An old Inuit I met once told me something that's stuck with me. He was giving up a female Malamute for breeding. Inuit's are very attached to their dogs. He said that there was now a hole in his heart, but he will be happy to die with a riddled heart. Bear left a huge hole in mine. Guess mine will look like Swiss cheese when I go as well. 

We lost Bear this January 3rd. 2000 He got sick 2 days before Christmas and went very fast. Vet thinks there was a tumor that ruptured. Our thanks to all of those who've expressed such very kind words and thoughts. We will miss him terribly.