We're keeping Dempsey comfortable. The vet said she would let us know when it was time. Right now she divides her time between her bed in the bedroom and the kitchen. We carry her outside, but she still has the strength to lower her back end to go to the bathroom on her own. Back when she had her stroke we had to use the padded support strap to help her get into the delicate position.

Sometimes I would lower her too far or try to raise her back up before she was ready. If you think a dog's face lacks the muscles to convey expression you have never interrupted a dog trying to take a crap.

During the care of Dempsey, Jon and I are trying to be aware of not neglecting our other pup, Boi. Boi is a black Lab that just wandered into our lives a few years ago. You hear a lot of stories about dogs that take care of each other when one gets sick. Boi is sensitive, sweet, affectionate and protective. He is also a less-than-5-year-old Lab and therefore unable to keep a command in his skull for more than a moment. He means well, but his enthusiasm will make him forget that he needs to move slowly and cautiously around Dempsey. Fortunately, Dempsey still has the strength to bark a warning if he gets too close with his antics.

And to his credit, as soon as he's reminded he settles down for as long as he can remember.

We also have two cats. But they're cats, so who really knows if they've even noticed one of the dogs is sick. As long as nothing interrupts their food supply or the cleaning of their boxes we're all pretty much background noise to their lives.