So we had to have our sweet pea of a kitty Emily put to sleep on Sunday. She was diagnosed with a heart condition in January and has been on medication since then and doing really well. (The medications were Lasix and Enalipril for anyone interested.)

Anyway, this weekend the drugs just weren't enough anymore, her heart had grown too weak.

She was a really sweet kitty who was such a big part of our lives for so long. Rob got her on his own when he was in college. She used to be a more timid kitty but in recent years had become very bold and funny. We miss her a lot and all her funny antics such as insisting on drinking whatever we were drinking, trying to steal fried chicken from our plates, and insisting on always sitting on us while we were trying to do work.

Here are a few favorite memories from this blog:

Emily the Hunter
Cookie Thief
Emily visits the office
Emily says hi
Fun photos

He was getting close to 15 years old so he certainly had a long life, longer than most dogs his size and breed, and he certainly got his share of pampering and more than his share of love, but we miss him terribly!

Here are some Billy memories from my blog:

Billy and Cleo panic over groceries
Billy and I encounter a bitch on Beacon Hill
Billy pees all over
Billy and I rest on his 7th birthday
Billy is not impressed
Billy's dalmatian facts
Billy bites me in the face
Billy goes to Maine
Billy fakes back in the day (circa 2003)
Billy encounters an idiot
Billy goes to the drive-through

So Billy has been having a tough time lately. Turns out a couple of weeks ago he had a lot of problems peeing, probably because of bladder stones (which we found out about due to a more recent drama). After that, he started favoring his back left leg pretty dramatically. But, as many of my readers may know, he is a major drama queen. On several other occasions we have rushed him to the vet or even the emergency room at Angell Medical Center, thinking there was something horrible wrong with him. Only to find that once there he exhibited no symptoms, or he magically repaired himself just in time to not have to go get x-rays for example.

Anyway, for maybe about 3 days leading up to last Monday, as I said, he was favoring his left back leg. Monday evening after taking him out, he was lying down inside and I suddenly took a look at that leg and noticed it was disgustingly swollen. Exhibit A:

It also felt like it was filled with fluid. It was swollen all the way up to his hip. We're pretty sure it wasn't swollen at all earlier in the day because we would have noticed.

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How can you not? Look at that.

It's hard to believe that America's Dog was once the scared stray Heather took in back in Manhattan, Kansas.

Here you are in a silly moment:

I hope you have a great day and get lots of yummy treats!

More about Cleo:

I was trying to find Heather's original post about finding Cleo but her real vet school weblog is down. Rob Reed needs to get on that. Anyway, here is link to her messed up radio weblog from vet school where she first gets Cleo. And here is Cleo as a model for Heather to practice bandaging in vet school:

Such a patient girl!

And here are some links about Cleo:

• Cleo eats a razor
• Stories of Billy and Cleo
• Cleo sitting nicely

Disclaimer: No, these are not my dogs and no I don't personally know the owner. I would like to request that I not be attacked by people in the comments on this post as my only concern is for the dogs. No, I would never give away my dog if it meant living on the street and turning tricks to feed him.

It's another post for another day to talk about what I think about people giving up their dogs. But, these are by all accounts super sweet loving dogs that need a good home, preferably together as they are very very attached. Here is some info and a picture:

Names: Coco (black) and Cookie (yellow)
Age: Both are 3 years old
Health: Both in good health, spayed, have ID chips
Kids?: Both are excellent with kids

Who doesn't love a sweet lab? If I had a house and yard to keep them in, I'd already have taken them myself, and Billy the told grump would just have to deal with some new siblings.

If you are interested in helping, let me know and I'll help put you in touch with the owner.

(More photos after the jump)

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However, America's Dog has been known to have a few behavioral problems. Lately she has been going to classes with her mommy (and The Bear) to address some of these problems.

Last night we had a surprise visit from one Miss Cleo Martin while Heather and RJ went to a Morrissey concert and I must say, she was on her best behavior yet! She didn't jump up on the couch unless invited, laid there calmly while I made dinner (instead of begging, which is what her counterpart Billy the dog was doing), stayed sitting pretty calmly while we ate dinner, and even encountered Emily the kitty without so much as a whine (typically she "trees" Emily by howling nonstop until Emily scrambles to the highest place she can find to feel safe).

Good job, Cleo!