Goodbye my Friend

“I feel for you. Our last family dog was put down @23yrs ago. It was not pleasant on so many levels. We never got another dog after that and I think it might be why I've never owned a dog.”

“Sorry to hear of the loss of your pup. Until you have a dog, you don't know how loving and special they can truly be. My wife never had a dog at all and now she spoils our dog more than anybody, even with all the sheading and puking on the carpeting too. I know, I'm not looking forward to "the day" that will come, either. Doesn't seem fair that dogs have a short life span like they do? Its too bad they can't live as long, as some birds do?”

“Thanks for all the kind words & thoughts. You helped a lot.

That sucked far more thn anything I've ever had to do. I never realized how much he meant to me.

I went home early to take him for a walk first, but he wasn't even up to that. I laid on the floor with him while he buried his nose in my armpit and slept for a while.

The vet was very understanding and made it all go as well as possible. My wife held up well there while I didn't, then at home we kinda traded places.

It was pretty cool (considering) burying him out under the apple trees, as they are in full bloom, the blossoms coming down like snow.

The weirdest part, our kitty, even older, followed me around everywhere yesterday.”

“What a life your family member Bruno lived. To live 15 years! That's a long time for a large dog to live. I'm truly sorry you have to put him down, it's not an easy thing to do and you all will miss him terribly. My toughts are with you and your family. Take care!
foggy”

“I got to meet Bruno once. He was a nice dog. A lucky dog too to have such a nice family to live with and so many kids to love. It's an awful thing to have to do. I like to imagine that God wouldn't leave any of His creatures out of heaven and that good dogs really do find themselves in fields full of birds to chase. I'm sorry for your family's loss Le subtil.”

“My cats always sense when something is really wrong - saddness, sickness - and hang around like that too.

In December one of them died outside our garage, and (in hindsight) two of them kept being extremely aggressive all afternoon trying to get in the house. They even looked pained on their faces when I kept shooing them back out the door. I know now they were trying to tell me. They clearly sulked around the house the next week. I'm convinced pets have a similar range of emotions as we do.

Time will heal, le subtil.”

“I like to imagine that God wouldn't leave any of His creatures out of heaven and that good dogs really do find themselves in fields full of birds to chase.

Dog Heaven = Bird Hell”

“O my.
That was a verry sad theeng you done. I am awreddy grettin the day me and my hubsand Gissmaeioux haff to berry ower daddy.

I will say prays for Bruno and yall to.
)o:3”

“Bearmagnet I understand that after the grief and the heartache that some people never get another dog. I loved my last two dogs dearly, one died at 14 and the last one made it to almost 17. But after a while I got another dog. why after the pain?, because while those dogs will always be a part of me I still needed to have a dog.early in the morning when I take my dog sage out for a hike I know that I will always have a dog.”

“Songs like this always come to mind for mew when I think about my long lost pals

Thank you for being a friend
Traveled down the road and back again
your heart is true you're a pal and a confidant

I'm not ashamed to say
I hope it always will stay this way
My hat is off, won't you stand up and take a bow

And if you threw a party
Invited everyone you knew
You would see, the biggest gift would be for me
and the card attached would say,
Thank you for being a friend

Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend

If it's a car you lack
I'd surely buy you a cadillac
Whatever you need, anytime of the day or night

I'm not ashamed to say
I hope it always will stay this way
My hat is off, won't you stand up and take a bow

And when we both get older
With walking canes and hair of gray
Have no fear, even though it's hardly here
I will stand real close and say,
Thank you for being a friend

(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Let me tell you bout a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend

And when we die, and float away
I'll see you there, and once again
Thank you for being a

Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
Whoa, tell you about a friend
(Thank you right now, for being a friend)
Thank you for being a friend
(I wanna tell you right now, and tell you again)
Thank you for being a friend
(I wanna thank you, thank you, for being a friend)
Thank you for being a friend”

“My heart goes out to you Le Subtil and your fine old dog.

I'm remembering that old Tom T. Hall song....

"Ain't but three things in this world that's worth a solitary dime,
But old dogs and children and watermelon wine."

http://wilstar.com/midi/watermelonwine-lyrics.htm”

“Very sorry to hear of your loss. Our non-human friends are very much part of our families.”

“I will dispense with copying Rainbow Bridge...I still cannot keep a dry eye when I read it. I think what my Vet said was the most helpful, "You rescued her so she has had a Fantastic life."”

“Just Got this in the mail....I am going through the debate with a 12 year old Chessie...(the dog I got at the urging of AMYG back years ago....). It don't make the decision any easier, and one day I will have to make the final trip to the vet...but you know what? I have come to look at it as another space in the house for another abandoned pup. Becuase of me and my family there are 7 dogs (Four Chessies, a Jack Russell Terror (yes proper spelling), a little Black Georgia Lap dog and a deaf Dalmation (ended up at my in-laws) who had or are having lives with families who love them. They are fed, get to the vet, sleep next to us on the bed, get to go for walks, and play in the pond. They all went from POUND cages to the luxury of a home where they were part of the family.

In nigh on 18 years of firefighting I once said I never saved a life in my job (a LOAD OF RECOVERIES but no SAVES from fires) but now that I think about it....yeah I did. That don't make it any easier, I think I would rather die than lose my friend.


When Should You Put Your Dog Down? How to make a decision you never want to make.
By Jon Katz
Updated Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003, at 1:01 PM ET
Jack sells antiques in upstate New York; he's a pretty upbeat guy, but when a vet diagnosed his 12-year-old black Lab, Schuyler, with cancer of the jaw and told Jack the prognosis was grim, he burst into tears, so upset he had to call his girlfriend to come drive him and the dog home.
He called me later that night. Punctuated by sobs and silences, our conversation lasted nearly an hour. "I really don't know what to do,” Jack said. "My friends say I should go to Penn or Cornell for chemo. My girlfriend says I should try alternative medicine, maybe something homeopathic. I can't bear to think of it. When do you put a dog down?
How do you decide? I can't bear to lose him, but I don't want him to suffer."
We spoke three or four times over the next couple of weeks, Jack agonizing over the many options he was hearing about. The vet had urged him to euthanize the dog before Schuyler's condition worsened, but Jack had clearly decided against that. He was apparently going to put the dog down "when he was ready," and thought he wasn't ready yet. One evening, he said he'd talked to a friend and dog lover who'd told him that Schuyler would tell him when it was time to go, that Jack should watch and listen to the dog for cues. He asked if I thought this was the right course.
To be honest, I couldn't quite say what I was thinking. Each decision about the death of a dog is personal and different, dependent on context and circumstances. But if I had told him what I was thinking, it would have been this: Dogs are voiceless. They can't tell us when it's time to die, even if they were capable of such abstract thought.
That's something we have to decide for them, wielding our love, compassion, and common sense as best we can.
I didn't look to my wonderful yellow Labs to tell me when it was time for them to go, one diagnosed with congestive heart failure, the other with colon cancer. The responsibility and decision, it seemed to me, was mine, not theirs. I put them down before they endured any prolonged suffering-my own choice, not a recommendation for others.
In the context of the most personal decision any dog owner ever makes, there are few universal truths. Jack ended up keeping Schuyler alive for two months, until the dog's jaw had swollen to grapefruit size.
When he called me again, I told him it seemed time, and he put the dog to sleep. Later, he called this the most wrenching period of his life, so painful he’d decided never to get another dog. I told him that was a shame.

It is the nature of dogs to live much shorter lives than ours-just eight years, on average-and it has always been my belief that to love and own a dog is to understand and accept that along with loyalty, love, and devotion come the ever-present specters of grief and loss.

This is as integral a part of the dog-loving experience as going for walks.
There's no Idiot's Guide for this question, no handbook. The many points of view are strongly held. One vet I know says a dog should be euthanized "when it can no longer live the life of a dog-and only the owner knows when that really is." A breeder says she puts her dogs down when "their suffering exceeds their ability to take pleasure in life."
A trainer I respect believes her dog should live as long as it can eat. Another friend and dog lover says she always knows when it's time: "when the soul goes out of their eyes."
I'm not among those who believe dogs have souls, but I know what she means. There is a certain visceral "dogness" about dogs, an interest in people, food, squirrels, passing trucks-whatever-that's part of their individual spirits. When that disappears, it does seem the "soul" of the dog is gone.
But I know other owners-a growing number, according to vets-who fight to keep their dogs alive as long as possible, at all costs.
Researching my last book, I visited an emergency-care clinic that had six dogs on respirators at a cost of nearly a $1,000 per week per dog. Their owners, the vets said, simply could not bear to lose them. In the context of America's growing love affair with dogs-there are nearly 70 million owned dogs in the United States and nearly 10 million more in shelters-this seems to me a travesty, not only for the dogs but for the humans who've lost sight of the fact that these amazing creatures are animals.
Increasingly, we've come to see our dogs as human, childlike members of our families, companions that sometimes provide us with more emotional support than friends or spouses, more satisfaction than work, more support than we can find elsewhere. As a result, people are increasingly devastated by the loss of their dogs, more uncertain about how and when to put them down, more inclined to spend thousands of dollars on surgery, alternative cures, foods, and treatments that might prolong their lives.
As the owner of three dogs, I spend more than I can truly afford to keep them healthy and vigorous. But as my conversations with Jack reminded me, they are not people. Their lives and deaths ought not be conflated or confused with human losses.
To love dogs is to know death and to accept that there's never a time we are more morally obliged to speak for them than when they face the end of their lives.
Jon Katz is the author of The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure With Three Dogs, Sixteen Sheep, Two Donkeys and Me. He can be e-mailed at mailto:jdkat3@aol.com”

“Well, old Tucker lasted longer than I thought when I posted on this thread last month. But it became very apparant that it was time to say goodbye, to have kept him around any longer would have been selfish. So we made that long-dreaded trip to the Vet this morning.

I wanted to share a couple things with other dog lovers here, hopefully it will make things easier for you whenever you have to face this inevitible task.

First, I had wondered about making the decision too early, since first & foremost in my mind was that I didn't want him to suffer, but I certainly didn't want to risk puting him to sleep when there was some chance at recovery, etc.

What I learned is that when the time comes, you'll know it, and it will actually be an easy decision, at least in the sense of "is it time?". It was obvious to me in Tuckers case that there was no way he would get better... he would only get worse & suffer as time went on.

Secondly, I learned (or realized) that people who are vets and/or work at vet clinics are obviously truly sensitive to animals & will do everything they can to make your pets passing as comfortable as possible. The vet we ended up at was simply incredible... I have to believe most others share similar traits.

Was all this painful? Yes, of course. But, take heart that I believe you'll know when it's time...and I hope/trust that you'll also end up with sensitive people to help you & your pet through.”

“wanderer, sorry to hear about Tucker. Losing a dear pet is never easy. It sounds like your approach worked well. I hope you have some great pics to go with the years of memories. May tucker rest in peace.”

“wanderer,

thanks for sharing your experience. I know what a loss this is to you. I had to make that decision with a cat many years ago and, as was true for you, I knew it was time. As much as I love my dogs, I dread the thought of losing any one of them. I am glad it could be such a clear decision for you. Any time you want to borrow a dog I know of 3 who would fight over the honor.”

“wanderer, I know this is never an easy decision, but one I've had to make many times in the past. My experience with veterinarians has been much like yours with Tucker....they are very compassionate and do everything possible to make it as comfortable for both you and your pet as they possibly can.

The day will come all to soon when I have to make the decision about Merlin, my 11 year old Golden. He's an old man with some health issues, but I rescued him years ago and know he had a great life with me...much better than the one he would have had if I had not rescued him.

My thoughts are with you and Tucker in this very tough time.”

“Wanderer - Thanks for this and for your easuring tone. I'm glad that at least it was a clean and clear loss for you, but I am sorry it had to happen now. By clean and clear, I mean the time was clear and you didn't have to agonize about doing the right thing at the right time.

I had a really great dog that died a long while ago. I left her at the SPCA animal hospital for treatment, because they thought they might be able to do something for her. I had a hard time with worrying if this was the right thing (Should I leave her there? Should I bring her home so she won't have to die in a small steel cage surrounded by strangers and other caged, sick animals?) I've got another great dog now who is 13 1/2 and pretty large (part Doberman) and that is old for a large dog. I'm hoping that I will know the right thing to do when her time comes and she won't have to suffer. Of course, I'm hoping that right time will be years away.”

“I've had one of my dogs put down, when I was only a kid, and it was tough. Now my other dog (Golden/Collie mix) is getting old, and supposedly has very little muscle left in her body. It's hard to notice though, because if someone throws em, she'll chase a tennis ball back as far as someone can throw it into the woods.

I'm not sure how long she'll last. I got her on my birthday when I was 8. I'm not sure what'll be like when she goes.

My cats dying of liver cancer right now as well, but that's just as hard to notice. We're still getting a few voles a night on the doorstep.”

“SORRY wanderer...wow...I have a 12 to 14 year old chessie (MY BABY) she was rescued a few years ago and she has been my girl. I know the clock is ticking.....but I know that the next rescue will be just as special
The Rescue Rainbow Bridge
Author Unknown

Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.
It wasn't long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who had been there for a while, knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too often.

He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of injury or illness. Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But, alas, as he approached The Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge. With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly and infirm. They weren't playing, but rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn't understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for awhile to explain it to him.

"You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of rescue and passed on with only the love of his rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly existence. Because he had no family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge."

The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what will happen now?" As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom lifted. Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life.
"Watch, and see.", said the second animal. A second group of animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell into line and followed him towards The Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.

"What happened?"

"That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of his work. They will cross when their new families arrive. Those you saw restored were those who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are allowed to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor animals that they couldn't place on earth across The Rainbow Bridge."

"I think I like rescuers", said the first animal.

"So does GOD", was the reply.
last edited: 6/11/06 8:29:17 PM”

“We made the trip to the vet about 6 weeks ago. We agonized over the very same questions.

You described it so well.

Best to you.”

“My four legged family members and I would like to offer our sympathy to you, Wanderer for your loss.
Be open to letting someone else come into your life. If you allow it to, it will happen when the time is right. It may even be today. It won't be a replacement for or a dishonor to Tucker. It will be someone new who needs you and vice versa.
As time passes your good memories will overshadow your loss you feel now. Writing down the story of your life together is one thing that helps.”

“That blows. Sorry.

Its never an easy decision, but like you said, you know when its time.”

“Sorry to hear about your loss. I'm still missing Bruno. Just this morning as I was tying my shoe at the couch, I remembered how he'd always get up and come over to say good morning. I rmemebered how I was often in too much of a hurry to give him much attention.”

“It is a very hard, but necessary thing to do...I have also found vets to be very compassionate...I'm sorry you lost a good friend...it's tough...”

“Thanks to all for your kind words & expressions, it really did make a difference.

Proves once again that TT'ers are a pretty cool bunch of folks, I'm glad to "know" you all!

I can't depart this thread without two "special" acknowledgements... although each post meant something to me... these two I have to publically acknowledge.

To Pepper... I'd consider it an honor to hike again w any of your girls... and remember, I still have that center console in my truck full of dog cookies... and no dog! Keep me posted if you head past my house on your way to the mountains... I'd love to join in! (and say hello for me to that old guy you hike with! :))

To Violin... We may differ on our political views, but you've proven yourself to be a class act w your response, above. I tip my hat to you, sir.”

“sorry to hear about it. I have been through this and know how very hard this is to get through. take some time for yourself, then when it feels right make the committment to give another dog a great lfe filled with adventure.”

“My best friend's had to have their dog put down. They had him for 13 years and because they are childless he was a huge part of their lives. They were devastated even though it was a slow progression and they knew what needed to be done.

I went over to their house and decided I'd take Honey with me. I was hesitant because I was afraid having a dog in the house might upset them so soon after losing Rascal. As soon as we got through the door they were all over Honey. They fond all over her endlessly. My friend said jokingly, "She can stay the night if you don't want to take her home tonight.". I said, "Sure, you can keep her.". Honey got to spend the night with her favorite aunty and uncle and my friends enjoyed having a dog in the house again.

Yesterday I packed Honey's little over night bag and she got to go stay over night again. It's such a comfort to them and they are shopping around the pounds for a new puppy much earlier than they had planned.

HoneyDog, theripist at large. will preform grief therepy for treats!

”

“:)

Goldens steal your heart more then any otehr dog, thats fer sure!

After having sasha, its goldens or nothing else!

Way to go Honeydawg!


last edited: 3/03/07 10:43:55 AM”

“"overnight bag" lol!

Cudos, Nige”

“We need to get her an actual little backpack for her sleep overs. Something like this maybe...

”

“Coolio. I could fashion Sarabelle a bp out of that. And use the side pockets to make a Gizmeaux pack!”

“sorry to here about the loss of your friends best friend. Dogs love us more than they love themselves and they give you AGAPE Love.
They need to get another dog.
last edited: 3/03/07 11:25:25 AM”

“My brother's dog died last week....it was their first pet as a married couple, and the precursor to kids. We were at their house a few days before, and I cuddled with Zack, noticing that his breathing was labored. He had congestive heart failure, and two days later, that's what ultimatly took him. I had a soft spot for Zach, and was never so glad that I spent some time with him. Since they had gotten a new puppy a few weeks before, Zack had been promoted to sleep on their bed. That's where he died, and I bet he was happy.”

“nig, you know what I do for a living.
I had a very bad day at work but when i got home susie was there with the doggie kisses I truley needed.
kudos to them going to a shelter! please tell them to keep looking, it may not happen at first but it will. also please post pics!!”

“I am amazed at the number of pure breads you can find in shelters. I saw a pure bread boxer there when I was picking up Honey's new tags. My friends found a laber-doodle that had been dropped off simply because she was too hyper.

Our local pound is the best. They keep them as long as it takes and use rescues a lot to foster. They also spay and nuter all animals and they never give pure bread's papers.”

“When we lost our puppy in December, Sadie (the older dog) was (and still is) an essential part of what got me through it. Dogs rock. It's that simple.

We've been to the local Humane Society a couple times, "window shopping". We're not replacing Doba too quickly, though; We're paiently waiting for just the right dog that steals both our hearts at the same instant.”

“Nigal, we got a SLEW of Chessies in the cycle...if you need some connections let me know.....”

“The humane society in Jacksonville Fl. is now a no kill shelter. They're cool. The city shelter however is a death trap. Literally. There's so many airborne diseases going through there that no cats brought in make it out alive. Most dogs pick up parvo there too.”

“Hey Nigal, I'm just curious about the shelter not giving pure breed's papers. Why is that? (I'm ignorant here)”

“Ruby, why does someone need "papers" if they are not planning to breed or sell the dog?”

“Woke up at 1145p last night (sass actually woke me) to find my pointer convulsing on the floor. I quickly lay beside he protecting her head with my shoulder (and keeping my mouth near enough so that she could smell my breath) and began the process of comforting and waiting. This was a longer one about 8 minutes. The record is 11 min. That was long enough to race to the vet and have blood drwan as the seizure ended (of course nothing was found). She was so whooped after she stopped last night that I had to pick her up to put her in bed, she could jump up. She hasnt had one in three years (at least that we have seen), I hope its years more.....”

“I'm guessing the papers issue has to do with someone from a puppy mill picking up free dogs with papers.”

“Yeah it's so people can't bread them to death. So would these paperless dogs be Italian then? Ya know WOP dogs?

Damn birch I bet that was the longest 8 minutes of your life! My grandmother had a cat that was epileptic and would spas out all the time.”

“i'm guessing that they make a strong educated guess about purebreds..but if they were sure, without proper documentation and transfer of ownership, papers cannot be given out to new owners.

but does your dog need a pedigree to love you?”

“WOW...just got this...it checks out in snopes to a family in San Antonio


Mom just received this in an e-mail. I thought it was really sweet and wanted to share it with everyone. It's a little long, but worth it.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey,died last month (8/23). The day after she
> died,
> my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much
> she
> missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when
> Abbey
> got to heaven, God would recognize her.
>
> She dictated and I wrote:
>
> "Dear God,
>
> Will you please take special care of our dog, Abbey? She died yesterday
> and
> is in heaven. We miss her very much. We are happy that you let us have
> her
> as our dog even though she got sick. I hope that you will play with her.
>
> She likes to play with balls and swim before she got sick. I am sending
> some
> pictures of her so that when you see her in heaven you will know she is
> our
> special dog. But I really do miss her.
>
> Love,
> Meredith Claire
>
> PS: Mommy wrote the words after Mer told them to her"
>
> We put that in an envelope with 2 pictures of Abbey, and addressed it to
>
> God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Mer stuck some stamps
> on
> the front because, as she said, it may take lots of stamps to get a
> letter
> all the way to heaven) and that afternoon I let her drop it into the
> letter
> box at the post office. For a few days, she would ask if God had gotten
> the
> letter yet. I told her that I thought He had. Yesterday, for Labor Day,
> we
> took the kids to Austin to a natural history museum. When we got back,
> there
> was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch. Curious, I went
> to
> look at it. It had a gold star card on the front and said
>
> "To: Mer" in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith took it in and opened it.
> Inside
> was a book by Mr. Rogers, "When a Pet Dies." Taped to the inside front
> cover
> was the letter we had written to God, in its opened envelope (which was
> marked Return to Sender: Insufficient address). On the opposite page,
> one of
> the pictures of Abbey was taped under the words "For Meredith." We
> turned to
> the back cover, and there was the other picture of Abbey, and this
> handwritten note on pink paper:
>
> "Dear Mer,
>
> I know that you will be happy to know that Abbey arrived safely and
> soundly
> in Heaven! Having the pictures you sent to me was such a big help. I
> recognized Abbey right away. You know, Meredith, she isn't sick anymore.
>
> Her spirit is here with me--just like she stays in your heart--young and
>
> running and playing. Abbey loved being your dog, you know. Since we
> don't
> need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets!-- so I can't keep
> your
> beautiful letter. I am sending it to you with the pictures so that you
> will
> have this book to keep and remember Abbey. One of my angels is taking
> care
> of this for me. I hope the little book helps. Thank you for the
> beautiful
> letter. Thank your mother for sending it. What a wonderful mother you
> have!
> I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and
> remember
> that I love you very much. By the way, I am wherever there is love.
>
> Love,
> God, and the special angel who wrote this after God told her the words."
>
> ******************************************************************** ****
> ****
>
>
> As a parent and a pet lover, this is one of the kindest things that
> I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is
> some
> very kind soul working in the dead letter office.( Just wanted to share
> this act of compassion”

“that is incredibly wonderful! *tears running down face*”

“Gotta get that book.”