My beloved Jack,

The day I met you I wasn’t at all sure that we would ever be friends. You had been treated so badly and the look in your eyes showed a sense of hurt and abandonment. I sensed that you might never trust a human being again.

But…there was something else I saw in your eyes that day…a look that yearned for another chance to experience life, as it should be for such a handsome animal like yourself. So…we set out together; and the adventure began.

Slowly and on no one’s timetable but your own, you decided to take the risk and from that moment forward, you never looked back. For the next 10 years you showed and taught me about complete loyalty, unrelenting devotion, and unconditional love.

I miss you greatly—even profoundly. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of you. Most of all I remember your "smile" that always made every day a good one—it didn’t matter whether I had been gone 5 minutes or 5 days—you were always at the door grinning to welcome me home, as if to say, "I’m sure glad you’re here." For that and so much more, I thank you.

I will NEVER forget you, and I will ALWAYS love and cherish you. My life has been truly blessed with the companionship of my faithful friend.

This was not goodbye. This is "I’ll be back." Every time I speak your name, you will be with me. My prayer is that when you awoke from the sleep where I left you and you headed off for your next great adventure, you continued to know that I love you very much, and I can’t wait to see you again…because I know you’ll be waiting for me with that great big smile of yours.

Much Love,

Your "Mom"