Dennis is 12 on April Fool's day.  I;ve had him since he was eight weeks old.  He's a lovely well behaved dog with humans, but he hates other dogs.  Time was when he couldn't be let near another dog, but he's getting on now and only snaps if they approach him.  All his life he's loved the tennis ball!  He thinks this is his job.  When he was younger he once kept pace with a herd of deer, nowadays, although he races around like a puppy with his ball, he regrets it later, he has a little arthritis in his back legs now.  He loves to swim with us in the summer, he makes us laugh so much when he rests his paws on our shoulders when he goes out of his depth and is puffing!  He is a true member of the family and I'm not ashamed to say he is thoroughly spoilt!   

Just recently when I was bathing him, I found a nasty little wart, inside one of his back legs.  After a biopsy we were told it was a malignant tumour, and since he is very healthy for his age, I am taking the vet's advice and having it removed.  This is on 28th March.  The problem is he also has a fatty lypoma (vet thinks it is) right near his "whatnot" and its possible if the tumour spread it would get into this so that has tocome out also.  I am very worried its also malignant, but I have to trust in Tom's advice (our lovely vet in Winton).  I have kept my fingers crossed for five days now, as longas we have had the results, I am dreading Wednesday, Dennis hates going to the vet at the best of times and I shall feel bad about leaving him there.

We know animals don't live as long as us, but boy, it don't make it any easier when things like this happen!   So, any dog lovers out there who might read this perhaps on Wednesday you could say a little prayer for my boy?  I want just a little longer with  him, because I split up from my partner a year ago, and Dennis was kept from me for 6 months.  He wasn't cared for properly and it took a while to knock him into shape (he dislikes dieting like we all do!) and now I want him to enjoy his new level of fitness, and for him to know that he's staying with me for good! 

So any nutty animal lovers like me reading this .... please keep your fingers crossed on Wednesday and I'll update this in the evening.