Week 19: Dearest Cougar

Just over two years ago I said goodbye to the sweetest puppy that ever lived. Shortly after that, I wrote the following on Facebook:

​After 10 years, and 28 days, we said goodbye to Cougar on Saturday.  She was a wonderful and sweet puppy, touching many lives over the years and will live on in our hearts forever.

Over the next couple months I knew that I needed another way to help with the grieving process. I decided to write a letter to Cougar. I've only shared the letter once with my sister when she lost her dog. As I sit here and type this blog post, I'm not sure even sure I even showed this to my wife. Today, I share it with the world.

​Dearest Cougar,
Thank you for all the love you’ve given us over the past 10 years and 28 days.  Thank you for loving both humans and animals the same. Your love was endless and you expressed it to every living being around you. Whether via hugs or leaning or licks or giving someone your paw, you always had something to give. Thank you for wagging your tail when you would see me, thanks for bringing a toy when I came home. And thanks for pretending like you didn’t want the toy back at least for a few seconds. Thanks for running with me when it would rain outside. Thanks for eating food from my hand, even when you didn’t feel well and thanks sharing your home with lots of other animals over the years. Thanks for showing me how to love unconditionally and thanks for just being you. Every moment spent with you is a memory, thank you for each one. You will be in my heart forever - I promise to never forget you.

But enough about me. Last weekend my friends at the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) had flooding in their dog kennels. I figure Cougar would have wanted to help so that's why I donated to them this week in her name. Good luck guys!

Also, HRA is the one that provides these sweet video feeds to Animal Planet

• Kitten Cam
• Doggy Cam