With tears and a broken heart I write this..

[MyFamily]

My girlfriend and I purchased two Yorkie's on a whim from a Pet store just over two years ago.

The Yorkie's were biological brothers as per their documentation.

We acknowledged that both Yorkie's had kennel cough upon purchasing. Of course we had already fallen in love with them and named them Teddy and Brody.

The kennel cough lasted two to three months.

One of our boys however continues to experience health problems. This is Brody. He has had minor to semi-serious health problems that include: rashes, infections, skin irritations, dietary problems, extensive allergies and subsequent depression, fatigue and exhaustion.

For Brody, we have purchased creams, ointments and special foods to minimize his allergies. This has amounted to thousands of dollars in veterinarian visits and associated costs. These various treatments have yielded marginal results.

Brody is now on a three-phase shot/injection schedule in which we have administered over the past several months. This will continue well into the New Year.

We continue to medicate and spend money willingly on our babies, Teddy and Brody, as we love them more then life itself.

The Pet store at present is no longer in business. Furthermore we have learned of poor management practices that have contributed to many cases of unhealthy animals. We are to understand this contributed to the closure of this franchise location.

We have had our boys two years and two months at this point in time.

On December 13th 2011, we were looking at Christmas lights with our friends and their dog. Our boys were with us as usual. Teddy was in his reindeer suit, Brody was in his Santa suit.

Teddy suddenly started crying. He had never done this before. I picked him up and brought him into the car to see him in the light. He didn't appear to step in glass as I thought might be the case. In the light I could see Teddy's eyes were dilated and completely black. His body had become limp in my arms and his breathing slowed.

We thought he might have eaten something. It seemed so strange and unexpected.

We rushed over to the local hospital. The veterinarian wasn't certain what was happening with Teddy. Teddy couldn't focus his eyes on anything and he kept falling over. The vet said he would watch him for a few hours.

My girlfriend took our friends home. I stayed at the vets, as I was concerned for our Teddy. I sat down in the waiting area of the Hospital.

Moments later the veterinary's assistant ran out into the waiting room to grab something. He then ran into the back area. I followed him back there. I asked if everything was ok. He wouldn't answer me.

In the waiting cage Teddy was contorting in every direction. His motions were forced and unnatural. My heart started beating fast and my anxiety skyrocketed.

I asked is he ok? The veterinarian didn't answer me. He then took Teddy into a back area and put him on oxygen.

The veterinarian told me to take Teddy to emergency. He told me the number and I dialed it into my cell phone. He then asked me to give him the phone in order to speak directly to emergency.

The veterinary hung up the cell phone and told me to take Teddy to emergency immediately - he gave me back my cell phone. I called my girlfriend and fortunately caught her before she went back onto the Highway. I told her to come back as fast as she could.

I called the 24 hours emergency vet that was 15 minutes away and said we were coming. I handled the administrative questions as fast as I could.

The veterinarian could not reassure me things would be okay as I waited for my girlfriend to arrive.

My girlfriend arrived seconds later. I got into the drivers seat a sped to emergency.

Teddy was shaking and his breathing was slowing. My girlfriend and I were in tears. We were praying that Teddy would be ok.

We arrived at the Emergency Hospital. Immediately Teddy was taken into he back. We were told to sit in the waiting area and the doctor would come out if there were a concern.

My girlfriend and I were in tears and just trying to consol each other. We were there for less then two minutes before the nurse asked us to come back into the ER. We were terrified as we walked into the ER as we now expected the worst.

Our beloved perfect little Teddy boy was on the operating table having his chest pumped. There were tubes going into his mouth and IV into his leg. He had urinated on the white cloth.

The lead veterinary said, you may need to make a critical decision, Teddy is not breathing on his own.

We asked would he make it. She replied, "He will have significant brain damage even if he does".

My girlfriend and I fell to the ground in tears. We were watching our baby struggling to stay alive.

The nurse asked if we wanted to go into a private waiting area. We didn't know what to do. The vet blurted out she will continue working on Teddy and told us to go into the private room.

On December 13th we lost our precious Teddy Bear in the emergency room on an operating table. He never even had a cough or cold or anything ever before. This was so sudden and so vividly terrifying.

My girlfriend and I are at the end of the day homebodies that filled our lives with our boys. They are our rock and help us constantly get through challenges. We stay in all the time to be with them. We have over a dozen matching outfits for the brothers.

Our son Teddy died two years and two months into his life.

Our other puppy Brody continues with his shot treatment. He is looking for his biological brother Teddy whom he has never been separated from. He is depressed and not eating.

This was unexpected - we are so so sad. I appreciate our friends whom have helped numb things for us. They say he's in a better place but the best place is in my girlfriend and my arms, his mom and dad.

[Bitsy]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Hugs to all of you during this very difficult time.

[MorkieMomma]

How heartbreaking. I'm so very sorry for your loss. I really don't like it when people say they're in a better place. Most of the time people who say this haven't lost a pet, or forget what it feels like. While it may very well be true, it sure doesn't feel like it to the person who lost their best friend and companion.

Once again, I'm sorry you lost Teddy.

[Perrella]

Aww, so very sorry for the loss of your little Teddy.

[KazzyK810]

OMGosh...how incredibly devastating. Did the emergency vet say what caused this?

Losing a pet is one of life's worst experiences. I still can't think about my Chelsea and how she was that very last day while she was gasping for breath, due to her collapsed trachea, without bawling my eyes out...and it's been 4 years since she died.

RIP Teddy. Poor Brody, he too must be devastated by the loss of his brother. My heart goes out to all of you...you, your girlfriend and Brody...I'm so sorry for your loss of such a young life.

[kjc]

I'm so sorry for your loss. RIP Teddy.

[sbgooljar]

So sorry to hear about your Teddy; may he rest in peace.

I hope you and your gf can take comfort with Brody.

[Nancy1999]

I'm so sorry for you loss, I hope he didn't suffer and it sounds like you did everything that you could. RIP little Teddy.

[Maximo]

Your experience is heartbreaking. RIP little Teddy. I am so sorry for you, your girlfriend, and Brody, and I hope your hearts will heal with time.

Such a beautiful boy.

[caw]

Im soo sorry about your adorable Teddy. Bless you all.

[occy]

I am so sorry for your loss of dear Teddy. I hope that just knowing there are people around that truly do care will help you thru these rough times.

Hugs to all of you.

[roseslevi]

So sorry for your loss of Teddy.

[TutBugaloo]

I am so sorry for your loss. Your story has brought me to tears, I am praying for you and your family.

[Sammy Mommy]

I'm so very sorry. Sending prayers to help mend your broken hearts. Rest in Peace, Teddy.

[yorkieusa]

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....