When Scooter was diagnosed with lymphoma in February '08, I was devastated. I was faced with decisions on how to treat her cancer, and was not cheered by the thought of weekly chemo-therapy. They said with the chemo for three months, she would live another 3 months. They said without chemo, she'd die in 4 weeks.

Scooter and I were in the Oncology Department of a fine veterinary hospital, but the dogs waiting for their chemo were barking or looking sadly at their owners...down the hall the howling could be heard. I scooped her up, and sobbing started my research on the Internet and networking with friends.

Scoots and I were introduced to a wonderful East/West Vet, who practiced Chinese medicine, treated cancer with acupuncture and herbs AND made house calls. Oh, and he took his shoes off once inside the front door.

Scooter loved him, responded well to her treatments and liver treat rewards, and she lived in comfort and stability for SEVEN MONTHS!

I'm grateful for all that time, but I know the toll it takes knowing that GOODBYE is inevitable. Scooter was 14 years old, and had been my best friend and constant companion. Friends have said she wasn't a dog but an angel...and I believe that too.

I also believe in the spirit, especially in the spirit super powered with love. Our East/West Vet was not comfortable with what he called euthanasia. I'm sure that is the correct term, but I was not comfortable with the word.

When her quality of life was diminished to the extent that prolonging her existence was more about me not being able to let go than about her condition, I put into motion all the careful plans I'd made.

A veterinarian who guaranteed me a painless passing for her, was scheduled for the early morning. After an hour, a car service was scheduled to take me to Long Island to a pet crematorium that would let me wait and take away her ashes.

The morning of, I made a great breakfast for Scooter and Bisou (my 3 year old Maltese) and then we took a neighborhood walk.

I locked up Bisou, and prepared the living room for the vet's arrival. I lighted candles all over the room. I opted for silence instead of music. Scooter and I cuddled on the couch as usual.

I'll spare you ALL the details, but he was as good as his promise. She passed peacefully and quickly, cradled in my arms. I felt her body go soft and still, and as I kissed her head, I didn't say "good bye" I said "Thank you".

Honestly, as I placed her into the little dog bed I kept in the Living Room (which she never used because she was up on the couch and at night slept in my bed) I sensed that her SPIRIT had left her body QUICKLY and energetically. I said to myself that Scootie had seen me cry WAY TOO MUCH the past 7 months and had a bunch of way cooler things to do.

Six days after she died, on a Sunday, I decided to honor her memory by visiting all the Manhattan animal shelters and making a contribution. Monday, I remembered I had not been to the ASPCA...so off I went...met wonderful animal care-givers, gave them a contribution AND two days later they called to say they had two little mixed breed puppies and might I like to come see them...

I went...I saw...I fell in love...I adopted.

I named her Roc-qui. Yes, she reminds me of Scooter. But, it goes deeper than that: I really do believe Scooter had a paw in all of this. In and amongst the busy stuff she had to take care of, she took the time to find me a puppy...and get my big lazy grieving butt off the couch to go get her.

That's my story (belief) and I'm sticking to it.

Thank you, Scooter.

   Here's a picture of Roc-qui, Bisou and me.

   Support your animal shelters, adopt a pet from a
   shelter if you can, spay and neuter your pets
   responsibly. Don't make me get any bossier than
   that, I mean it!



   p.s. NOVEMBER 23rd, 2008

   Today, at one of my local churches, there was a
   Thanksgiving Blessing of the Animals. I've attended services
   like this in the past, with Scooter of course, from St. John's
   Cathedral in NYC to the American Cathedral in Paris. While Scooter was living with cancer, I would take her into houses of worship in her carrier bag, entering in between services to pray and ask for a peaceful passing for her.

As part of the process of preparing to say "goodbye" to her (at least for a while), I asked fan/friends to send me pictures of their dogs, cats, companion pets that had passed, so that Scooter could recognize them in the "pack" when she got to the other side.

I got lots of beautiful pictures, and importantly, letters of love and encouragement from people who were blessed to share their lives with a blessed creature. They made me feel comforted, and I arranged them with candles nearby, so that they were part of our home environment.

I've kept the pictures of my friends’ pets in an album near Scooter's ashes...which are in a beautiful wooden box covered with gorgeous pictures of her, and draped with her cutest, chicest harness with the genuine turquoise lucky charm on it. It is all on my left-hand bedside table, and will stay there forever.

Oh, back to today...the freshly washed Bisou and Roc-qui (who had stuck her entire front paw and leg into my morning coffee and badly needed a bath) went to church...an hour ahead of the service to get a first row pew seat.

Bisou, Roc-qui and I waited for the service to begin. I had Scooter's collar, license, and name tag in my pocket. As the church filled up with people and their pets, my pups were a bit astonished. A woman came into the row, and sat down next to me. She did not have a pet with her. She said as much to me "I do not have my dog with me", whereupon she got very quiet and softly started to cry.

I passed her some paper towel I'd come up with, since I was silly enough to forget to pack tissues. But Bisou did me one better...much better: She jumped over to the woman's lap, and wouldn't let up until she got the woman to give her repeated pats on the head and a scratch on the back.

A choir of children sang, dogs barked, cats were at their dignified best, and there was an adorable black bunny and several turtles in attendance. The chimpanzee from two years ago, did not show up. All in all it was a fabulous thing to be doing the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

The collection was to be given entirely to a wonderful pet organization...and I LOVE when stuff like this happens: I'm sitting next to a woman who just lost her pet or is about to, and I'm sitting with the spirit presence of my dear dog who has passed and the two sweet creatures who comfort and grace my life in the present, and what's the organization called that the collection is for? Don't bother guessing, here it is:

ANGEL ON A LEASH

Really...how much of a sign do I, or the woman next to me, or you, or any one else on this planet need?

Thank you to all the friends who sent me pictures of their pets. I will always cherish them...and if you want further info on the above org, here is their website: www.angelonaleash.org

And here's some other great animal advocate organizations:

North Shore Animal League America

Bideawee

ASPCA: Mission Orange

Guide Dogs of America

Canine Companions for Independence

Broadway Barks