I am a dog person and I too always seem to set myself up for pain that I know will come eventually. I have had to put 2 dogs to down over the years. After it's over I say that is enough, but I always seem to get another.
Short story....I used to hunt duck and geese years ago and had this Lab that was a true friend to me and the family. In the winter time he was always the first one in the truck to go hunting and the last out. For almost 5 years he went to sleep every night with his head on my shoulder. When the unfortunate time came I had him cremated. Most of his ashes were placed in an urn that now sits in my gun cabinet. The remainder was mixed with gunpowder and loaded into some shotgun shells so he could go out hunting with me one last time. That dog is greatly missed to this day.