Guinness passed away yesterday morning, September 17. We are extremely sad that he is not with us but we know now he can finally do what he loves...and that is run run run, free of pain and carelessly play and slobber on all the tennis balls he can get his mouth around and bark at everything he can see without somebody telling him to Shhhhhh! Be Quiet! We found out in late April he had three brain tumors and he was given about three months. We were fortunate to have him for another five. On Tuesday night he started having a seizure and had them on an off through the night. We were able to keep him comfortable throughout the night until it was time to say goodbye. Guinness was not a cuddling dog...but Tuesday night while I laid on the floor Guinness put his head in the crook of my arm and stared at me with his big brown eyes for hours. I was able to thank him for all he has been for me. Dan was able to tell him how he has been the glue that has kept us together, he really has. He has been so much, and then some. We will greatly miss him. To us he was more than a dog but a beloved family member and our best friend. What impresses us most about him was his will to live life to the fullest and his ability to overcome lifes obstacles. We always said he had nine lives like a cat. He was loved like no other and bounced back from so much. We almost lost him in 2002 but he was nothing short of a fighter and we were fortunate to have another 6 years with him! He had back problems, hip problems, stomach problems, you name it...he had it...but he fought on and his love for us was always front and center. He was the best dog in the world, irreplaceable to say the least but we know he is smiling down on us free from pain and FINALLY free to be the "running dog" that he is. Thank you Guinness for all that you have given us. Here are a few more things that come to mind when we think of him... his need to bark at EVERYTHING! his fearlessness when it comes to traffic, large animals, poisonous insects... catching him "humping" his bed (oh my!) his fear of smoke detectors going off his fear of storms his melodramatic nail trimmings his click click click of his nails fluff attacks trails of chewed on tp, qtips & cotton balls from the bathroom garbage running in figure 8's stinky farts empty peanut butter jars wagging tail at the front door, the best greeting ever black tongue, cute face, stick straight tail the way he made everyone fear him (even though he was such a lover if you know him!!!) oh gosh...we could go on and on........... Thank you Guinness. Look at those you love with "puppy dog eyes", believe that you can do anything and live each year of your life like it's worth seven. (Cuz that is what Guinness did!)