history: When I moved into this apartment my next door neighbor had an old beagle. He was a lovely pooch. The poor dog had cancer and just before Thanksgiving he had to be put to sleep. I looked for that wee dog for weeks afterwards.
current: My neighbor used to have an old beagle - a lovely pooch. He died of cancer just before Thanksgiving. I looked for him for weeks - I miss him.
next: That's so sad.  I've lost dogs before.  I know how you feel :(