It's been almost two weeks now since we said goodbye to this shedding, drooling, goofy Newfie.  Henley had just turned ten which is pretty old for a giant dog.   But he had a huge mass in his belly.  It ultimately grew to the point it was pressing on his diaphragm and stomach.  He was having a hard time breathing and he couldn't eat much.  He weighed 150lbs last December and had shrunk to 123lbs.  He also had hip dysplasia and could not get up the stairs very easily.

We got Henley as a six month old pup.  We called him our sale dog.  The ad said "Newf pups.  Make offer."  We called and inquired why the ad.  The breeder said that they were older pups and he couldn't get his original asking price.  It was a good point since Henley weighed 75lbs when we got him.  He was born and raised in a barn.  He had no social skills and was not house broken.

But with love and training he became the wonderful, lovable, dog we knew he could be.  He was the most social dog and loved everyone (dog or human) he encountered.  Along came Corrine.  Henley became super protective of the baby.  We could put her in the pack and play in the yard and he would lay next to it where ever we moved it.

Corrine said her goodbyes before she left for school.  She hugged him, loved him and took pictures of him.  At the vets office I sat on the floor with him and loved him, stroking his head and ears telling him how much we loved him.  Thanking him for being a part of our family, telling him it was ok that he leave us.

Our house has a huge emptiness to it.  A physical emptiness as well as a loss of his energy.  He was larger than life in many ways.  He is in a better place, we know that.  It doesn't make it easier for those of us left behind.