Goodbye little Bear

[Catherine]

Thank-you for your kind thoughts. I spent time with the lady today and I passed on the kind wishes of everyone who replied and she was very touched that people cared about her and her little Bear.

It is hard. None of her children live nearby so she really is alone. I cleaned up all of Bear's things and bagged them, as they are going to someone who has a dog who can use them. I cleaned up the balcony and moved all the plants around. That is where we kept his pee pads (she is in a high-rise and couldn't possibly take him out). I didn't want her to go outside and see the empty space where they used to be. It looks so different that she won't "see" the absence of Bear.

Then we sat down and had a glass of wine and drank a toast to Bear and talked about him. He was happy with her and she was happy with him. Sadly she will never have another pet at her age. Just like your aunt, she knows she can't take on another animal at her age.

That would be so hard after a lifetime of living with pets. 

I suppose Bear joins all the many other pets she has had in her lifetime. I don't know any of them, but I am sure they will know him and welcome him as they all wait for her.