Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.
... Anatole France
In Loving Memory...
SPOT (affectionately, "TUBBY") 12/31/05
Dear Spot,
You arrived to our rescue on December 29, 2005.
When you came off the transport van, all 66 pounds of your 8 year old beagle/bassett body was just happy to be alive. We took you to the vet and you got your shots, and just to make sure, a blood panel. We figured you had a thyroid problem, something we could fix, or at least work with.
But we were wrong. The tumor inside you was larger than a football, crushing your organs and making you bleed internally. The odds were more than against you, and you were obviously uncomfortable. The vet said there was little time. So I took you home, gave you a soft blanket to sleep on, some warm food, and lots of love. You slept like you hadn't slept in a hundred years, exhausted from the stress of the past week. You were happy to be in a home.
You wagged your tail. You licked my arm. I tried not to show how much I was sorry that this was how it was going to end. And I tried to give you as much love as I possible could, because that was all I could do for you.
What kills me more than anything is that you were dumped by someone you had loved for 8 years, but went to the bridge with ME telling you that I loved you. Me, who you've known for about 48 hours. Me, who had such high hopes that you could live out your years with someone who wouldn't let you down. Me, who can't stop crying because of how terrible it is for you to spend your last days like this- in a pound, on a loud transport truck, at a kennel, at the vet, and one last night at a stranger's house who tried desperately to make it up to you. And I couldn't. It is impossible to make up to you the betrayal you must have felt. And that I feel.
So, in the morning, you had a breakfast of 2 cheesy hot dogs, and for lunch, Chicken McNuggets. And I loved you as much as someone could love a dog they have known for 48 hours, and hope that you know that my heart is broken, and that I really do love you. And when we went to the vet, I stood beside you as you went to The Bridge. I whispered that it was okay, and that I loved you, over and over again, until you couldn't hear me anymore. And my heart hurts today. And the tears still come. But I promise you, that the end of your life will be a beginning for others, and that your life has so much meaning. It doesn't matter that someone else didn't see it, because I saw it. And I wished for so much more for you than this.
Spot, though your spirit is elsewhere running free and happy, your ashes will come back to me. And you will serve as a reminder of all of the pets that will never spend their last night in a home, will never go to the bridge with someone who loves them whispering "I love you", for all the pets who are forgotten and thrown away to leave this world in a gas chamber or on a concrete floor. I promise you, Spot, that your spirit and memory will be the guiding force of this rescue's future.
And I promise, Spot, you will never be forgotten.
To those who actually read this, give your dog or cat a kiss, and promise to never leave him in the arms of a stranger when it comes time to go.
Every pet deserves to leave this earth with someone who loves them standing beside them.
God Speed, Spot.
I love you.
Dawn Kemper
Executive Director
Young At Heart Pet Rescue
If you would like to make a donation in memory or in honor of a loved family member,
please click on "Donate Today!" and indicate who you are making the
donation in memory/in honor of in the notes.
Please email pictures separately or you may snail mail them to
Young At Heart
PO Box 1293
Palatine, IL 60078
