Barnabas was my first service dog. At his vet checkup, she said he was in excellent condition at 9 years. That week I let him out to do his nightly business and didn't come when I called him. I found him unable to get up or do anything else. I rushed him 50 miles to a 24 emergency vet. He had had a stroke or some other brain event. I think that the unexpected suddenness made it extra hard.

I was at the hospital one day and a woman approached us and asked if I would let her paint a portrait of him. She painted with pencils. This is the result. After she entered it in the fair she gave it to me and it hangs in our family room.

Jim