Dolly

We adopted Dolly from a rescue group when she was nine months old. She was named Bella at birth; the second owner named her Brandi. We called her Dolly, after my love of dolls when I was a little girl. During the nine short years we had her, we called her Kid, Miss Dolly, Dolly Ann, Sweetheart, Sweetie Pie, Short-stuff, Miss Prissy Pants, Cutie Pie, Young One, Pretty Girl, Best Doggy, Good Doggy, Good Girl, Excellent Dog, Little One, My Sunshine, Doggie, Small Doggie, Baby Girl, and Baby Doggie. But, most importantly and proudly, we called her "ours." Dolly died from cancer on June 26 this year. We loved her so, and we miss her so much. She was indeed "golden", and not just because of the color of her fur! How can you explain the pain of losing a pet to someone who has never known the joy of owning one? Those who peruse or add to these pages certainly share in what we went through. The joy of having known her exceeds the pain of her passing on by a thousandfold. Dolly brought smiles just by her presence, whether it be smiling from the first moment of waking up every morning, anxiously going in the car to her favorite park for a walk, meeting students while walking the Interlochen Academy, or meeting other residents of my mother's assisted living residence. I promised my wife that Dolly would enable 200 smiles a day when we adopted her. I think Dolly delivered in style! Mary Jo and Greg