I guess that's part of our problem, too selfish. 😟 We enjoy traveling and the hotels we stay in are seldom pet friendly, and if they do allow pets they charge from $50 up to as much as $300 per night, non-refundable. If you have a "service dog", they are welcome and I have seen more than a few who claim their dogs are service dogs, but I'm not convinced - looks like theft to me. I personally see no way a very small Yorkie could be a service dog, but maybe I'm wrong, wouldn't be the first time. LOL!!

We took Charlie everywhere with us. He was completely happy on his pad on the center console or curled up in the back seat on his blanket! The back seat would be full of our bags but we would save enough space for Charlie.

We stopped at some motel in south Texas and I told the lady we had a dog. She said that dogs weren’t allowed......unless they are a service dog and we’re not allowed to ask for proof! She then looked straight at me and said, you understand! I just nodded my head! This was a very small town and the lady was aware that we needed to stop for the night! Charlie was a service dog for one night!

I was never able to use this information, I’m not good at lying. We just looked for a motel that allowed dogs and paid wh**ever they charged! Charlie was more than worth it!

Almost sixteen years ago, when I had just gotten serious with my girlfriend-now-wife, I was introduced to a little bundle of barky fluff... I named her Huang Doudou (Yellow Tofu bean)...

My girlfriend had just returned from visiting her aunt and told me she had special surprise for me... My toxic masculinity immediately jumped to lingerie and sandwiches (not necessarily in that order).. But instead I was handed a tiny puppy...

She demonstrated her love by immediately attempting to rip through my thumb... And I was hooked... Carried her around in a pocket until she was big enough to keep up... And endured some rather interesting fights with my paramour until it was properly established that dogs can sleep on beds

She was one if my rocks during the early days when I was struggling with language, culture shock, and alcoholism.... The number of great memories a dog can impart is quite beyond count....

My favorite is when I would lay on the floor and blow at her... She would jump on me and try to smother me... My wife remembers the time she chased a German Shepherd around the park after it scared her (my wife, not the dog)...

She's a Japanese Chin (although the species originates in China....Quite an interesting story there) and their lifespans are usually around 12 years.... Back when we finally decided to have a child one of our greatest regrets was the thought that our daughter might not get to meet her.... At 12 years old she was already experiencing health issues...

Luckily she overcame then and came to spend three wonderful years with my daughter... Indeed, my daughter refers to her as her older sister... And often insists that they eat together

This past week the weather turned... During the warm summer months she was able to enjoy long naps and relative good health... Although the arthritis had limited her mobility and she was going blind.... Suddenly she was unable to stand and in almost constant pain...

Yesterday my daughter started preschool... And it was joyful to hear her tell her sister about the teachers and students...

This morning she stroked her head and told her she loved her... Then we took her to school... Afterwards my friend (a vet) came by.... I held her in my arms... And cried as the life left her.... It was gentle... And I'm glad she spent her last moments at home...

Her ashes are in my study now.... And my daughter has had her first real experience with loss...And my wife has cried a few dozens times....And I'm on my third beer...

As much as it hurts, I can't imagine how the last 15 years would have been without her in my life... Sometimes the greatest blessings can rip a person apart... And pain can be so bitter sweet...

(The pictures are from an album I had made when she was just three years old)