Dear Editor,
Losing a family pet is a painful experience. Pets become a part
of our families and we love them. I always knew that, loving my dog
the way I did, it was going to be very hard when the time came that
I had to say goodbye to him.
Dear Editor,
Losing a family pet is a painful experience. Pets become a part of our families and we love them. I always knew that, loving my dog the way I did, it was going to be very hard when the time came that I had to say goodbye to him. After 13 years of Spike being a part of our family, that day came a week ago. It was hard news to accept that there was nothing that could be done for him.
My house is not the same without Spike around. In the morning he is no longer there by my bed to greet me, and when I come home at the end of the day he is not laying in the doorway making it hard for me to open the front door. It’s amazing how they become so like people to us. I talked to Spike just like he was a person. I was told that border collies understood at the 3-year-old human level, and I believe that. My husband (and sometimes I) would always take Spike and Hank, our black labrador on long walks around town. Maybe you have seen the man with the two dogs walking by your house. Many people know our dogs. As Spike got older he would bring up the rear on our walks. He suffered from arthritis but always would happily walk even if it meant that he would be sore after.
The reason I’m writing this is twofold. Writing about my dog is healing for me but more importantly we both want to thank Dr. Greg Martinez and Dr. Dennis Harrigan as well as the wonderful, caring staff of Gilroy Veterinary Hospital for their kind compassion and thoughtfulness during this most difficult time. What a surprise to find a rose and a card on my doorstep when I arrived home from work! That you would take the time to bring this to our house comforted us tremendously. We know that you genuinely care and understand our feelings of loss. Thank you so much.
Ermelindo and Mary Ann Puente, Gilroy
