This letter from Mom Dad L and M to Casey was written on Sunday, August 21, 2011

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

This letter from Your Mama, Staci to Vegas was written on Thursday, August 18, 2011

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

This letter from Uncle Emilio to Bran was written on Monday, July 25, 2011

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

This letter from Your Stefani to Toonces was written on Wednesday, July 20, 2011

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

This letter from Sarah to Mohawk was written on Monday, July 11, 2011Mohawk

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

This letter from Chloe to Sweetheart was written on Wednesday, June 29, 2011Sweetheart

Dear Sweetheart,

I have refused to think about your death and life for so long because it broke me down that winter night... it broke my heart, I was so lost. I am so, so sorry. I wasn't there for you when you needed me most, I am so sorry. You have no idea how much I hate my cowardliness for not being there while you died. I was so afraid of my emotions, of how I might react, I had never allowed myself to feel that deeply before. You gave me freedom my beautiful girl. The stable didn't like us very much but that was okay... for the first time to me that was okay if someone didn't like me, because I had you. You were the most spirited mare in the whole place, no one could run faster and no one had as much zest for life. To this day I wish I spent more time with you than I did, I let life and all it's complications take me away from you. Please please forgive me for leaving you. I had to go away for a while, I loved you very much... I just couldn't stay. I wasted two years away from you and I was too ashamed to see you because I felt like I had abandoned you. I love you so much and I wish you were still here today so that I could tell you that. You were the most amazing companion I could have ever asked for. I only wish that I could have been that for you. As I touched your still warm body they said you had passed just a few moments before I got there. It was like you were still alive, your body was still warm, I wanted the whole world to disappear because I had lost my shelter and my friend. You were an extension of my soul, that is how I saw you and now I hope you are in peace, I hope you are up there with Jesus and he is stroking your nose and you have fields to run through. You deserve the world my queen. One day I hope you can forgive me for abandoning you. I can only promise you this... I swear that from this day forward I will make it a duty and calling to care with as much of my time and energy as I can for all animals I am blessed to encounter. I am about to adopt a horse named Cheif, I struggled with how you might feel about it but I believe that you would have been okay with it. You would have liked him. He will teach me much and I know that... but he will never take your place. You will always be my little Arabian free spirit, my queen, my teacher my friend. I love you, I love you so much. I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.

Forever always in my heart. Forever always a part of my soul.

Peace,

Chloe

This letter from Mommy to Amber was written on Monday, June 27, 2011

Dear Amber,

You have made our house a home these past 16 years. I am remembering the times we have had together as I happen by them on my travels. Many of these memories had been forgotten until now.

I remember when you were able to take long walks and enjoy the fresh air and know that you are in heaven with my dad and with Grandma and others running through the fields and enjoying their company.

I feel a bit lost without you. Don't really have a reason to rush home after work to an empty house. Kitty is here and offers some support but miss your smiling face and walks to go outside.

I dropped off many of your supplies to the kennel you stayed in a couple of weeks ago and hope another senior dog and their mom will have good use for them. I kept your beds and the covers for the car seats.....just can't part with everything. Kitty is enjoying the beds.

Your ashes in the house provide some comfort to me. I have received many cards from those who have memories to share. Not sure if I can part with your ashes or where to put them at least for now.

I am so glad we were able to have that last weekend together and for you to be at peace at home. Mommy loves you.

Love,

Mommy

This letter from owner Ali to Hannah was written on Tuesday, June 14, 2011Hannah

Dear Hannah,

I never knew how much damage i would have when you left.I knew you wanted to leave,you were in so much pain.And it hurts me to say that for my satisfaction i made you stay with me when really it wasn't about me being happy it was about you.i kept you her trapped in pain just so i was happy when you weren't happy and you were in pain.so i am so sorry.You had a great long life for a dog with arthritis that could barley walk,a heart mum er,brain cancer,and water in you lungs.You ment the world to me,i wish i spent every waking secound with you,i know i didnt now that im older,and no matter what i did or or what i said you always loved me.you were my best friend,probably my favorite (person) in the family.Even if people said that dogs dont go to heaven,i know that god would make a special place in heaven just for you.I miss you so much.

Love,

owner Ali

This letter from mitch & stella too. to TrixieLU was written on Sunday, May 29, 2011TrixieLU

Dear TrixieLU,

Dearest dearest BabyLU. Thank you for making your way to me. We only had 16 months together, but I could not have asked for a sweeter, funnier, more loving little terrier to guard over me and fill my days with fun. I couldn't believe when the shelter asked me to take you home - after the other dogs, you were kind of like having a cat! SO small, but fierce, oh my lord you were fierce. And SO determined. And so funny. And so so so loving. I loved kissing your little snout and I treasured our special greeting every single morning. I loved stopping at Tim's to buy donuts just for you and I loved pulling other dogs' hair out of your teeth when you thought they'd get too close to me. I slept in bed last night - first time in weeks. I will miss you getting me up for your pee at 5AM and I'll miss how you came to me for comfort time and again, esp these last weeks together, when you were feeling so rough. I'd do anything LU, to take away your discomfort and your fear. Please, please be on the other side and wait for me. It's truly all I want from this life, is to see you, and all my dogs again. Please god, make it so. I love you little one. I just love you so.

Love,

mitch & stella too.

This letter from Dawn to Jenny was written on Monday, May 23, 2011

Dear Jenny,

I remember you vividly, even to this day. You and I grew up together. You were the only friend when I was a child that never judged me. You never made me feel inferior because I am permanently disabled. You accepted me as though I was just your sister and not some cripple you were stuck with. I will never forget the day dad had you put down because at age almost 16 you developed throat cancer. Mother took me to get my hair done but, she made sure I knew when I got home, you would be gone. Jenny, I will never forget your goodbye to me. I will never forget the love I had and STILL have for you. Jenny, my first dog and my first REAL friend, please wait for me in Heaven. I want to see you again. Oh I love you so much. It has been many years now since I was sixteen and you were sixteen and dying. That night I wanted to go with you. Now, at age forty four, I really wish I had. All my love and thank you my Labradoodle before they were popular. Jenny, you will never know how to brightened my world. I have had and do have dogs and cats now, still but, I will never forget my first and very best friend. Dear God, please take care of my Jenny. She still means the world to me. Jenny, thank you and I love you very much, I always, always will!! Love, Dawn

Love,

Dawn