Bobby, I'm sorry for your loss!
We had to put Sierra, our first dog as a married couple, down last winter ayear ago, over Christmas. She was the greatest, a greyhound lab mix. Sweet nature, true peace keeper. If my wife and I had an argument she would siddle up between us to stop it. She had an in operable brain tumor, and managed to last 6 months on steroids, before her quality of life just wasn't there. I wanted another right away, because the house was so silent in her abscense. A month later we went to a shelter 150 miles from here, because we saw a dog that looked just like her. Unfortunately she was agressive, and indifferent. As we were getting ready to leave, a volunteer brought Pretzel out to us. He was a completely different dog than what Sierra was. He was perfect! Happy, playfull and a soleful face. He's been with us just over a year now, he was on the youthanasia list, living on borrowed time. We are so greatfull we were able to save him, and he us!
Sierra at the beach:

Pretzel the new guy: