When mobile vet Dr. Lisa Tuzo arrived, after a morning when I dreaded the noise of every car parking on our street, it was clear that our 16-year-old sheltie Beau was in a bad way, immobile on his fleece bed.

He had however been his younger self in his dreams, able-bodied in his imagination until the very end, including the morning of his euthanasia, when his paws twitched in his sleep as he chased seagulls.

Dr. Tuzo explained how my husband’s mantra, “He’s just old,” was what I wanted to hear, even though I felt he was deteriorating markedly and in fact not just old. Sure, old dogs sleep a lot, but heavy heavy sleep indicates the fog of kidney failure and that the pet is in a bad way. Lamont feels that “everything living wants to live,” and would not be inclined to euthanize a pet. I however did not want Beau to suffer seizures, tremors or undue suffering, which is why the information from Dr. Tuzo and another mobile vet about end-stage kidney failure and potential suffering was valuable.
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Griffin is a 4-year old Golden Retriever. He has a special job as a Certified Therapy Dog. He visits hospitals, nursing homes, and reads with children in a remedial reading classroom. In the hospital, Griffin has shown a special talent of finding where patients are feeling pain. He puts his head there and rests it gently, trying to comfort him/her. He has done this time and time again bringing tears to the staff, patient, and occupational therapy students who accompany us on our visits. He has inspired children to read over the years by bringing them a new excitement and interest in reading, while giving them a soft, warm, unconditional affection that cannot equal any other. He is truly a gift and he keeps on giving and giving and givng in his own unconditional way, never looking for anything in return but love and attention. He has followed in the footsteps of Cody, our first Golden Retriever Therapy Dog, who I believe left his wonderful spirit behind to keep his work going through Griffin.

Donna from CT

We once had a long-haired Akita (Bambi) and a pitbull (Boo). Both were females, and they got on wonderfully.

Once, when Boo had to have a foxtail removed from her nose (requiring an overnight stay at the vet), Bambi just moped. At this point, Peewee (our elderly Chihuahua-mix) had already been put to sleep. Bambi thought Boo wasn’t coming back.

Boo was still a bit groggy from the anesthetic when she came home. She just climbed up into her favorite chair and curled up. I could just imagine what the conversation between Boo and Bambi must have been like:
“WHERE have you been? I missed you!
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I am looking forward to reading all about Sprite, I pre-ordered and hopefully will receive the book today.
I have been lucky enough to have retired Greyhounds as my pets. My first Greyhound died after having him for only a couple of years and it nearly destroyed me. After a few weeks I went back to our Greyhounds As Pets Kennel and decided to adopt two more Greyhounds…since then one passed away from Cancer but my other Greyhound is doing great and now I have another female Greyhound.
I love these dogs more than anything I could possibly love, the love they bring to me each and everyday is unbeliveable.
Yes it hurts when they have to leave us but the joy while we have them far surpasses the hurt.
Please consider adopting a Greyhound if you want a loyal and great friend.

WANT A FAST FRIEND? ADOPT A GREYHOUND.

MARK LEVIN…you are a GODSEND.

Dan from FL

My husband brought home an abandoned dog. She was skinny, had a stomach infection, heartworms and was blind in one eye. After spending one week at the Vets and much love, she got well. She turned out to be a loving dog. We had her for thirteen years. She had a stroke, and we had to put her to sleep. I thought my heart would break. That was twenty years ago, and I still miss my sweet “Susie”

Helen from MD

I’m a nurse (formerly in Republican political media work) who does both critical care and home care/hospice. I’ve had a dog and/or cat since I was a year old. I’ve been following your Sprite story on the radio, and just purchased the book. It will be read and re-read and placed in the vast library we have at home of must-keep books, and will be among many we have about animals, both here and the here-after.

Saw you on H&C tonight, and it felt almost like a personal intrusion into your grief, still felt. Thank you for being on and Sean definitely shared your grief – one of my patients saw the program as I was caring for her, and she is a DEVOUT lover of her animals…they help immensely to heal and to aid when nothing man can do, will ever do. Most of my patients want their animals right with them during illness, esp. those that are terminal, and I’ll stop at nothing to make that happen, in-patient or not.
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