I hope no one minds me posting about a dog but here goes:
Fifteen and a half years ago my daughter and I rescued a little dog from a life of misery. She was young and had puppies. Her then owners turned her onto the streets day and night whatever the weather and left her puppies in a rabbit hutch in their back yard (when their young children weren't dragging them round the streets).
One cold November night my daughter found Emily shivering and soaking wet. She brought her home. Emily was restless and took every opportunity to escape and run to the back gate of the house where her pups were. So, we knocked on their door and told them a lie. We said we were from a local rescue, understood they had a litter of pups and had homes waiting. They handed the pups over to us.
Emily was ecstatic to be reunited with her babies and never tried to escape again. Unfortunately we already had three dogs and three cats so practically had to find homes for the 5. Our local rescue took the pups who were successfully rehomed and Emily went to live with some friends of ours in South Wales. She had the most magnificent home and such a happy life with walks each day in the hills and woods and holidays to Ireland and London.
Yesterday I received a phone call from my friend to say that Emily had a suspected brain tumour and was deteriorating. On the advice of their trusted vet they had to make the decision to send her to the Bridge today at 9am.
I have just spoken to them and they tell me it was very difficult but she went peacefully.
To Emily I would like to say you are a special courageous girl who protected your babies against the odds. You brought so much happiness to your mum and dad and you have taken a huge piece of my heart to the Bridge with you. Goodnight God Bless you Emily.