My friends Carl Buell and Hank Fox, both of them familiar to CRN readers as frequent commenters here, have lost a good friend, pictured above with Carl in a photo I will risk assuming Carl won’t mind me posting. Tito died today. He was a great dog, deeply loved by Carl and Hank in a “dog-share” arrangement, and by many more as well. He went with his pals at hand, with a caring veterinarian’s help, on his favorite hillside. May we all live, and die, so well. Please hold Carl and Hank in your thoughts today. 

I am so sorry, guys.

I have to go sit with Zeke now.

1. 
   Stephanie Bowker 2006 03 03 at 4:17:29 pm

   *weeping*

   I am so sorry, Carl and Hank.

2. 
   craig 2006 03 03 at 6:15:42 pm

   What a beautiful dog.

3. 
   Vicki 2006 03 03 at 6:21:14 pm

   I’m sorry.  I’ve enjoyed reading Hank and Carl’s comments about Tito.

   I think I’m going to take Budman for a walk.

4. 
   GrrlScientist 2006 03 03 at 6:27:46 pm

   oh wow, i am so sorry to read this. i gotta email carl to make sure he’s alright.

5. 
   Charles 2006 03 03 at 9:56:56 pm

   Carl and Hank

   I don’t know you but please accept my condolences on the loss of your beloved Tito.

6. 
   Janice in GA 2006 03 03 at 10:46:25 pm

   I am so sorry to hear about Tito.  We love them so much, and their lives are so short…

7. 
   Craig Pennington 2006 03 04 at 12:18:16 am

   Losing a friend is hard. Lost my Milo to bone cancer over five years ago; my Cy to old age over eight years ago—honestly, I thought about both of them today before I even read this. I think about Milo every time I walk by a body of water into which I can throw a stick. I think about Cy every time I see a baby—she loved them. My sincere condolences.

8. 
   Hank Fox 2006 03 04 at 12:24:04 am

   Thank you all for the caring words.

   ‘Case anybody wants to know, the pic is of Carl drying Tito off after a dip in a nearby pond. Being half black lab, Tito loved daily summer swims, but as he got older, his drying shake got a little less vigorous. Enter his best friend, ready with towels and a brisk rubdown. Tito got to like it so much, he’d stand waiting, practically smiling as the towels were applied.

   “Oooh, ahh, a little lower to the right.”

   At the end of 16-and-then-some years, Tito lay on his favorite home hill, overlooking the domain of foxes and raccoons and myriad birds, all of which he loved to watch. He had his two best human buddies with him, petting and hugging him through his last moment, and a kind one-in-a-thousand veterinarian who came to the house to help us let him go.

   Tito wasn’t in any pain, and he went to sleep peacefully, at home, and dearly loved.

   He was the best dog I ever even met.

9. 
   eRobin 2006 03 04 at 12:35:05 am

   He really is gorgeous.  I’m glad he had friends around him.

10. 
    Violet 2006 03 04 at 1:00:57 am

    I’m so very, very sorry.

11. 
    KathyF 2006 03 04 at 2:06:27 am

    So sorry, Hank and Carl.

    Someone sent me a cheesy email yesterday, in which a child says that the reason dogs die so soon is that they already know what it takes humans decades to learn, how to live a good life and love unconditionally.

12. 
    Kristine 2006 03 04 at 12:11:54 pm

    It’s terrible to lose an animal friend. Despite all the ones I’ve lost I can’t live without having them. I know that Tito dances with nature in peace on his favorite hill. All my sympathies.