Jim, I have been where you are 12 times in my life. Each time was a difficult one for me and I think that the more it happens the harder it is because each time I get a new dog I try to make things better for him than they were for the last one, each time I try to do things that I wish I'd done with the others. My first dog was just a little lap dog, a companion, then there were the hunting dogs who's only job was to hunt and the last 2 and the one I have now, they got the best of me we hiked together, I took them camping, to ball games at the park anything I did, they went there with me, and yes they hunted well too. I miss them all and I am grateful for the memories that they have left me. Sometimes when I am thinking about them and the times we shared I visit a website for inspiration. Thought maybe you would like to visit it too. Check this out-------http://www.petloss.com/poems/poems.htm