ok, after the 3rd person in a week asked me about dixie's "quality of life", i had to be honest with myself. she's not been the same since she got so sick with pancreitis a month ago. her liver was so damaged by the chemo, and her immune system was pretty much destroyed. the vet told me she might not do well when i brought her home. and over the last few weeks i've seen the signs. she's been going potty in the house all the time, and had started peeing on herself in her sleep. her cushing's, once in remission was back. she was drinking tons of water and eating everything in sight, and constantly searching for more food. over the weekend i noticed more blood in her stool and knew it was time. the hind leg weakness was also back, and this horrible rash she got over a month ago never went away. we had her on strong antibiotics, creme and i gave her baths every other day. the vet was so sad to see her rash looking terrible after all the treatment. so dr. bedi and i talked. we agreed that she'd been through enough and wasn't really enjoying life. she HATED the vet and was shaking every time. i knew she was done. he finally said he was proud of me for being strong enough to let her go. and he pointed out that dixie had a wonderful life the last 2 1/2 years. becca (who rescued her at the kennel) and i spoiled her rotten. she ate steak, got to have so many treats and so much fun. zak took such good care of her recently. he helped her up onto his bed so she could get lovin' with the other dogs, when she was too weak to jump up on her own. dan got to meet her a few times, and as i told lisa ann, she was "fancy from the waist up." everyone loved her so much!

ok, i am sad, but i know it was the right thing....here are some of my favorite pics of dixie. besides pics of her looking pretty (which she was!) i've included some hilarious pics of her playing rough and acting wild like she used to do after a bath. she was fancy and gorgeous, but she could kick ass too!