Phil and Sandy,

What is it about pets that hit us so hard at their  passing.  The 
unconditional love as Rhonda said, the innocence, the willingness to 
please, the ability to be happy even when they don't feel good, and the 
loyalty and simple enjoyment they bring us by allowing us to bring them, 
and much more too. I've said good bye to many a dog in my life. Some with 
long lives and some cut way short, each time I swear I'll never have 
another because the pain is too hard, and our daily lives become wound 
around their presence, yet one lays at the foot of the bed as I type. A 
true snapshot of how without the willingness to chance heartbreak, we 
can't  experience love.

Brad


on 11:05 PM 9/22/2006, Phil Scovell said:

Zippy is a little dachshund we have had for about 17 or 18 years.  The 
kids
found him, or actually, a pizza delivery man got in out of the busy street
that runs in front of our house, and he gave it to my kids back in about 
the
fall of 1989 or there abouts.  Vets said he had to be at least one year 
old
at the time if not more.  Anyhow, we called him Zippy because he could zip
right away from you so fast, you couldn't catch him.  The kids went all 
over
the neighborhood trying to find the owner because I was positive that 
little
dog had a little boy some place who wanted him back.  Zippy always got
really upset when he smelled smoke.  So the fourth of July was always hard
on him.  We always wondered if there hadn't been a fire in his house and 
he
got away from his owner to escape the smoke or something the way he acted.
All three of my kids, and now the grandchildren, all have grown up with
Zippy.  This morning, Zippy had some kind of a heart attack, our vet
believes, and although he certainly was old, he was doing very well
physically.  We didn't want him to suffer any longer so tonight our vet
came, this is the vet Sandy answers his phone for, and agreed it was
probably time for Zippy to be put to sleep.  It is hard on everybody, in
fact, I had to leave the room, so you can see how I handle these 
things.  As
I sat and cried in my office, thinking about all the fun Zippy brought to
our family, I heard a voice saying, It would be worse if it were one of 
your
children, or grandchildren, or your wife.  I knew that was true.  Anyhow, 
it
is wonderful to be able to have pets the bring so much joy to a 
family.  Bye
Zip.  I'll miss you.

Phil.


He's ready when you are.
www.SafePlaceFellowship.com