Moon never learned to like other dogs, but he got along really well with cats. Our red-point Siamese, Sammy, used to rub all over him and "make bread" on him and he loved it.

Everyone who knew him had a story about him. He had his own fan club: bank tellers gave him cookies, a postal clerk gave him a red sweater. Every year, right before Christmas, he wore his "reindeer antlers" downstreet.

In November of 1997, Moon was diagnosed with degeneration in the vertebrae of his neck. He was put on a regimen of medication, which helped, but he never fully recovered. After one last walk downstreet - at his insistance - on Feb. 3, 1999, he went downhill rapidly.

On Feb. 11, 1999, Moon's vet came to the house and set him free from his aged, crippled body. He crossed the Rainbow Bridge in total peace. Now he can race among the angels.