by it was possible to tend to his needs, though lifting and carrying an 85 pound dog down steps and outside every few hours including all night, was difficult, but worth it.

He could have kept going and he wanted to but it wasn't fair to continue his suffering (and ours). When the vet came to administer a sedative, he knew what we were doing and he shot her an angry look that totally startled her. "I've never seen that before," she said but he relaxed deeply, though he was conscious that we were with him when the lethal injection was administered.

He could have gone on longer but had we been forced to do this when he was really suffering and had lost his dignity, we wouldn't have been able to forgive ourselves. Better for him to go out angry and fighting then helpless. We feel we split the difference of the difficult two edged sword.

We've had six Bernese Mountain Dogs and bred two litters of pups and Eno was in a different league than the others. We bred his litter and when I went to see the puppies, eyes still closed I already knew he was special. "He's the one!" I told my wife, not even knowing what I meant by that, and when the pups came home I had trouble telling one from the next but when the pictures came back (pre-digital of course), most were of Eno.

My wife wanted to keep another pup but I won that battle and she's glad I did. Eno was a finished champion in the show ring, though somewhat small for the breed. He won because his spirit was special, not because he moved the best or had the best confirmation.

On Valentine's Day seven years ago, he snuck upstairs with our bitch in heat who was going to be taken to the breeder the next day for "safekeeping," and they did it on our bed! How many dogs get to have unprotected sex on St. Valentine's Day on a bed?

"First time never takes," my wife said but after returning from a busines trip five days later, I could tell our girl Caroline was going to have pups and sure enough, Eno had done his work first time!

After his championship we had him fixed. A few months later when Caroline came into heat again, my wife said "No problem this time, she can stay here," but Eno had other ideas and even snipped, he slipped away and tied her up! What a man!

There will never be another dog like Eno. Never. From that first day I said "He's the one," until earlier today when his spirit departed his body, for 12 years, life was special and had so much extra meaning because of that dog's companionship, humor, bravery, wisdom and all the other things dogs can teach us.

He went out fighting, telling us he wasn't ready, and we knew he wasn't but he couldn't stand up anymore and he didn't have complete control of himself and he was ready, whether he knew it or not. I don't regret making the decision and I know he now agrees.

I've watched this process so many times now with our other dogs and when they passed, they were gone. Not Eno.

When he passed physically, he was still there and he still is as I write this. His spirit was too strong and determined to leave at a time of our choosing. I take comfort in knowing he will always be part of me.

Thank you for allowing me this indulgence