This letter from Mom - Denise Belcevic to Pepper was written on Sunday, July 9, 2017Pepper

Sweet Pepper,

I cannot begin to put into words the devastating loss I feel after having to make the decision to let you go. The words the doctor whispered, "she's gone mom" haunt me each and every day. I know that you needed to fly from your little broken body and move to a place where you could chase baby bunnies until your heart's content. Your departure was so unexpected and too soon. With time, I pray the hole in my heart and soul will be replaced with the joy we shared. I miss you my Pepper-oni, my Schnoodle-doodle.

Love,

Mom - Denise Belcevic

This letter from Uncle James to Argos was written on Monday, April 10, 2017Argos

Dear Argos,

I'm so sorry that in a few short hours, you will take your last breath. You were such an amazing companion to my sister. You protected her and fought off the two dogs that attacked you both while out on a walk, you were there for her when most of her belongings were stolen, you moved with her all the way to nowhere Kentucky and you simply loved her with everything you had. You put up a good fight for the last year between having part of your jaw removed and chemo, and despite the health issues you were always happy and adapted like a champ. It hardly seemed fair when you started to limp a couple weeks ago and they said the cancer had gotten into your hip. We were told a removal of the leg would cure you, but then discovered the cancer had spread to your lymph nodes. I wish I could take it away buddy and you'd be here for a few more years like you should have been. I'm so sorry but unfortunately, I can't. When we open our homes and our hearts to a pet, we promise to love you and care for you but just as important, we promise to know when it is time to let go and not put you at risk for more pain or suffering. While you were in good spirits yesterday, keeping you here longer only puts you at risk of breaking your hip and being in immense pain. I'm glad I could spend some time with you and say goodbye. Tomorrow, your mom keeps her promise to you and upholds her part of the bargain because she loves you so much. You mom will be incredibly sad but I promise Alex, Grandma, Grandpa, Sophie, Katie and I will watch out for her and we will all think of the good times with you. Tomorrow, you will get to see Abby again and meet Maggie, Ace and Max. Tell them all we miss them and love them still. You have been such a good boy, we will all miss you terribly but now you can go softly into that gentle sleep, you deserve to rest now. You gave everything you had. Thank you for all the love, affection and joy you gave to all of us.

Love Always,

Uncle James

This letter from Mom to My Best Friend, was written on Thursday, March 2, 2017

To My Best Friend,,

Saturday was a tragic day. It happened so suddenly. You were in so much pain. We drove so fast. You were such a brave boy. I was so frantic. You were so calm. Your life rested in my hands. I had to be your voice. I am so utterly sorry.

I wanted to tell you how much I love you… How much I appreciate all you did for me. Everything I asked of you… You made me so proud. How the last five years were some of the best in my life, we made the most fantastic memories together. How you will always be my favorite.

I wanted to thank you for being my shot gun rider, my daily hiking buddy no matter the weather, my partner in grime. Thank you for being so patient, for being so kind, for being a wonderful brother to the critters you left behind. Thank you for loving all of the clients and staff you met and the friendships you created at the Avalon and Bethsaida, they truly looked forward to your arrival every weekend. Thank you for standing by me through thick and thin, for being my rock, for being so loyal. Thank you for putting up with my antics, when dying/dressing you up for Halloween, the Doggles, the nail polish, the various coats and sweaters, the boots, the backpack, the cake smash’s. Thank you for camping with me, for spending hours in a tent in the rain, for not judging me when I couldn’t keep the fire lit, for being my tanning buddy, for listening to me read to you. Thank you for coming into my life, I am so utterly grateful we found each other. Thank you for being such a goofball, for making me laugh, for the way you sat on the couch or a lap, for how you could clear a room with your gas bombs. Thank you for squishing into the back seat of our two door car for your entire time with me. Thank you for accepting all of the animals I ever invited into our house, from critter sitting to rescues off the side of the road to friends to family to Hope, you were there for them all. Thank you for antiquing with me, for the yard sales, for hitting the beaches, for spending hours in the car when on road trips to places like Vermont, Ottawa and Quebec. Thank you for carrying my weight when I felt like I couldn’t. Thank you for motivating me, for always being there. Thank you for coming to photo shoots and letting me pose you over and over again. Thank you for greeting me every day when I arrived home, you were such a forgiving soul. Thank you for all the late nights waiting for me to come home from college for those two years, for waiting for me during my Home Depot shifts. Thank you for being my snuggle buddy, for always being by my side. Thank you for all you have given me and all you have taken with you, you are unforgettable. If I could do it with you… We did it together.

I want you to know that I will take such good care of Lamby for you.

I want you to know how quiet it is in this house now… and how much I hate it. How I can’t bear to wash your drool off our walls, how I want nothing to do with our car. How I am afraid to empty the vacuum canister. How putting your possessions away are killing me. How the cats miss you like crazy. How it keeps snowing and your tracks are being covered up. How I worry so much about you… Not knowing where you are, if you’re warm enough, if you’ve been fed and cared for. How five years was just not enough. How we weren’t nearly done making memories. How I am having an enormously hard time understanding what happened. How I am truly not ready for such considerable loss, how I don’t think I would ever be. How devastated I feel. How broken my heart is.

I’m learning to smile through the days, but you know it’s only pretend. I guess this is goodbye for now. I promise I’ll see you again.

I will never forget you.

Rest in peace buddy.

Love,

Mom

This letter from Daddy to Hero was written on Wednesday, February 15, 2017Hero

Dear Hero,

Since you crossed over yesterday the grief that I feel is indescribable. I'm so sorry that you suffered so much in the past couple weeks but we tried so hard to make you well. You were so brave till the end. You know we loved you no matter what and we thank you for being in our lives for the last 15 years. Mom and Joy and I and all your friends miss you so much. Our house is so empty now without you sitting in your little bed looking over at us ! There are so many beautiful moments we shared I can't list them all. I really miss you licking my face and just holding you next to me. All the places we went and all the walks we went on we're all special times for us. You used to be so stubborn and wanted to be the leader when we walked ! But that was your personality and that's what made you special. You used to love to go on car trips especially when we would go to Temecula and the park ! And we would always stop at el pollo loco and get your grilled chicken ! It's so hard to think of going there without you. I know you are in heaven now and watching over us. And I know when it's my turn to cross over you will be waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge and someday we will all be together again. Knowing this is what keeps me going on without you here next to me. Joy really misses you Hero. She loves you very much. Anyway I will write you again when I can think more clearly. It is hard to write with so many tears in my eyes. I love you so much Hero and I know you know that. I will talk to you soon "Lil He"

Love,

Daddy

This letter from Mommy ❤ to Myles was written on Thursday, February 9, 2017

Sweet Myles,

It's been a year since I last saw you. I miss you everyday! I look at your pictures and videos everyday to remember the short 5 months we had together. You were my baby, like a child to me you grew with me and I miss petting you and seeing you everyday. You have a little brother now. His name is Dallas. He looks just like you and sometimes I think it is you inside his body helping me through every day. It's been really hard for me to get over your death. I listen to your song a lot and cry because I wish I could take that day back. I would take you to another vet so he could help us get you better. I want to have a memorial for you made because you were a huge part of my life. You made my depression go away. You were the angel that god sent me to protect me and get me through my life. I know daddy misses you too but he keeps it together more than I can. The last time I go to see you was hard. I never wanted to let you go. I have your collar still and I have a picture of you hanging in the kitchen so I can see you everyday. I will never let you go Myles. Daniel says he misses you too. You were an amazing dog Myles. You weren't just a dog. You were my rock, my best friend and my saviour. I would do anything to go back to that day to take you off that table and take you home and make all the pain away. Myles I can never replace you. I remember when we got home, I just felt lost. You usually came in behind us and you would run to the couch to be with us. That night was quiet no little footsteps in the hallway. No one in your bed. I just wanted to remember your smell one more time. I bend down to your bed and an overwhelming feeling of disappointment because I was expecting a big kiss from you as I put my face near yours. I know you would love it in Newfoundland. There is so much space around here for you to run around. I hope there is lots of space for you to play and run around with all the other dogs and puppies and doggy heaven. I will see you again soon Myles. You are an amazing puppy. I miss you everyday and the love I have for you will never disappear or go away. I love you Myles. Rest easy. I just want you to know that I know you were in the kitchen that night months after you were gone. You don't have to be scared you can show yourself to me anytime you want. I love you.

Missing You,

Mommy ❤

This letter from Mommy & Daddy to Bijou was written on Monday, January 16, 2017Bijou

Sweet Bijou,

It's only been 3 day's since I last held you in my arms & you took your last breath. With all the kisses & hugs I could muster up your passing just devastated Dad & I. You were our special boy, we went through so much together. You so helped me through my Cinnamon's passing. We adopted Blossom who was 6 mos to the day younger then you. You both just made our lives complete! My cancer & your ear canal's being removed. We were a pair, but we helped each other. You helped me through my cancer but I feel I failed you. The Lymphoma pill didn't work, the radiation didn't work, we started the chemo (palladia) pill it didn't work. You lost control of your back legs, we bought a (wheelchair) cart for you & you couldn't balance, you could stand to go outside even with us helping you. We washed you dried you, fed you & most lovingly loved you unconditionally as you did for us! Our home is empty, Blossom is not sure where you are. We are so sad, we miss you so much! I hear Dad crying in his office & in the the bedroom. He hears me crying everywhere. I'm not sure how we will go on without you. You didn't just take a piece of our heart, you took all! Dad love to spoil both of you, he loved you sitting by his chair during dinner & putting your head under his arm while he ate! No matter what I said, your manners I could not curve! We started to allow you 2 to sleep with us. During the night you would shimmy up to Dad's pillow & put your head on that pillow, Dad would turn his head & get a big wet kiss from his boy! Bijou, we so loved that! I loved you sleeping in between, it was just too cute! My sweet boy, you have no idea how much our hearts are broken. I miss you so much & every time I thing the tears have stopped, the flow starts again. I can't even think of driving back to CA. without you sleeping on my lap pretty much the whole trip (Blossom was not happy with that). You loved the stops at McDonalds for your egg & the hamburger's for lunch. That special treat we did when we traveled with you both. I cannot say good bye, it's too hard! We love you buddy, our little beastie boy!

Love Always,

Mommy & Daddy

This letter from Mama (Yvania) to Damon was written on Tuesday, January 3, 2017Damon

Sweet Damon,

It's been 1 year since our last moments together. They seem so fleeting still. I still regret how short of a time we had together but if I had to change anything I would not change a thing. With you, I learned something I had never known before which is the ability to love so unconditionally. And it was that unconditional love I have for you that obligated me to have to let you go.

I often feel you here with me. I can finally laugh and smile when I think of you. It took me some time to get here though I find myself crying as I write this note as a cool fall night descends upon us I cannot help but wish you were here with me as my own personal space heater.

Poopy nose I miss the way you tossed your toys around, how you would bite into my shopping bags, how no shoelace was safe, you sneaking into my closet to nap and our Sundays on the couch curled up with the blanket.

I hope you have everything you need and you are as healthy as the day we met without the pain and discomfort you felt on your last few days with me. I am sure you have all the treats and toys your heart desires.

Thank you for your time here with me, making me laugh and bringing me the most joy of my life.

I miss you every day and know some day I'll allow another kitty to try and fill your paws but know you will always be my first love.

Love Always,

Mama (Yvania)

This letter from Mommy to Jack was written on Thursday, November 24, 2016Jack

Dear Jack,

I miss you so much little buddy. I wish we had more time together. I'm sorry that I got aggravated with you near the end. I'm sorry that I wasn't the most patient mama. I feel like it was selfish to let you go because I couldn't watch you falling apart anymore. You were always such a good boy. I loved living in Boston with you and taking you on the T and letting you bark at the swan boats. Remember when you almost bit the maintenance man's hand? I miss you when I'm on walks with the girls. It feels strange to not be tripping over you when I'm on walks. 11 years, despite my best efforts, and you never figured out how to stop getting under my feet. I miss snuggles with you. I'm sorry I didn't pick you up and put you on the bed every night. It's been almost 3 months since you're gone and I still cry all the time. I know if you were here you'd be licking my salty face. I never realized just how bonded we were, and I wish I could go back and love you better. I feel like I wasn't good enough for you. I didn't deserve to be loved so much by you. You were my boy. You were so loyal and goofy. I miss your whole body wag and the way we would "talk" when I got home. Dammit I miss you so much. I even miss tripping over you. I hated watching you get old, and watch your heart get worse, and watch your body betray you. I couldn't watch your legs giving out, and when you would look so confused walking around the house. We lived for in the same house for 8 years and you looked around like you'd never been there before. It broke my heart to see your mind slowly deteriorate. It hurt to realize that you were walking in front of me all the time because you had gone blind and didn't know where you were going. There's so much I wish we could have done to fix you, but I know there wasn't anything. Dr. Amy told me I shouldn't feel this way but I do. I would have lost everything if it meant I could save you. I miss the clicking of your nails on the floor when you would start to fret at night and pace the house. I miss holding you like a baby. I know it annoyed you but you tolerated me and let me do it anyway. I was so worried about you falling down the stairs when you'd get there before me. It's strange for me not to have to vacuum everyday to get all that white hair up. White hair on everything, people thought I had a cat. I told them "nope, my baby Jack, who's allergic to cats." I still think it's hilarious that you're allergic to cats. You were a special one Doodle. Special in every meaning of the word. Gloria misses feeding you tomatoes and lettuce. I miss searching for treats that you aren't allergic to. You and Jade were with me in the hardest times of my life, and I wouldn't have survived if I didn't have you two. I loved you so much and I hope that I at least showed you that and treated you well while you were her on this Earth. I know I'll see you again. I hope you'll forgive me if I wasn't the best mama. I just want to be able to hold you and hug you again. I couldn't let go of you after you died. I held you for so long and cried. I felt like I let you down. Everybody says I did right by you for your whole life with me but I'll never feel like I did enough for you. You were my protector. You wouldn't ever let anyone hurt me. You picked who you liked, and I trusted your judgement. If you didn't like them, I didn't trust them. I wish you were still here. I know you were old, but sometimes I feel like there was more I could do. I wish I had been nicer, cuddled more, yelled less, loved on you more often. The girls miss you too. They smelled your bed and wouldn't lay in it for the longest time. We all miss you my little angel. I love you so much

Love,

Mommy

This letter from Mama to Damon was written on Saturday, October 8, 2016

Sweet Damon,

It's been 9 months since our last moments together. They seem so fleeting still. I still regret how short of a time we had together but if I had to change anything I would not change a thing. With you, I learned something I had never known before which is the ability to love so unconditionally. And it was that unconditional love I have for you that obligated me to have to let you go.

I often feel you here with me. I can finally laugh and smile when I think of you. It took me some time to get here though I find myself crying as I write this note as a cool fall night descends upon us I cannot help but wish you were here with me as my own personal space heater.

Poopy nose I miss the way you tossed your toys around, how you would bite into my shopping bags, how no shoelace was safe, you sneaking into my closet to nap and our Sundays on the couch curled up with the blanket.

I hope you have everything you need and you are as healthy as the day we met without the pain and discomfort you felt on your last few days with me. I am sure you have all the treats and toys your heart desires.

Thank you for your time here with me, making me laugh and bringing me the most joy of my life.

I miss you every day and know some day I'll allow another kitty to try and fill your paws but know you will always be my first love.

Love Always,

Mama

This letter from Dad to Rufus was written on Tuesday, October 4, 2016Rufus

Dear Rufus,

You showed up at my front door one day out of the blue. I didn’t know what your actual name was so I thought Rufus seemed to fit you rather nicely (Hope you liked the name). How incredibly sweet and what a handsome face. How could I resist? You were wearing only a flea collar and you had been fixed. You certainly appeared healthy (weight wise). Why on earth would you be roaming around all alone in the neighborhood? How could someone just leave you? I have always imagined that it was a hard choice for them to make. Maybe they thought you would be better off on your own outside. Who knows. However, the one thing that I do know is it turned out to be one of the biggest blessings of my life.

You quickly acclimated yourself to the house and your new surroundings. Maggie and your kitty step sisters Isabel and Sophia graciously welcomed you in. I’ll never forget how wonderful it was when you would walk up and down the side of the bed demanding lots of belly and chin rubs. And when you had your fill of those, you would curl up beside me with one outstretched paw placed on my arm and gently doze off to sleep. You slept with our paw like this for such a long time – the first few years if I remember correctly. I thought it was incredibly sweet but at the same time I had a feeling it was because you wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to leave you like someone had before. I can tell you that is something that would never have happened in a million years my sweet boy. Never.

I wanted to write this so that you would know how much you meant to me and what a profound mark you left on my heart. You were not perfect – not even close. But then again, neither was I. With everything we went thru though, I would not change a thing. That is because I love you, plain and simple.

Spending the entire day with you on what would turn out to be your last day here before heading off to heaven was a very hard and yet freeing experience for me. In no way was I ready for you to go, but on the other hand it was nice to just sit and reflect over the time we had together. I’m very sad that I wasn’t there for your last breath but I have a feeling you didn’t want me to be there either. Your sister Isabel was with you and that eases the pain a little. I wish I could have said goodbye my sweet little guy, but I think that is what you were trying to avoid. So when I went to take a call you quietly departed with Isabel there to help you. I understand. I have never been that great at goodbyes myself either.

Thanks again for being such a good listener. Our late night talks will definitely be missed. More importantly though, thanks for all the love. Hopefully I showed you how much I care and love you while you were here.

So goodbye for now sweet boy – Until we see each other again. Love you !!

Talk to you on Wednesday (only you will get this)

(PS – I hope you don’t mind but I put the picture of the painting I did of you – It’s from when we first met --- Haven’t seen my heart since )

Love,

Dad