Anniversary Update

19 July 2006

Dear Precious Little SHADOW,

Oh little SHADOW…it is almost difficult to breath as we write this letter on the third anniversary of the day you were killed. You have such a presence in our every day lives. Your fill our hearts and memories with pure love and laughter. We miss holding you in our laps, stroking your soft fur and feeling your little wet nose nestling us with your kisses.

There is never a moment that we don’t feel our love for you. There is never a day that we don’t talk about you and our hearts melt with the beautiful memories. So often we laugh out load as we recall your playful antics with Lucy and your funny “crazy run” around the house. Your photos fill our walls and your toys are all where you left them.

Whenever we are burdened with the horror of the image of witnessing your death to a cruel and senseless shooting, we try very hard to find comfort in knowing that you will always be with us in spirit. We continue to find ways to focus on the positive energy that you brought into our lives and we tell ourselves that you would not want us to be so sad. We know that instead, you would rather that we use that energy toward healing Lucy and ourselves.

Poor Lucy. From the moment you were shot and she laid over you, she has never been the same. She suffered a seizure that day and several the following day. Sometimes we think that Lucy looks forward to crossing the Rainbow Bridge and being with you SHADOW…you will always be her very best friend. Lucy does not run anymore…but we know that she cherishes that you taught her how. She does not rumble and play anymore…but we know that she remembers when she did with you. When we take her to run at the golf course…your favorite place, we clearly see her perk up and her step becomes livelier. She knows that you both had many fun adventures running through the surrounding woods and clearly those memories make her happy. For that reason, we try to bring Lucy there quite often.

Well, we wrote to you about our little boys Spirit and Sam. Goodness SHADOW, we certainly think of your calm and nurturing personality to help us. We named Spirit for ‘your spirit’ SHADOW and he is certainly full of it! Spirit has come a long way. A wonderful woman named Fay has been such an influence in guiding us with Spirit. She recommended that Spirit would do well in agility training and so, of course, Daddy signed up right away and they make a great team. You know that Daddy gives 100% to his projects and so not only do he and Spirit go to agility classes every week, but he has built lots of agility equipment so that he and Spirit can practice every day in the backyard. Thank you for watching over Spirit…we know that you have a paw in helping him.

Loving Sam/Sammy continues to be a bright spot in our family. He absolutely insists that Lucy play with him and he won’t take “no” for an answer. We feel so much of your personality in Sam/Sammy. He is so gentle with Lucy, as if he understands her sadness and he tries very hard to bring her out of her shell. Sam/Sammy is like an angel that you sent to us from heaven. His heart is huge. We call him “the Ambassador” because he loves every human and animal that he meets.

The end of March brought us another surprise. We received a call from an animal shelter that had a very small little dog that needed a lot of love and a very special forever home. Something drew us immediately to this little ball of fur and once again SHADOW…we felt that YOU were a part of this little boy coming into our family. Daddy named him “Lightfoot” because he runs so fast that his little paws hardly touch the ground. Sam and Spirit think that he is a stuffed toy that comes to life with boundless energy. Lightfoot is eight pounds of laughter and mischief.

Grandpa turned 91 in January and he talks about you every day SHADOW. His most favorite picture is the one with you sitting next to him by the fireplace and he has it framed on the living room table. His house is filled with your pictures actually, and in the kitchen, he keeps your favorite toy that he gave you.

We feel that with you in Heaven watching over us, you seem to know just what we need. What a great job you are doing to help us move forward without your physical presence SHADOW. We needed a focus to take our energy from constant sadness and you sent us Spirit. We needed extra love and you sent us Sam/Sammy. We needed laughter and you sent us Lightfoot. All the while, we find YOU in each of them.

Legally, we continue to work every day for you, our precious little boy. Our attorney, Heidi Groff is amazing. We are privileged to have her working on our legal case and she understands our ultimate goal. It is so difficult to have to struggle with the legal system…especially in another state so far away. We continue to prepare all of the necessary procedures for the courts and it is our promise to you, SHADOW, that your horrible death will not be in vain. The Animal Legal Defense Fund, In Defense of Animals and The Humane Society of The United States continue to support our efforts to set precedence for the future. Ultimately, our goal remains that we wish to create legislation that will recognize pets as “companions”, not mere property in the eyes of the law. Our cause will serve as “Justice for SHADOW” and the SHADOW Law.

Many, many of your friends continue to talk about you. They support and encourage us to continue with our legal course. Your midshipmen are now graduated from the US Naval Academy, and many are serving in Iraq. Every week they email us and every single email mentions you, SHADOW. Our new group of midshipmen know you because we tell them all about you. Cassie at Pet Value continues to keep your picture at the front register with every update on the legal case.

Even though time has passed since you were taken from us SHADOW, we feel you with us every moment of every day. The pain we suffer without you is as difficult today as the day you were killed. The suffering has become a part of our lives and we realize that it will never go away. But we recognize the strength and courage that you have given us to continue to fight for your justice. We will not let your death at the hands of a killer go without doing everything we possibly can to help prevent this from happening to other innocent animals. Your legacy lives forever in our hearts and your death will set precedence that the legal system will value pets as companions…as members of the family. We love you little SHADOW, today, tomorrow and forever.

Mommy, Daddy and Lucy