On Thursday, May 22, 2014, I adopted little Emmy from a NorCal GSP Rescue foster family in the Mammoth area. She was approximately a year old and had been found wandering the streets with a broken jaw. She had suffered some sort of emotional trauma that made her “hand shy” and afraid of loud noises, rakes, shovels, and hoes.
I gave Emmy unconditional love, a place to sleep on my bed, daily exercise along the shores of Folsom Lake, and loving obedience training. She was a quick study at the obedience training—she loved to please and to receive positive feedback. When I took a vacation, I had a friend (who is a veterinary assistant) stay at my house. The kids in the neighborhood would ring my doorbell to see if they could “hang” with Emmy and groom her lovely coat. Emmy’s jaw and soul healed in very little time. And the neighbor kids learned about compassion, love, and responsibility.
Sadly Emmy passed away last Tuesday from incurable melanoma. I have lost a husband and a son. I know that I will never find another Emmy.
–Kitty Howard
