On December 9th, 2004 at 5:45pm, my beloved baby Bart lost his valiant and hard-fought battle with cancer. Had he lived just a few more weeks he would have been 17. Alas, I will never regret the 16 years of absolute joy, constant faithful companionship, and the undying love and adoration that radiated through his gorgeous brown eyes every time I was within sight. 

  Bart was my first pet, given to me by an evil ex-boyfriend. I can still remember the day that I got him, he was barely 4 weeks old and he fit in the inside pocket of my coat, where he immediately curled up and went to sleep. When we arrived home I discovered that he had not been weened at all. I literally got down on my hands and knees and taught him how to lap milk from a bowl. His first few attempts were inhaled through his cute little snoot and a flurry of sneezing and spewing resulted. It was not long before he would catch on. That night and every night that followed, Bart would curl up with me under the covers usually on my chest until his girth no longer allowed it. He was my perpetual right thigh warmer and fought to always be at my side, just waiting, just being there for me. 

  It's hard to find the words to completely express what he meant to me and what he will always mean to me. He saw me through the hardest times of my life, he never faltered, he never betrayed, he never gave up on me, even when I wanted to give up on myself. How many times he licked my tears away as if to say, "I love you no matter what, your the greatest, bestest momma in the whole wide world." 

   I genuinely believe that his unwaivering love and support has made me a better person. As far as I am concerned there is no feeling in the world as pure as the unadulterated love and adoration of an animal. I will be forever grateful to the powers that be that I was blessed to share and love his gentle soul for 16 years. Thus far he is the great love of my life and it still astounds me that I got a priceless dog for free.