My Rottie was named Angel. We got her shortly after 9/11 She was our second Rottweiler. Our first one had diabetes and had to be put down at 8-1/2 years. He was a wonderful dog and we were so heartbroken.

Angel was the best dog ever. Rottweilers really get a bad rap. Angel was never mean or anything -- my children adored her and she adored them in return. I always worried about her hips, seeing arthritis coming eventually. And when she was 5 she tore her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). She recovered fine, but did slow down a bit with stiffness and weight gain. She had to lumps under her ribs, but two vets said they were fatty deposits and not to worry. She also started having a lot of dandruff. But life went on.

This September while I was at work my husband told me that he thought she tore her ACL again.  I was not happy as this is very costly.  So I took her to the vet and they said let's see how she does and maybe its only a partial tear. But they didn't like her 120 lb. weight. After blood work they find out she has like no thyroid level. So onto meds we go and she was doing ok. A week or so later, not so much. She lost her desire to eat and I could not give her her meds. So off to the vet we go again.

This time she is down to 113. The vet then said she can feel something in her belly. After x-ray we see a large mass.. either spleen or GI tract. They give her shot of steroids and tell us to see how that works. She does wonderful for about a week and then stops eating again etc... We go back to vet and Angel is down to 100 lbs.  I am so filled with dread, this can not be happening. She looks at me so sad. I know she is telling me she is dying, but I can't stand it.

So the vet said to keep her on oral steroids until they stop working. They only work a few days. She is so skinny that her massive Rottweiler head is now skinny and looks more like a Dobermans. She stopped eating on Sunday.  I tried every food known to man and animal -- healthy or not. No luck. They give her an emergency shot of steroid and tell me she should be put down soon.

I cry all the way home. I am hoping for another rebound from the meds.  It does not happen. This was a Wednesday. I call and make the appointment for Friday at 1:00 pm. Thursday night she acts so hungry and she inhales two hot dogs. That night my husband carries her up the stairs to sleep where she has in the past years, but recently could not, my oldest daughter's room. The next morning she had thrown up in the night and there was blood in it. We spent the morning with her and loved and petted her. Gave her more hot dogs and a treat. We cried and hugged her and then I rode in back with her to the vets. We sobbed and I tried to talk my husband into taking her home even though i knew we really couldn't.

I lay down on the floor and scooped her head into my arms and whispered and sang to her while rubbing her head and my husband rubbed her side. It was so fast and I know it was the right thing to do, but the hardest. I sang: "You are my sunshine" to her as she passed... the words ring so true to that song..."You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey, you'll never know dear how much I love you.  PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY SUNSHINE AWAY!  The other night dear, while I was sleeping I thought I held you in my arms but when I woke up my arms were empty and I hung my head and I cried."

I miss her so much. I am so lonely for my Angel.  I will never be the same without her. I am so thankful though for her and wish I could have done something more for her.  I hope she is in heaven and not alone.  Sandra Jean