Portia

For those of you who don't know, Portia is a chocolate Lab owned by my dear friends, Jack and Steve.

Portia is the most wonderful dog ever. A more friendly, loving dog than Portia, I cannot imagine. I've had the pleasure of doggy sitting her quite a bit over the years.

I've even taught her to play the piano.

But Portia has been getting on in years. Over twelve of them in fact. This past year, she'd been experiencing some really nasty problems with her front leg and she's had increasing trouble getting around.

One of her favorite activities has been to visit Doggie Beach on Lake Michigan here in Chicago. However, because of her increasingly bad condition, she's been unable to go at all.

Things looked pretty grim for this delightful creature. Her quality of life was going downhill.

But Steve happens to be a very talented veterinarian and was able to obtain stem cell treatment for dear Portia a few months ago.

And you know what? It's working!

Our Portia was even able to return to her beloved Doggie Beach the other day.

Click here for the video of her and Jack. And get out your hankies.

I've used all mine.