If Deeka was the dog of my heart, Jesse was the dog of my soul. Of my dreams. He was everything I ever wanted in a Newf, and he adored me as much as I did him. We were a very tight pair.

He's been gone almost a year now, and there's still a big hole in my life and my heart that I don't think will ever be filled.

Everywhere he went, people loved him. It was a joy just walking him down the street and watching the reaction from folks. At first he drew attention because he was big, bold, beautiful - and then people would come closer and see that beautiful face and those puppy eyes. Jesse always looked like the puppy he'd been. He was soft and loving, and he couldn't give of himself enough.

In the ring he was breathtaking - he moved like a great cat. Watching him gait around a ring was awe inspiring- but better yet was watching that muscular body moving up or down a hill or a trail. In the water he floated perfectly - that topline held even there. He'd swim for hours, just to cruise - or he'd fetch his beloved tennis ball till it was waterlogged.

Jesse spent almost two years fighting lymphoma. Most of the time he was in remission, and he had a great time living. But in the end the cancer won and he died at home, in my arms, his seeming favorite place in all the world.