Tina L. Smith This is such a beautiful essay. Thank you.

It reminds me so much of my 2 dogs. I lost one at 8 years of age to cancer and the other at 15 years of age, just because she was very old for a large dog (airedale).

When the first dog died, a friend gave me a copy of a children’s book called Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant. It is not religious, just a sweet comforting story. I thought you might like to check it out.

I am sorry to even need to suggest it. I know only too well how much we want our pets to stay with us forever. All I can say is we find a way to accept that their time with us is short. All we can do is appreciate each day of that glorious unconditional love we receive from them.

I can tell from your story Tina, that is exactly what you do.

Nice to run into you here on Medium via your response to a comment I made to the amazing Sherry McGuinn