DO ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN?

If you believe the name of the movie, then I guess they do.

Yes, it's true. Sessna is dead. She died about 3:30 this morning in the middle of the living room floor. We think her lungs filled up with fluid. She has been coughing for quite awhile but the last couple of days it was worse. But she was still eating and still wanting Chad to throw her toy just yesterday. She cried out last night and woke us up. I thought she was having a bad dream and yelled at her to be quiet, but Chad got up and she was about gone. I knelt down by her and she convulsed a couple of times and it was over. So a 14 year part of our family has gone on to wherever dogs go.

May I make a suggestion to you who might have a daughter that wants a dog. Get her one before she is a senior in high school. Let her have one while they are growing up together. Brooke had Sessna from Christmas until she went to college the next fall. You can't take pets to college. Then she went on her mission. You can't take pets on missions. Then she got married and went back to college. You still can't have pets at college and if your husband says you can't have one in your house then the dog stays at home with the parents for the full 14 years. We have taken care of her, cleaned up after her, lost shoes she chewed up, fixed furniture she tore up and now we have to miss her. Who made up that dumb rule?

My dad used to sing an Elvis Presley song called Old Shep. I would almost cry everytime he sang it.

When I was a boy and old Shep was a pup

Over hills and meadows we'd stray

Just a boy and his dog

We were both full of fun

And we grew up together that way.

I remember the time at the old swimmin' hole

When I would have drowned beyond doubt

But old Shep was right there

To the rescue he came

And he jumped in and then pulled me out.

The years fast did roll

And old Shep he grew old

His eye sight was fast growing dim

It was then that the doctor looked at me and said,

"There's no more I can do for him, Jim."

With hands that were trembling

I picked up my gun

And I aimed it at Shep's faithful head

But I just couldn't do it

I wanted to run

And I wished that they'd shoot me instead.

He came to my side

And he looked up at me

And he laid his old head on my knee

I had struck the best friend that a boy ever had

And I cried till I scarely could see.

Now old Shep has gone where the good doggies go

And no more in the meadows we'll roam

But if dogs have a heaven

There's one thing I know

Old Shep has a wonderful home.

I hope dogs go to heaven and I hope Sessna and my dad are playing together again--just like they did when they were both here.