Dear Friends,

I lost my best friend recently due to cancer. He came into my life just two weeks before I lost another best friend. Jasper was an exceptional friend. He always put my needs first; his patience would make Job blush! His love and loyalty was without question.

Jasper came into All God’s Creatures one August day, found on Old Stage Coach Road, chasing horses and waiting for his people to pick him up again. When my phone rang and my friend said, "I have a Jack Russell Terrier that showed up. Can I bring him to you?" What could I say?

Once he was with me, we went to see Dr. Rauton. Jasper needed to be neutered and one back leg had been broken along with his tail. Those injuries could have been easily fixed but ... Jasper lived with a crooked back leg and tail. But, he didn’t hold a grudge.

I tried to place him once, a few weeks after he came to AGC. The person brought Jasper back the very next day saying he had stood at the window and cried all night (and she did too)! When I met her to retrieve Jasper, she said, "Do not try to place him again, he’s yours!" As they say, the rest is history.

Jasper was my constant companion. He went from elementary schools to do pet care classes to Lowe’s, festivals, meetings and every where in between. He truly was the best friend I have ever had. Jasper’s love was completely unconditional and for five years was the most perfect ambassador All God’s Creatures could have ever asked for.

The hardest decision I have ever had to make came on August 3 of this year. Jasper now rests with my other dear, dear friends in our special place at home. A friend like this is very special so I wait for God to send another one to me. It is difficult and lonely at times but I’m trying to be patient.

For those of you that say "I don’t want to go through the pain again of losing a pet," I say having your heart broken is the price you gladly pay for the privilege of loving a pet. For now, I have a huge hole in my heart and life that Jasper left, but my heart is open, waiting for my next dear friend and what he/she will bring to my life.

Please, if you have lost your 'best friend," don’t cheat yourself or the animal that needs to be loved and is just waiting to be that friend. Open your heart and I promise you won’t be sorry.

Sincerely, Denise Holcomb