Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all powerful.
He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion.
With him, I know a secret comfort and private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant.
His head on my knee can heal my human hurts.
His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things.
He has promised to wait for me... whenever.... wherever I need him.
I expect I will.

He is just my dog.

Gene truly understood and loved dogs (esp Black ones).
He is credited w/ having written one of the 2 best dog stories ever written.
'One' by Gene Hill and
'The Road to Tinkhamtown' by Corey Ford
have been labeled as the 2.
I have read a great amount of Hill.
In my opinion, It is Hill at his best and (the only) Ford that I've read is right there w/ him.

Steve Smith, who was friends with Hill
publishes Hill articles in his magazine
Retriever Journal every now and then.
Great stuff.

I have seen this piece by Hill on many occasions. It was most recently published in either Shooting Sportsman or Sporting Classics, I believe. Timeless.

Especially so since I recently viewed the xrays of my 11 year old Chocolate. In a life time of dogs, my dearest. My very dearest. She is ravaged by arthritis. Even in her sternum.

There is another quote, the author of which I can't seem to find and which I paraphrase here, that says something like this: When we get to Heaven all the dogs we have owned will come running through the gate to greet us.

I am certain my Chocolate, my sweetest, my dearest, will be at the head of the pack.