The Dog Listener

I came across a question today over on Quora: Do dogs know when they are going to die? My avatar wrote an answer:

I don't know whether dogs know when they are going to die, but from my own recent experience - and if you're listening - they do let you know whether or not they want you to let go or if they want you to help them fight for a few more runs on the beach.

In trying to decide what the right thing to do was when several critical decisions had to be made, I heard Stella weighed in. "I'm not ready to call it quits just yet." Anthropomorphism aside, it was one of the clearest messages I've ever heard.  

As I write this, she's laying here quietly sleeping next to me. She's been eating, drinking, peeping, pooping, wobbling through the house, and tolerating the curious and ever rambunctious kittens with more grace than Prince William's bride.

She's one beautiful groad-bomb.