We lost Linus on Sunday, 24 March 2002, to HGE brought on by what appears to be a tumor on or in his stomach. Linus was dehydrated when we brought him to the vet on Wednesday the 20th, and despite efforts to hydrate him, he never reached a level of recovery. By Sunday morning, his kidneys were beginning to fail and his stomach was severely swollen from the tumor and fluid buildup. Too weak to survive surgery, we elected to put Linus to sleep.

We were with him until the very end. He will be with us forever.

"The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog. A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground where the wintery winds blow, and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the sores and wounds that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in it's journey through the heavens. If misfortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in it's embrace, and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true, even in death." —Senator George Vest, Missouri, 1870

You can read how Linus came into our lives here.