| Pearl the Poodle. I only knew
her for one year but she is the dog I will never forget. She arrived on Valentine's Day
1997. The first time I ever saw her she was in an animal shelter in west Kentucky.
She was about 16-17 years old, our vet said. She had been on her own for quite some
time and was picked up as a stray. My sister in law and I bathed and groomed her so
she might be adopted, but she was so weak she had to be held up to finish
the task. The shelter director told me she didn't have much chance of getting
a home at her age. So -- of course I took her home. We fed her a special diet at
first, she couldn't even hold food down she was in such poor condition. For a while we
didn't think she would make it. But -- slowly she recovered. All she had left was her
will to live and the love she gave me. Pearl was my best friend, went
everywhere with me -- yes -- even to the bathroom! Even when I took a shower she
patiently waited on the rug near the tub. I have had many dogs in my lifetime but
never one that was so loving and devoted as Pearl. In that year, we had her on
medication for heart failure. Each time
a problem arose the vet would tell me it could be anytime. Pearl acted very tired
one night so, I let her sleep with me. She usually slept on her bed right
next to mine and I would sleep with my hand on her all night long, petting
her occasionally. At about 4:00 in the morning she had some trouble breathing.
I sat up and held her in my arms and she smiled at me -- gave me a kiss and
said goodbye. It was Valentine's Day -- one year after she arrived that she chose
to leave. Pearl arrived with nothing to offer but love on the day dedicated
to Love and left me on that day - one year later, still loving me till her last
breath.
I'll always have a very special place in
my heart for the old lady who shared one wonderful year with me. I don't know where
she came from but I know she is in a better place now waitin' for me at the
bridge.... JS
*Note - The author
of this letter, Jackie Slayman, passed away on August 19, 2001
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