Dear Val,

I hope you are well and wish you and Animal Samaritans the best for 2009.

I'm very sad to say that on Friday, Sidney went to sleep for the last time. Amazingly he was 16 years old (possibly 17 if we knew his exact date of birth). He was the centre of my life from day one and he very quickly showed I was the centre of his. I'm feeling devastated at the moment and miss him so much, but will never regret giving him a new home and the chance to give him 4 extra years, happy years I might add. The depressed little dog Animal Samaritans kindly took in very quickly became the happiest dog I know.

Last Summer the vet diagnosed that Sid had Diabetes, as my late Mothers dog became diabetic I knew what was involved and the expense. Please don't worry about the cost, I had the time to manage his treatment and got the funds together to pay for them. Obviously his Cushing's disease complicated things but I promise you that with the vets help I never let him suffer. It was only in the last month that the effects of the Cushing's progressed to the point where he was housebound, and often couldn't get out of his bed quickly enough to have a wee plus Cataracts and diabetes meant he lost the last of his sight very quickly. It was amazing to see how he developed techniques to find his way around with only a little help from me in no time at all. He loved his food to the end, I'd give him his insulin injections when he was eating and he didn't even flinch! Just before Christmas his vet said I should think about his quality of life which I didn't want to hear but was expecting. I didn't mind the work involved in looking after him, but I asked the vet to tell me "when it was time" if I didn't realise it. As it happened "I just knew" on the morning of his last day that it would be unfair to let him struggle on and I was worried that he was in pain, even though he would still happily go to sleep in my arms and was as loving as ever. I was having a job holding back the tears when I got to the surgery so the girls there gave me a room to wait in which I appreciated as it let me spend some time in private with Sid. The vet said I had "done a wonderful" job looking after Sid but, after he had checked Sid he looked over to me with a nod to confirm what I knew needed to be done. It was very quick and Sid probably didn't think it was any different from the tests and injections he'd had over the years and of course I was with him so he would have felt safe. I brought him home and he's at rest in a little bit of the garden he used to explore to the end.

Sorry if that all sounds a bit "sloppy", but I loved him very much and I'm not afraid to say so. Let me assure you that he had a great "second life" with me and I imagine had some freedom I don't think he enjoyed before. I know the vets seem to charge the earth, but the surgery I always took him too were very good, and Mark Hurst was great and helped me give Sid those extra years - he was often astonished how well Sid remained despite his ailments. My neighbours were all sad to hear Sid had gone, and one who used to join us for our walks was as tearful as me. He was a very much loved little dog. In time I'd like to add some pictures of him to the website gallery, and also write a piece for the magazine extolling the joys of rehoming an older dog.

Finally, thank you so much for letting me give Sid a home, words and pictures can't do justice to the difference he made to my life, he kept me going every bit as much as I helped him. If his previous owner is still in touch you can assure her that he had a wonderful time here, was much loved by all who knew him, and wasn't allowed to suffer when his ailments became too many.

Kind Regards
Graham Williams

Dear Chris

I spoke to you some time back (early October 2008 - after I had lost my beautiful cat, Emma). You put my letter to her and photograph on your bereavements page on the website.  I just wanted to tell you something.

You and I spoke about the Animals Eden/Rainbow Bridge when I telephoned you.  Time has gone by and I still miss Emma dreadfully. I have not replaced her and don’t think I ever will.  She died on September 30th. Unfortunately, up until now, I have never felt her spirit or dreamt about her since the day she died.  WELL ………….

In the early hours of yesterday morning, I had this dream. It was so real, I can still see it all very clearly.

I was on my knees in a garden and I was either weeding or planting. My attention was drawn to my left-hand side. Sitting beside me was my Emma and she was just sitting looking at me. I noticed that one of her front legs was extremely damaged. It was bloody and there was no fur.  Sitting next to Emma was her absolute double.  I was so surprised that I had seen Emma, I was making loud noises in my sleep which woke my husband up. I did not wake up myself but did hear myself wailing.  Anyway, I like to think I have worked out what my dream meant.

I was in the Animals Eden (or maybe my own garden but I did not recognise it as my own garden). Emma’s bad leg was how I last saw her as the vet carried her back into the surgery after putting in the catheter to put Emma to sleep. Emma had come to a garden with her “identical reincarnation” to tell me that she has now arrived in the Animals Eden and that she is absolutely fine.

What do you think of my dream. It was so real. I still cry when I go into the room where Emma used to sleep. I keep her ashes in there in a little box and underneath the box, I have a printout about the Animals Eden. I stroke her photographs and talk to her every day and tell her how much I love her.

I hope you are well.  I hope you can find the time to reply to my e-mail. It would be nice to hear your thoughts.

With very best wishes.
Wendy Mercer