In the dark of a quiet evening, his breathing became labored and he became listless. After trying to work with him we determined that something was wrong beyond our ability to find a solution. My husband drove us to the local vet, only 30 miles away, who gave him a thorough examination. The diagnosis was an aggressive form of blood cancer. He fell ill at 5 pm and was gone at 5:40 am the next morning, November 5, 2009.
Loki was an animal shelter dog born on May 3, 2002. He topped out at 84 pounds, all black except for a white speckled stripe around his neck. He was a Black Lab/Blue Healer mix that I adopted at six weeks old. Through various groups I learned to train him myself and he was my constant companion and guide dog. He went everywhere with me and was pivotal in my being able to join the workforce. When I developed a mild case of agoraphobia he was the one constant source of companionship that allowed me to leave my home. I was able to learn and accomplish a lot, just because of him and what he brought to our partnership. I cannot begin to express what being without him is doing to me or how my life will be from here on. I miss him.
