Robin,

 

As I sit here and write this email to you Louie is laying at my feet, snoozing.  I just wanted to email you and tell you that I can not imagine life without Louie.  He is such a wonderful little boy and brings a smile to everyone's face.  Though he loves everyone in the family dearly he spends most of his time by my side.  He is my angel.

 

At the time when we adopted Louie I was caring for my father, John Geppi.  Louie brought so much joy and happiness to my father - words can not express just how grateful I am that we found each other. Though Pop was totally disabled he still managed to play catch with Louie from his bed.  Louie would always bring back the ball and give it to Pop. Pop would talk to Louie and Louie would answer back with his short sharp barks.  Louie would often lay by Pop's bed and when he had bad spells he knew and stayed with Pop.  Before my father passed in June of 2004 he told me that he felt that Louie was like a guardian angel to him.  He told me he felt that Louie was an exceedingly special part of our family.  After my father passed Louie would often go into the room where his bed was and look for him - I truly could tell he was worried and missed Pop.  We took Louie and Tink to the cemetery to visit Pop (we have a pet friendly cemetery) and after that he stopped searching for my father.

 

Louie also helped me recently when I was home recovering from surgery.  Louie had been laying with me when I came home from out patient surgery while Chris went to pick up my prescription.  When Chris came back I took the medicine.  I fell into a deep sleep and had a bad reaction to my medicine.  I had a great deal of trouble breathing (I have asthma) and Louie actually went down stairs and barked until Chris came up to check me.  Luckily, Chris was able to contact the hospital and I went back and stayed until I stablized.  I thank my Louie for being such a caring little boy and knowing something was wrong.  Things could have turned out very differently and I owe him my life. 

 

Louie is in great health and gets on well with his sister Tink, and his cat siblings Stonewall and Miss Belle.  Tink and Louie play together like kids and enjoy our walks.  Stonewall thinks he is a dog and tries to play with Louie.  Louie usually doesn't know what to think but winds up "wrassling" with that old cat for the heck of it.  They often sleep side by side on the sofa.  Grandma Shockey has knitted Louie a number of dashing sweaters which he loves to wear.  This past Halloween we went to the Pet Smart Halloween Contest - Louie was a pirate and Tink was a bumble bee.  Louie truly lives every day to the fullest.

 

So, I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that we all say, "Hi!" - especially Louie. 

 

Thanks again for everything,

Cindy, Chris, & Courtney Shockey