VALENTINE'S STORY This is the story of a very special rescue dog named Valentine. She was rescued after being taken to the shelter by her family of less than 2 years. Valentine was then adopted by Sandra Krecioch. Sadly this very special rescue angel left this earth to romp and play in God's green fields. She left us far too soon, but accomplished oh so much. Below is the story of how one little Shih Tzu taught us all the meaning of love, tolerance and compassion. How one canine's love made a difference in the lives of many. Hi! My name is Valentine. I was born in Florida in 1994. As my story begins, I’m 9-years old. I thought I’d tell you a little something about myself and what I do. My mommy rescued me just before I turned two years old. My family didn’t want me anymore. They were taking me to the animal shelter. Luckily, I now have a wonderful home which I share with my mommy and daddy and even a cat. Yes, I said a cat. Her name is Snowflake and she’s a big, white fluffy cat. Believe it or not, we do get along. We’re not bosom buddies or anything, but at least we’re able to share the same space and not fight. Yeah, I think she’s pretty neat and I’m pretty sure she thinks I am too. Did I tell you that I’m a Registered Therapy Dog? That’s a picture of me wearing my therapy dog scarf. It all started about five years ago when my grand-mama went into an Assisted Living Facility. She really missed me, so my mommy started taking me to see her. I started visiting all the rest of the people there and before you knew it, I became a full-fledged Registered Therapy Dog. Now I go on visitations almost every day to the ALF. I also get to see the resident dog that’s there as well. My mommy gives both of us doggie treats. It’s a lot of fun, because I get to be petted by so many people. A really neat lady thinks I’m so cute and loves me up every time I go there. Another lady lets me sit next to her on the sofa. But best of all, I get to lie on my Grand-mama’s lap and she gives me lots of love. I just started visitations on Thursday’s at Shands Lake Shore Hospital. Guess I’ve become their official therapy dog because I even have my own picture-ID badge that I get to wear. I’ve met so many wonderful people there and have a great time visiting all the patients, staff and volunteers. On Wednesday mornings, during school session, I (along with four other therapy dogs) get to go to Melrose Park Elementary School for an hour. I get to see lots of children and have two of the children read stories to me. That’s really fun, because I get to hear so many different stories, some of which are about animals. This past Christmas I got to have my picture taken with all the children in their classrooms. My mommy thinks I’m really special because she says I bring love and good feelings to those I get to visit. When I’m not out visiting people, I like to be at home and play a lot. I also really like going on golf cart rides. Then the best of the best is at night when it’s time to go to bed. My mommy or daddy carries me off to bed and I get to sleep with them. That makes me feel all warm inside since I get to cuddle up to them. Well, I’m going to go play now, so thanks so much for listening to what I have to say. With Love, Valentine Hi again. Some time has passed since I first started my story. At that time, I was living in Florida. My Grand-mama passed away in September 2004 and I really miss visiting her. It’s now April 2005 and mommy, daddy, Snowflake and I have moved to Asheville, North Carolina. Actually, we live in a place called Leicester which I’ve been told is a township of Asheville. Don’t know what that means, but I really like it here. I do miss going on my golf cart rides, though. Everything is all hilly here and Florida was really flat. I also miss being able to run around the swimming pool we had. Don’t have that anymore, either. I feel sorry for Snowflake, though. She doesn’t seem to be handling the move very well. She’s yowling all the time and my poor mommy is spending nights sleeping on the floor with her. I hope she’ll feel better soon. Mommy has taken both Snowflake and me to see our new vet to have us checked out. I’ve been having a problem with my ears. Found out I had a couple of ruptured ear drums but they are supposed to get better. It was a little painful coming up the mountains, but it’s better now. Snowflake checked out well, too. She just has to get used to her new surroundings. She also misses being able to go outside and wander around the pool. You see, the pool was screened in so we didn’t have to worry about her getting out and wandering off. Well, my mommy contacted a person here in town so that we can get started with my pet therapy visitations again. I really miss visiting all the people I used to see. She told me we’re going to visit the children at Mission Hospitals and go to Hospice. Then I’ll get to go to Hall Fletcher Elementary School and have some children read stories to me. That’s always a lot of fun because after they read to me I get to play with them and they give me cookies to eat. I’m feeling really bad for my mommy right now. It’s October 15, 2005, and she’s been crying a lot. My daddy is sick with something called shingles and Snowflake isn’t feeling well. Mommy has been taking care of Snowflake a lot and giving her all kinds of medication. I wish I could tell mommy what’s happening to Snowflake. I feel so bad for her. Snowflake and I have grown a lot closer since she’s been sick. Mommy picked me up the other day and told me she doesn’t know what she’d do without me and how much I’ve helped her to get though all of this. It’s now October 18th and I haven’t seen Snowflake all day. Mommy just came home with my Auntie Maria and told me that Snowflake is no longer with us. Something about the Rainbow Bridge. I don’t know what all that means, but I’m feeling really sad right now. My daddy isn’t able to help my mommy right now because he’s very sick in bed. I’ve been spending a lot of time lying in bed with him. I’ve been feeling very depressed and missing Snowflake. I now know that she’s gone. Mommy has been spending a lot of time taking care of daddy. He’s been in bed now for five weeks. Mommy and I have been sleeping in another room. She told me we need to let daddy sleep alone right now. Well, it’s now February 2006 and daddy is now better but it took a long time. Mommy still misses Snowflake and so do I. I’ve been going to my visitations but my mommy told me we’re not going to go to Hall Fletcher after this next semester. I’ve been feeling a bit tired in the mornings and it’s kind of hard for me to get out of bed that early in the morning. It’s now Christmas 2006 and tomorrow’s my birthday. I’ll be 12 years old. I got a lot of new squeaky toys. I just love the new ones that mommy and daddy gave me. They take me into the bedroom and play with me. It’s so much fun. Oh, did I tell you the house is different too. Last year we had to live downstairs for almost six months while our house was being renovated. I really didn’t enjoy that at all. Too much noise. I don’t like all that loud banging. It really scares me. Mommy had to carry me up and down the stairs because I don’t know how to go down the stairs. I know how to go up, but it’s really hard for me, so I let mommy carry me. Well, it’s now 2007. There’s snow outside. I don’t like the snow at all. Daddy always clears an area for me in the grass so I can go potty so I don’t have to walk across the snow. But, I guess I’m getting used to it … just don’t like it. It’s late February going into March. I’m starting to not feel too well. I’ve had a few medical problems in the last few months and mommy has been taking me back and forth to see my doctor. Really don’t know how to tell her I don’t want to do therapy visitations anymore. When my mommy takes me for visitations I’m shaking a lot. We’ve stopped going to Hospice for about three months now. I need to see my mommy all the time. At night, in bed, when I change positions it bothers me. Mommy has noticed that I’m whining when I do this. I can tell she’s worried about me. She took me to my doctor but they can’t find anything wrong. I’m also starting to feel unstable on my feet. When I play with mommy and daddy, I seem to stumble a lot. I don’t know if they’ve noticed this. Today, Sunday, March 4, 2007 mommy took me outside for my morning outing. When I went potty, I lost my balance and fell. I could tell that mommy was worried and carried me inside the house. The next day, I was really having problems walking and standing up. Mommy immediately took me to see my doctor. On the way, I started feeling really sick and scared. I don’t know what’s happening to me. I’m panting and feeling like I can’t breathe. When we got to the doctor, they immediately took x-rays of my back thinking I had a back problem. They came out negative. I wish I could tell them how I’m feeling but I can’t. I feel strange in my head. I’m so scared and miss my mommy. They brought me back into the exam room where my mommy was. Now we have to go somewhere to Greenville, South Carolina. They examined me there, too, but I had to stay the night. The next day, I was taken to Raleigh, North Carolina and had some test called an MRI of my head. They brought me back to Greenville but I had to stay another night. Mommy and daddy picked me up on Wednesday, March 7 and took me back home. On Thursday, they drove me all the way to Charlotte, North Carolina to see a neurologist vet. I had to stay there for two nights. They gave me a spinal tap and put all kinds of IV’s in me. They did a lot of other things to me but I don’t know what they were for. I feel a little better but still can’t stand like I used to. I miss my mommy and daddy. I wish they’d come and get me. Mommy and daddy came after me on Saturday, March 10 and took me home. Mommy is crying a lot. She has to carry me outside and hold me up so I don’t fall. I’m having a hard time understanding what’s happening to me. I’ve heard them say something about a brain tumor. I don’t know what that means, but I’m finding it hard to drink my water. Mommy has been giving me water with a syringe. I don’t like seeing my mommy cry. She talks to me and tells me how much she loves me. I really like it when she holds me. I’ve been giving her lots of kisses and that seems to make her cry more. It’s Monday, March 12 and Mommy and daddy are taking me for a ride. Mommy is holding me in her arms. I’m used to being in my car seat, so I don’t understand why she’s holding me. Looks like we are going to my doctor again. I really don’t want to go there again. I’m shaking a lot and starting to pant again. Dr. Annie just came in the room. I really like her but for some reason things seem different this time. Mommy is crying and hugging me and telling me how much she loves me. I now know what’s happening. I’m going to see Snowflake and my grand-mama. I’m not scared anymore. But I feel so sorry for my mommy and daddy. They look so sad. Please don’t feel sad. I love you and I’ll always love you. I’ll be watching you from over the Rainbow Bridge. Wow! The Rainbow Bridge … now I understand what mommy meant when she said to me that Snowflake crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Mommy is petting me and still crying. Dr. Annie just gave me a shot and I feel so calm. I’m no longer shaking or panting. I can see my mommy and daddy. They’re hugging each other. I love you mommy. I love you daddy. Please don’t cry for me. I’ll always look after you. I’m so happy I was able to spend my life with you. Thank you for saving me from where I used to live. I’ve enjoyed being with you. You’ve given me so much love. I’ll always be your “little munchkin girl.” I feel like I’m drifting, floating … There’s Snowflake and my Grand-mama! Hi Snowflake. Hi Grand-mama. I’ve missed you and so happy to see you again. Postscript: Valentine gave of herself right up to the very end and had visited the children at the Pediatrics Outpatient Clinic just one week before she passed. She volunteered 66 hours at Mission Hospital in Asheville and additional time at Hospice. Besides being a “working dog,” Valetine was my precious heart. A part of me has died with her and I miss her terribly. I am honored to have had her in my life and have been able to receive her precious love. I hope that one day we will meet again where there is no sorrow, no pain nor any sickness. Bless you my sweet Valentine. I will always love you. Copyright March 2007 - Valentine’s Mommy…Sandra Krecioch April 2007 Sandy has since adopted another rescue pet from us. 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