In 1991 my husband and I visited the Human Society pet pound.  A few months earlier we had bought at the flea market a Welsh Corgi pup whom we named Bear.  The people selling this dog didn't seem to care about the health and well being of this pup. He was in a cage too small for him with no way to lay down or turn around.  I mention Bear in detail because Bear was an important part of my Barkley's life. We decided that we didn't want Bear to be an only child so to speak so we found Barkley.  Barkley was a light golden blonde Labrador.  The veternarian had told us he had been abused when they found him.  He was frail, but soooo beautiful.  Both dogs grew up together.  Bear taught Barkley to run, climb fences and chase rabbits.  The two dogs would never hurt the rabbits, it was the thrill of the chase.  Bear passed away about a year later and Barkley was left alone.  Not too long after we had our first child, a boy.  Barkley immediately took to that baby.  Once my son began to walk; my husband, myself and Barkley would go for daily walks and Barkley leading the way.  My son and Barkley seemed to have a bond somehow.  Barkley took it upon himself to be my son's protector.  Barkley would never let strangers come near my son.  If we were in the park, Barkley would roam around never straying too far from my son and I, but once someone would enter the park or come over to talk to us, Barkley would be right there not leaving us for a second.  The people would pet Barkley and talk to him.  Soon everyone on our block knew who Barkley was.  "The King of the Block"  there was no dog on our block as well who didn't know Barkley, in fact no other dog would tangle with him except one.  My son is now 4 and our neighbors own a Rottweiler.  Only 7 months ago on our usual walk, that Rottweiler came tearing out of our neighbors yard heading straight for my son.  Barkley ran between my son and the Rottweiler to protect my son.  In the process Barkley was seriously injured needing 25-30 stitches on his head and 20 more in his groin and leg area.  If it hadn't been for Barkley my son would have been mauled or even killed.  Our neighbors had to get rid of the dog.  Barkley fully recovered only to suffer another attack from the same dog only to protect my son from being attacked.  We would laugh about Barkley too because it seemed like he had 9 lives.  He was hit by a car, runned down on our street without the driver ever stopping.  Barkley lost his right eye and his right ear was torn in half, but he recovered to be much stronger.  Barkley died on August 14, 2005 by poison.  I am angered and feel disgust.  I do not trust my neighbors and a fear like nothing else has come over me.  I don't understand who or why someone would poison my dog. I doubt that I will ever find out who did it or what type of poison it was.  The veternarian didn't seem concerned and we weren't even informed of my Barkley's death until a day later, and they didn't contact us, we had to call to find out how Barkley's condition was...the vet said their technician was supposed to call us and yet the vet said the technician had thought the vet was going to call.  My Barkley died early Sunday morning August 14, 2005.  WE found out Monday morning 9:30 a.m.  My Barkley, The King of the Block, 13 years old...my son's constant companion now with God and has both his eyes to be able to see, run and play with all God's Rabbits and his other buddies that have passed on...Never will I forget...Never will I love so much...My Barkley dog...