(from the ACD group on FB) - file under lump in your throat department:
We knew two and a half years ago when we rescued Lady that she had been in hard years, that she had broken teeth and bad breath and a hole in her heart. We knew she was mostly deaf and going blind and wasn't ever going to be a playful, "go fetch" kind of dog.
Tonight that bad heart finally caught up to her. Those years of mistreatment and misery slipped away with her when she closed her eyes in what I can only hope was a painless crossing. She was MY dog, and I wanted her to be comfortable for as long as she was with us.
She was beautiful and loving and hated thunderstorms and had a lovey spot on her neck and liked to sleep on the couch and had to eat soft food and she loved the leash and the car and we loved her.
Lady was a part of our family from the moment she came into our lives, and I wouldn't give a moment of it for anything.
Hug your babies......