An update on Molly

I appreciate the e-mails and phone calls I have gotten regarding Molly, my 12 year old Labrador Retriever who was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder in December.  She is still with me, although she is in decline.

The medication she is on has helped give her somewhat of a quality of life.

She continues to show minimal joy in things like getting a bone to chew on or getting my undivided attention.  When I let her and Morgan out back, Morgan will run and jump in the snow, even jumping over Molly at times.  Molly will do her business and walk back inside from the frigid cold and deep snow.

All of you know how much I love dogs, especially the Lab.  There is just something about the way a Lab looks at you with those loving and intuitive eyes that stays with you a lifetime and gets you through the bumps in the road of life.  I have owned four Labs dating back to the mid-80s.  Two of those have gone on to Doggy heaven.  It is gut wrenching to drive a dog to the vet for the last time and put your arm around them as the vet takes away their life, or what is left of it.

The only thing that gets me through that awful experience is the knowledge that I gave that dog a happy home for as long as I had them in my life. . . from the day I brought them home as a puppy and endured their constant crying those first few nights, through the fun times of walks and playing fetch, to making them happy with words like "ride," "treat," to the times the doorbell rang and the race to the front door began.

Thanks for listening.