At about 10:30 AM on Christmas Eve 2013, our gentle giant Rottweiler dog, Drover, headed for the Rainbow Bridge. He died peacefully with Leah, our daughter Sue, and I with him. We felt him breathe his last. Drover worked as a TDI therapy dog visiting old folks' homes bringing great joy to those he met. Around our neighborhood he had many friends, other dogs and humans alike. Drover never behaved aggressively. Because of his massive size, we trained him early on not to jump on people by jumpin up on them. He just sat down and leaned his big blocky head into his new friend'a hip

Our Drover boy will be sorely missed, as anyone who is a "dog person" can understand.

Later, amid some tears on the way homefrom the vet's office for Drover's final treatment, as we turned on to our road, I spied our cat, Mandy, who had been missing for a week. We had given up on finding her after she disappeared. We thought she just went of to die or an eagle or osprey took her. I stopped the car, Sue grabbed the cat and we went home, minus Drover, but with Mandy found and home safe and sound.

What a roller coaster ride of grief and joy!