JJ had a wonderful life with you and David and I don't think he would have wanted to spend a minute of it anywhere else.. He loved being under his blanket - really cute and gentle and loving boy. Glad to have known him.

Putting down a pet is truly one of the hardest decisions to make in life, or so I have found this far into mine.  I was there with my Afghan, Lilly, till the very end and afterwards was crying so hard that I couldn't get up right away.  I identify with both of you.  Lilly, too, told me when it was time and I know that it meant a lot to her that I didn't leave her side.  Whenever I have lost a pet I find comfort expressing myself by singing this song, Candle on the Water, from Walt Disney's Pete's Dragon (I guess I have always felt that all the pets I've ever felt an attachment to are candles on the water that guide me when I'm lost or missing them):

I'll be your candle on the water,
My love for you will always burn.
I know you're lost and drifting,
But the clouds are lifting,
Don't give up, you have somewhere to turn.

I'll be your candle on the water,
'Til every wave is warm and bright.
My soul is there beside you,
Let this candle guide you,
Soon you'll see a golden stream of light.

A cold and friendless tide has found you,
Don't let the stormy darkness pull you down.
I'll paint a ray of hope around you,
Circling in the air,
Lighted by a prayer.

I'll be your candle on the water,
This flame inside of me will grow.
Keep holding on, you'll make it,
Here's my hand, so take it,
Look for me, reaching out to show,
As sure as rivers flow,
I'll never let you go,
I'll never let you go,
I'll never let you go.

I think it was his sweetness that made him stand out. He radiated peace and comfort. The first time I went to Fee’s I was drawn to him. Fee was pointing out all the dogs and telling me their names and I only really wanted to know the name of the calm old guy lying on the bed by the air-conditioner.

When I was down there a couple of weeks ago, I woke up in the morning looking for coffee and of course got mugged by all the dogs when I left my bedroom. JJ kind of hung back and when he saw a break in the commotion, climbed into my lap and hugged/squished me. I whispered sweet stuff in his ear and he sighed and rested his head on my shoulder. He’d never done that before and I was very honoured to have him give me that little gift of him in my lap. I really loved JJ. I think in some ways he reminded me of Valentino. The quiet dignified old guys always get me.

Fly sweetly with the gods JJ. I’ll miss you.

"Lastly, though I rarely remember my dreams, I had a dream last night that is memorable for what did NOT happen in it. It's hard to call it a dream because the image never changed, yet that is what is so remarkable about it. I dreamed I saw you sitting in a garden with a dog by your side (obviously this image came from our conversation last night). But this was not a picture in my dream – I was in the distance seeing you sitting there with a dog. You were both very much alive but perfectly still and perfectly content. Time passed by and neither of you moved. At one point I worried that something was wrong but from my perspective I could clearly see that nothing was wrong at all. You were both just still in your communion and totally at peace. There was obviously no reason to move about and so I let go of my worry and just felt that contentment too. And that was the whole of the dream – except that it lasted through years and eons and into eternity. Time cannot alter the truth as time cannot affect our love for one another. I know in truth, you and JJ will always be that way..."

JJ now has a gilded coat and one that will set him aside from all the others with just mere fur. It is not many that could wear a coat and always look so proud and regal. that is how I remember JJ. The tears from the heart are the sweetest.

Dear Fee, I am so sorry to hear about JJ. I know how your heart hurts. We said goodbye to Thelli, our older Saluki girl today too. It doesn't matter how old or how sick, it leaves a hole in your heart to say goodbye.  


JJ and Thelli going together: I will picture them so …..Fee