I have. Last year I had to go through the heartbreaking process of watching my dog slowly and painfully die from heartworms. It was agonizing. He lived with my mom and the last few days, I stayed over there because she told me it was looking like it was going to be soon. The night before he couldn't move from where he had fallen asleep. He tried and tried and I eventually took my blankets and slept next to him. I told him that night, through teary eyes and a broken voice, that if he needed to go, it was ok. I knew he was in pain and nothing was helping. Him literally breathed a sigh of relief and licked my face.

The next morning was the day. We woke up and made him eggs and bacon and sausage and biscuits and he feasted. We spent a little time with him and then my stepdad and I put him into the back of my moms SUV and I rode back there with him. He cried, I cried, my mom cried. We get to the vet and bring him into the room and put him on the table. Before they injected him with anything, I asked if I could talk to him for a minute. The vet obliged. I told him I loved him and thanked him for the wonderful times we had together and promised I'd meet him on the otherside and we'd play fetch all day and he could have all the chewies his heart desired. Then the vet came in. They gave him the shots and I watched as the light from my best friends eyes faded. I was devastated. I cried like a baby for hours. I spent that last night at my moms.

In the middle of the night, I felt as though a big body just like my dog had rested against my bed, just like he used to do to wake me up. I sat up and asked if it was him. And I got a whiff of his very distinctive scent. I smiled and felt an immense burst of love on the inside and felt as though I was given a final puppy kiss. The pain from the day subsided quite noticeably. He came back to me and told me he was there. I still get feelings when I get depressed that he is there with me resting his head on my lap like he used to when he wanted attention. I know he is watching over me and still follows me around like he used to.