My heart is full after reading all of your responses - thanks so much everyone....

I agree with Naia, I'm not ready to call it quits quite yet as he still has a lot of energy at times - not much, but some. I may have to go home at lunch and let him out now - I'll see how it goes.

Funny - the other night, we let him out (he's on a tie out from the back of the house) and I say to DH, "he's been out there awhile, and hasn't barked." My DH went back there and called him, no Tar. Then he pulled the tie out and whoops! there's no dog at the other end - he has slipped out of his collar. Now mind you, he's black, it's black and rainy outside and we live in an area with river access. Trying not to panic, I'm calling him in the back, then went to the front of the house, no Tar. So my DH (who likes to grumble about him a lot) gets in the car to search for him. (Awww ♥) I keep calling him and I here a "woof!" in the distance. Geez, where is he?? I go in the family room (where we always are) and there's his face up against the family room slider! He probably slippped out of his collar, got disoriented, wandered over to where the lights are in the family room and just stayed there LOL! So DH came back in about 10 minutes and I said "he's here!". We both got a laugh out of that - thinking the poor ol man was hearing us and wondering what the heck? Why aren't they letting me in - I'm right here!!!

We are going to remain cautiously optimistic about his care. There's no way I'm going to put him down until I know there's no help. I could never forgive myself. I think my worst problem with this is my husband's not in the best of health, my dog is old, and my mom is 91 years old - and my only kid lives far away. I just hope I can handle all of these things when the time comes and I'm not completely alone - - - - -

Thanks so much for listening everyone - it helps to know I have people out there who care!!!

Hugs,
Michelle