Great article, Finy - people don't realise that having a dog is like having a child, it IS a long term commitment - and the smaller the dog, the longer they live - I had two little ones: a Jack Russell, who lived to 14, then got a cat cancer, and we had to let her go, and a Toy Pomeranian (my pride and joy) who lived to 16, when everything gave in. I miss them dearly!