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Letter from Joe and Harriet Gross
4/19/04
Dr. Steven B. Hodes, DVM
Mobile Veterinary Service
265 Route 46
Mine Hill, NJ 07803
Dear Steve:
It seems that so much time has
passed since we lost Cinders, but in reality, it has been only a matter
of weeks. I finally feel that I have gotten to the point where I can
respond to your letter. I know she had a long life, and I know she
enjoyed being apart of our family. Not a pet, but part of the family. I
am also aware that she loved and trusted you, and really enjoyed her
"vacations at the house on the hill." I know she knew that she would be
well taken care of and she responded in kind. I never heard one word
about how hard she was to take care of. I was very surprised how well
she managed being "on the hill" for the two months I was in the
hospital.
It is true that she had a long
life. Her losing her hearing was managed pretty well. Her leg problems
came and went and when she had to slow down for a while, she did. She
knew we would help her when she needed it. She was able to pace herself
so that she remained a part of our life. She never felt like "giving up"
just to make it easy. She was always a fighter. The only time she seemed
to stop giving it her all was her last day with us. Harriet said she
walked disoriented during her morning walk and I guess she finally
realized that her pill wasn't going to work anymore. She didn't
complain. She just lay down on her towel and waited for the inevitable.
She also knew she had a few
accidents in the house, but she also knew I would help her by walking
her 4-5 times a day. When I broke my shoulder, she - for some reason -
was afraid of my sling. She knew something was wrong with me. She
wouldn't come into the bedroom too often whenever I called her. When I
was downstairs, she would look at me as if to say, "Can we go for a walk
Dad?", but she knew I couldn't help her at the time.
You have always had our trust and
confidence and always been a part of our lives, Muffin's, Cinders', and
all of our other family members. We couldn't ask for more than we
received. Over and above your first letter, we are so very thankful for
your donation to the Pet Trust at Kansas State. We can't put into words
what it means to have Cinders name, as well as our own, memorialized in
the Veterinary Medical Library.
Thank you again for the way you
handled Cinders' final hours. It was a very difficult decision we had to
make, but we realized it would not be fair to her to keep her in pain
just so she could live a few more days. I know you liked to tease me.
When you went to the van to get the leash, you had no problem putting it
on her. While Harriet saw you pick her up and put her in the van, I
couldn't watch that long. I did watch, however, how she walked down the
steps and toward the street with an air of dignity. I honestly believe
that she knew she was going with "Uncle Steve" for the last time so he
could take the pain away. I think she knew she was dying and she knew it
was her final "goodbye." I will never forget seeing her walk along with
you as her friend.
Thank you for everything you did
and have ever done for us and our family. We will never forget you for
that. At this time in life, we are unable to go to Saint Hubert's and
start over with another 5-week-old puppy, as we did with Cinders. If we
ever do decide to get another family member, it would have to be a young
dog that needs a good home. It is too soon to make this kind of decision
now. If it ever does happen, though, we know that there is more than
enough love available. Only time will tell. It is ironic to realize that
our family has included a dog in 30 of the 31-1/2 years we have lived
here.
Until such time, thank you again
for everything. You will always be a part of our family.
I have run across a very true and
timely quote...
“....If you love until it hurts,
there can be no more hurt, only more love."
Mother Teresa
Sincerely,
Joe and Harriet Gross
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