On the first lightening of dawn, up from the meadow where it has slept, the small brown Skylark begins its climb. Up, up in ever widening circles the lark flies skyward until it disappears completely from sight. All the while, although the bird cannot be seen, a flood of melodious song comes pouring down.

It is December and a month of holy days to share with family and friends. It is also the last month of the year, where the days of the past year are shed and put behind us and we contemplate the new year to come. The year 2009 will be a year of challenges that will require much from you humans.
Arent you glad that you have us pet companions in your life to comfort you and to share what ever life brings? We are always waiting for you to come home, to greet you and soothe away the troubles of the day. We drag you off your posteriors and get you out in the fresh air. We are part of rescue teams and we are service animals who help you live an independent life. We are medically proven to be good therapy for psychological heath and for medical conditions like high blood pressure.

We are a part of your family and can help you teach your children about taking responsibility and how to grieve when we die. We are brave, loyal, playful, great companions, loving, there during sorrow and sadness, hopeful, endure all for love and proud of our place in the lives of humans. We are amazing!

This is my last column of the year so I shall take the opportunity to thank you for reading what I write and for taking me seriously. I suppose you know that I dont write alone. I have a human partner, Christina Richardson, who rescued me in 2004. Together we write about the human/pet companion bond. We are both so grateful. With her typing skills, I have the opportunity to share my column with you. To tell you stories about remarkable people and their special pets. To give you a heads up about puppy mills and legislation that resulted in new protections for pets in Virginia. I have written about a cat that came to Alexandria from Iraq, food recalls and what really is in the pet food you buy, and how to buy healthy. I write about shelters and lost pets and found love and tell you about so many people who give so much to make this world better for animals.

As a present from both of us I share with you this letter. It was written in 1513 by Fra Giovanni to a friend on New Years Eve:
I salute you!

I am your friend and my love for you goes deep. There is nothing I can give you which you have not got. But there is much, very much, that, while I cannot give it, you can take. No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in it today.


Take Heaven! No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present little instance. Take Peace! The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet, within our reach, is joy. Take Joy! Life is so full of meaning and purpose, so full of beautythat you will find earth but cloaks your heaven. Courage then to claim it, that is allAnd so, I greet youwith profound esteem and with the prayer that for you, now and forever, the day breaks and the shadows flee away.


Keep your tail high and your feet dry! Happy New Year, Daisy Mae