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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>When my mother was dying, she was at home on
hospice care. We stayed with her around the clock. So did her two
furbaby companions. They rarely left her bed during the last weeks except
to eat and do their business (usually in the house).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>On the morning of her death, we all knew that the
time was near. Her breathing was shallow. A couple of times we
thought she was gone, then she would take a shallow breath. The dogs
continued to lay by her side.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Then, all of a sudden, both dogs slowly got off the
bed and went through the pet door and outside the house. That's when I
knew for certain she was gone. They both stayed outside until the coroner
came and pronounced her dead, and the funeral home came and took her body
away. After that they did come back in but never got on that bed
again.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It has always amazed me that they knew the exact
instant when there was no more life, and they knew they could then leave
her side, go outside, and watch her spirit leave also.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We've never let ours watch another one's death, but
we have allowed them to be present at the burial.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>They know and understand far more than we do about
these things.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bonnie</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Slave to Stanley, Beachbaby, Lowretta, Stella
(ATB), J.D. (ATB), Begonia (ATB)</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>