Dear Casey,

On Aug 7th after a completely normal day, Casey would not eat dinner, even the hotdogs we were having. She went upstairs and laid at the top of the stairs. She then moved to our sons bed and was panting and breathing very heavily. We knew something was wrong. By 7:00 we were on the way to the vet. They told us you had fluid on your heart caused by cancer. You never let on that something was wrong. By 9:30 you were gone and we still can not believe it. we are glad you did not suffer for a long time, but the whole in our hearts in really sad. You were the best, very quirky, had a mind of your own. I miss our morning routine of a rub at the top of the stairs and a treat and out. You always told me at night when it was time for the dishes. You learned quickly to ring bells to go out and even quicker that if Dad had ice cream and you rang the bells he would get up,put the ice cream down and you would sneak past and jump into his chair and help yourself. Funny girl..a corgi golden mix and so beautiful. You were best friends to the kids and tolerated all the fosters came and went. Ofcourse you had your favorites, but know more favorite than your beloved Jack who also left us way too soon. When I would look out and see your tail wagging a mile a minute I would know he had come across for his visit with you. So I guess you are running the fields with Jack now but you need to know we will always love you and thank you for the 8 years of unconditional love. We were not prepared to loose you but you know you were the stepping stone to L's love of animal work and as she soon goes off to college to study animal behavior know that you were a big part of her taking this path. M misses you more than words can say but we know he will find his way using his many happy memories of you to help him through. The house is too quiet and I miss you so much. Thank you for choosing us and loving us. Who knew the funny little dog with the big ears (almost as big as your body) would be such a wonderful addition to our lives. You've got your wings now beautiful friend...and you will always live in our hearts.

Love,
Mom Dad L and M

Dear Vegas,

It has been 2 weeks since you went to sleep and each day I hope to find comfort in the fact you are no longer suffering...I feel so selfish that day has not yet reached me. I adopted you at a time when we were both broken, but together we healed. I could not have asked for a more loving, sweet or personality filled baby. My heart breaks each time I walk into the house and realize you will not be trotting toward me wagging your tail. I know somewhere you are eating hot dogs at the speed of light and bossing all those other poor doggies around because those were your 2 specialties...besides of course loving your family unconditionally. I would not exchange the sorrow I feel now for all the love, joy, & wonderful memories that you have supplied me but I just wish it didn't hurt so much! It would be a disservice to you if this letter was only filled with my sadness. I need to tell you how much you have done for me. You taught me that love is good & kind, & should never hurt. You taught me to go after what I want...even if I sometimes have to whine just a little bit to get my way :) You were always the last face I looked at before I went to sleep & the first face I saw in the morning...sometimes to your daddy's dismay because he was not a stranger to getting forced out of the bed my your strong, short, chubby legs! I am fortunate to have had you in my life 8 of your 13 years. It was a good run. I can't wait to see you again...but until then, I hope you know how much your family loves & misses you. See you on the other side my sweet poopers!!!!

Love,
Your Mama, Staci

Dear Bran,

The floors that were scratched have now been refinished and soon so the carpet where you soundly slept.

I know when we "talk" that you are right there to listen; but oh, how I wish to see your smiling face once more, to call out "where's my boy" when I enter our home, to hold you and call you my little angel, my baby boy.

At the bridge of the rainbows I’ll find you I know but what about now when I need you the most?


Note: Bran, a Kerry Blue Terrier and the love of my life went to sleep in my arms June 17th 2011. He was 14 1/2. We tried everything; chemo, holistic therapy, no expense was too much just to hold onto him a few months more. But we knew that for his sake we had to let him go.

Love,
Uncle Emilio

Dear Toonces,

It's 5 years since you died. I still miss you so much. You don't know.

Toonces, I am so sorry for every time I lost touch with the truth that you were the love of my life. You know I always respected you. You filled me with respect, awe, adoration, and love for you. Neither of us was perfect. But together, we were luminous.

I try to keep you in my heart. I worry that I will forget your smell. I worry I will forget the stories of us.

But the pain I feel when I think of how your life ended never leaves me, and the yearning for you never leaves me.

Toonces, every love song makes me think of you. And when I close my eyes, I wish nothing but to feel you close.

I am so lonely without you. Things are so hard now. I don't have my best friend. I don't have my love.

Toonces, if I could go back in time, I would go back to 1999. In the apartment we both loved, where we were both happy. You in the window. Me dancing in the living room. Cuddling with you on the couch. Walking with you in the yard.

Sometimes we don't know that this is one of the moments we would give anything to hold in time.

I stared at your beauty. You were the most beautiful think I'd ever seen. And the smell of you was home to me. To be with you was heaven.

I am so sorry. I am so sorry that I left you at that horrible place. At that horrible vets. I should never have trusted them.

I can't stand to think about what you went through after they overdosed you, alone without me. Leaving you brain damaged from the insulin overdose.
Toonces, I would give my arms, my legs, my ability to walk, I would give anything to have that day back. I would give anything to save you. Please forgive me.

Please know that you are and will always be the love of my life. I am crying for you so hard. I will never stop.

When I am dying I will close my eyes, and dream that I am coming to you. I don't know about afterlife, but I know this:

My last thought will be of you. Love of you, desire to be with you.

You are my heart. Thank you for being my boy. I can never tell you how much you feel my heart. Please know how much I love you every day, forever.

Love,
Your Stefani

Dear Mohawk,

I can't believe your really gone, it still doesn't seem real to me. You were only sixteen months old when you went to live with Jesus. I can't eat or sleep and the spot on my bed is empty. My heart is forever broken when I see only one cat sleeping on the rocking chair. And when I cry there is nobody to wipe the tears off my face with their fluffy grey hair. I love it when you would wake up in the night and rub against my face and purr, and curl up by my face. I love it when you jump on my back when I come home from a long day, I love the sound of your purring, and the sound of your meow, and the way you look at me with your eyes when I open a container of yogurt for breakfast. I miss watching you try to catch the bugs on the grass, or stalk the leaves that blow in the wind. I miss watching you and Tigger "fight" and "wrestle". I miss seeing you in the tree's, and watching you torture mice that bravely wander into our yard. I miss the way you sniffed my nose when I would call your name and ask for a kiss. I miss seeing little grey paws appear under the door while I am in the bathroom. I Love chasing you around the house and when you jump into boxes and hide in them and pretend I can't see you! (even though the box is open) I miss taking you on car rides. I miss the squeaky sound you made whenever you were stalking something (lazer light, bugs mice, leaves etc.). I miss the way you would look at me and respond to me whenever I was talking to you, I miss the conversations we had. You taught me how to love others, and how to be tough when hard times came. You taught me that there is always loving you and waiting for you to come home. There are no words to describe my love for you. But never forget that I LOVE YOU. And I know we will see eachother again someday, and I will once again be able to cradle you in my arms.

Missing You,
Sarah