Care.  It had been eleven years since we had to put down our girl, Jelly, a Labrador Retriever mix.  As newlyweds, this was one of the first heart-wrenching acts my hub and I had to endure.  She had kidney failure, and there was nothing more we could do for her.  Leaving the veterinarian’s office, my hub carried a lifeless Jelly wrapped in her favorite blanket, and we drove her to my in-laws’ house seated on a few acres.  My father-in-law had her final resting place ready for Jelly, and there was where we said our final goodbyes.

Now with a six and eight-year-old, I felt it was time for them to experience the unconditional love of a dog.  My kiddos’ BFFs (they care) have a pig, two guinea pigs, chickens, goats, and now three dogs (I am sure I am forgetting some animals), and my girls would live there if they could.  We had tried fish, progressed to a hamster, and was now ready for that next step.

The Warren Billhartz Humane Society referred me to Cindy’s Critters, home of the non profit Metro East Lab Rescue, when I told them I was partial to Labrador mixes.  Talk about meant to be.  There is where I found Daisy, a “pocket” Labrador as Cindy, the owner of Cindy’s Critters, explained.  If you want to see a true animal lover in action, Cindy’s Critters is the place to be.  Instead of me doing the interviewing to find that right dog, Cindy spent close to twenty minutes interviewing me to ensure I was the right owner for one of her dogs, and I could not be more impressed.  A week later, I had an appointment to bring home our newest family member after a mandatory discussion by Cindy on the care of our girl Daisy.