[944S Boyeee]

Hi all....

First of all, I had my real half axles off recently to re-pack a CV. I was told my seals (the one between the axle and differencial) leak. Ordered new seals from Porsche (a whopping $10). The fella putting them in said they were wrong - that they went in too easy. They are not wrong - they only list this one seal for all models.

I noticed in the parts book - that there is what looks like a metal washer or something that goes between the seal and the part that has bearings (on the differencial). Does this ring (or whatever he hell it is, it doesn't have a parts number) wrap around the seal? When removing the old seal, could this piece stick to the seal and get pulled out - thus making a new seal seem "loose"???

Now, as for my dog. Any dog owners/lovers out there will understand what I'm going through/went through and I needed to share.

I have had the same puppy for 15 years. She was a Terrier-mix, about the same size as a big cat. Her name was N.R.G (she never stopped moving, bumming food, etc, etc). I have never been married at my ripe old age of 33 and have never even found a girl close enough to what I need yet......but N.R.G was my wife, sister, mother, brother and life. She meant more to me than only a handful of humans. This dog never left my side for 15 years. When I woke up, she was there. When I showered, she was waiting on the other side of the curtain. When I played sports, she was chasing me. She loved going for drives and walks more than anything. I don't have any pics I can post right now, but picture a blond face that had the "puppy look" all it's life. She was beautiful. I would home clip her hair once a month and clip her nails at the same time. She got a bath once a week and I brushed her teeth everyday.

She never had puppies or was fixed and would get tumors on her underbelly from time to time. I kept getting them removed (mostly for looks and her comfort) and the cost added up (but who cares when you love them this much right?). Everytime one was removed, they were tested and came back as non-cancerous. I though she would live forever.

Recently I moved into a new house and she started showing aging signs (loss of hearing, slight loss of sight, etc). Her body was still like that of a puppy, her senses were just fading. Over the last 6 months, she stopped jumping up on couches - her barking decreased and she was overall less active. I knew it was coming, but ignored the fact that my lil' doggie would leave me soon.

She had an episode about two and a half months ago where she tripped over my Playstation and started having what looked like a seizure. I held her till she calmed down and it took her a few hours to get back to normal. After that day, she stopped eating her hard food and started losing weight. I took her to the vet and was told she went from 25 kg to 15 kg in under two months. That was a lot. She started to stand there in the middle of the floor "dozing off". She would rarely lay down. The vet guessed she has cancer in her lungs, stomach, etc, etc - old dogs get cancer and told me to take her home and try and keep her comfortable and gave me some Prednazone (sp?) to help shrink the tumors. The "dozing off" was most likely brain cancer.

I changed her food and she started eating again, but this only lasted a week or so. She got some strength back and was sleeping more. I was happy she wasn't as "sick" as before, but my elation only lasted a few days as she stopped eating anything unless it was "people food". I had to spoon-feed her hamburger and rice. She stopped eating all together and her breathing become laboured. She couldn't lay down cause it put pressure on her belly and lungs.

She spent her final days standing up, with no sleep. Her poor lil' legs were bowed from the constant standing. I made an appointment to put her to sleep on Monday evening, she didn't seem to be in pain, but her quailty of life was at about 1. I cancelled said appointment until Tuesday cause I was scared. Tuesday morning I saw her breathing was very shallow and she was really "out of it". She wouldn't respond to me and was pre-occupied with simply trying to stay alive....but all throught this, her eyes still had that love for me I was used to seeing. She may not have been the same dog, but she never stopped loving.

Tuesday morning at 10:15 I tried to get her to lay down again to get some sleep - no go. I put on a fan (her temp was quite high) so perhaps she could sleep in front of that. I tried laying her down in front of the fan and noticed how weak she was. She didn't like being picked up usually, but this time, there was no fighting. I layed her on her side (to alleviate pressure on her lungs) and that movement stopped her breathing. Her breathing had stopped a few times before (she would get sick and pass out and I would pick her up and she would come back). This time I didn't help her back up (even though she tried with all her weak might). She fought right till the end. I caressed her and told her, "let it go girl - I'm here and I love you - don't be afraid". She listened and let it go. She stopped breathing and the next 10 seconds were the longest of my life.....I could have picked her up and kept her going, but she would have ended up back down again - she was very weak. I thought about it so hard and decided to let her go.

I've never had anything die in my hands, so the time before I knew she was gone was eternity. I felt her chest - no movement. I felt her heart and it had stopped. It was very peaceful (except for a couple front leg twitches, but it looked like she was waving bye). I cried like Sally Field. She laided there for 2 hours until my parents could come over and see her before I buried her. I spent the entire two hours laying next to her, talking to her and patting her. I couldn't believe she was gone, even though I knew it was coming. I didn't want her to ever leave.

My dad did me the favor of buring her. I put her in a microwave oven box (she loved nothing more than the sound of the microwave "ding" - she knew it was time to bum!). I packed her bowl, a bag and can of food, a piece of bologna (her fav), her leash, a couple Jerky Treats, a rawhide bone, a few of her toys and a love note I wrote her. My folks and girlfriend also added notes. I cried so hard while writing the note, the paper was dripping wet. As I was writing the note, I saw a single Crow sitting on the top of a tree outside my window - I don't know what a single Crow is supposed to mean, but I think he was there for her soul or something, cause as soon as I wrote, "I love you...goodbye, see you soon" - the Crow left.

I wrapped her in her favorite blanket with all her stuff and closed the lid on the box and saw her beautiful face for the last time. She is buried under a Cherry tree in the yard - right next to a huge rock I can sit on and be with her when I need to be. I put a cross up with her name and picture on it. It's kinda like a lil' shrine. I plan on landscaping the area so nice grass grows around her plot. I miss her soooooo much.

A few consolations are the facts that she lived a full life, was never abused and she loved everyone, all the time. She also died in my hands and not in the doctors office (where she hated going). The whole process of the "putting her to sleep" was avoided. I think she died at home cause she knew that is what I wanted. She always put me first.

I (and N.R.G.) want everyone who owns and loves their dogs to get up from the keyboard right now (or when you get home) and go give your dog a hug. It doesn't matter if they are a puppy or 20 years old, please go give them a hug and kiss for us right now. I'm guessing a lot of you can even see your dog right now, or perhaps they are right by your side. Cherish them, never take them for granted and whatever you do, never question their love....it's unconditional.

Well, I'm off to my house where I know will be looking at "her spots" and doing some more whimpy bawling for the next undertermined amount of time. That dog will never leave my thoughts or heart. Sorry if this was long, but I had to share.

944S Boyeee (and N.R.G)