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We have celebrated his birthday every year since Gizmo went to live with you and your family. Every Christmas Eve we have reminisced and looked at pictures of him. His true owner never even called to check on him or ever came back to get him. Sad. I know he lived his last days in peace and couldn't have asked for a better place to retire and finally rest in peace.

As I sit here at my desk bawling trying to write this I can never forget the day my kids and I brought him to you. One of the hardest thing I have ever had to do. He clung to me while I said good bye and tried to run out the door with me when I left. And I left him. I just left him there in a strange place alone. He looked at me as if saying, "Mom, where are you going?! I'm here! Don't leave me!" And still, I left him. I drove away in a car full of crying kids and a heart weighted with guilt and sadness. I come from a family that always had dogs and animals. Never, ever did we leave one of our own. And I lived with the guilt every day. With only the memory of his eyes that day looking at me like that. I wondered how I would get through it. I kept asking myself: How could I take care of 3 children and a dog that was a liability, by myself?

But then you and your kids helped us get through it. Your son set up Gizmo his own MySpace so my kids could visit and have a sense of still being with him. You sent Halloween pictures of his costumes. You sent updates and pictures every Christmas and throughout the year. You brought him to Orlando to visit at the dog park. You not only gave him his peace but you gave my family peace with my decision as well. We lived in fear that the family you placed him with would not fully understand his deep down love and insecurities but then we were so relieved when you decided to keep him in your own family. And love him as one of your pack.

He was the most rotten dog I have ever had to deal with. Spoiled from the day he was born by his human Daddy. Never taught any kind of manners or proper behavior. He ate people food off a fork at the dinner table every night and fought you for the food on your plate. Never house trained and would bite you in an instant if you moved when he didn't want you to. The neighborhood children never left the house without a "Gizmo mark" of some kind. But we loved him. We couldn't deal with him, but we loved him.

I am one of your strongest advocates. I can vouch for your love for the animals and your humanity toward life in general. You go above and beyond on a daily basis and you in turn pass this compassionate selflessness on to your children. They give of themselves for the benefit of the "babies" and nurse them or clean up after them and care for them as a part of family life. You've done good. Keep on going. You're an inspiration to all about how to give and not demand in return. Just accept the love that comes as a reward to your efforts. I believe the Good Lord puts people like you on this Earth for a reason. You are The Shepherd. You take care of your pack of little angels and then lead them gently to the light in the end. God blesses people like you.

You don't get near enough thanks for what you do. Thank you. And I really mean thank you. And many thanks to your family. Gizmo will live on in our hearts and memories.