My fondest memory of GRACE will be from the evening on which I found her wandering forlornly through the farmlands adjacent to our county landfill: She was exhausted, starving and dehydrated. She watched with interest as I set up a clean, soft bed for her in the quarantine area and then brought her a bowl of water and some food--expecting her to immediately head for same. As I encouraged GRACE to help herself to the offerings, she instead came over and sat down right in front of me, look into my eyes, smiled a doggy grin and with a gently wagging tail she extended her left paw to me in a graceful gesture of friendship. She never again made that gesture. GRACE died less than ten days later from congestive heart failure....at only about two years of age she tested heavy positive for Heartworms. I am honored to have had GRACE consider me a friend; and, thus, by extension each of you who read of her gentleness of Spirit on these pages. Thank you for caring, create a great day for yourself and others....and, remember to "Be Kind To Animals". Barbara (Shelter Mom) P.S. I hope you each enjoy the attached "Dog Heaven" story.... > A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was just enjoying > the scenery, when he came to the realization that he was dead. > He remembered dying and that his dog had been dead for years. > He wondered where the road was leading them. > After a while they came to a high white stone wall along one side of the > road. > It looked like fine marble. > At the top of a long hill it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the > sunlight. When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate > between the arches that looked like mother gold. > He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer he saw a man > at a desk to one side. > When he was close enough he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?" > "This is heaven, sir," the man answered. > "Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked. > "Of course, sir. Come right in and I'll have some ice water brought to > you." > "Can my dog come in too?" the traveler asked. > "I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets." > > The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and > continued the way he had been going. > After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, the man > came to a dirt road which led through a farm gate that looked as if it > had never been closed. There was no fence. > As he approached the gate he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree > and reading a book. > "Excuse me" he called to the reader, "Do you have any water?" > "Yes, there's a pump right over there." The man pointed to a place > that couldn't be seen from outside the gate. "Come on in." > "How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog. > "There should be a bowl by the pump." > They went through the gate and, sure enough, there was an old fashioned > hand pump with a bowl beside it. > The traveler filled the bowl and took a long drink himself. > When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man, who was > standing by then, waiting for them. "What do you call this place?" he > asked. > "This is heaven," was the answer. > "Well, that's confusing," he said, "the man down the road said that was > heaven too." > "Oh, you mean the place with the street of gold and the pearly gates? > That's hell." > "Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?" > "No. I can see how you might think so, but we're just happy that > they screen out the people who would leave their dogs behind......." > > Copied from letter by: > Tellmelfel@aol.com

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GRACE's People Parent(s), WOODLAND RETREAT, would appreciate knowing you have visited their GRACE's Memorial Residency.

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