I never imagined when I started cardiac rehab three months ago so reluctantly that the hardest part of the process would be saying goodbye. Red and Dot said goodbye today, Friday is my last day in rehab and Dot will not be there. To be honest, I doubt we will see Dot again.

Part of therapy work with a dog, as many people know, is moving on. Red sees a lot of people and he really can’t stick with all of them, there is really not time and there are so many choices to be made in life. There are a lot of people who need to see Red and other dogs and we will almost certainly resume our work with veterans from recent wars in the Middle East, work that is urgent and was interrupted by my open heart surgery. Dot seemed to know this was a goodbye, to me and to Red. I gave her my number and said if she needed us, she should call. I have the feeling she won’t.

Dot is accepting of life, she has a peacefulness and self-containment about her. I don’t think she ever asks for anything.

The two have become quite connected to one another, I know she will miss him. They are two gentle souls whose spirits have connected in the way people and animals sometimes do. Dot has the gentlest smile,  and it appears whenever she sees Red. She is driven to and from cardiac rehab by a special van, and Red has taken to sitting with her while Dot waits for them to come. Dot can handle 15 or 20 minutes of gentle rehab, including a walk down a hospital hall with a nurse. Then she has her monitor removed, the nurse calls for the van and she and Red go out to the door and wait.

It touched my heart to see this, Red is a dog, he will move on, and I am certain that Dot will also. She has much to complain about but never does, life is not a struggle story for her even though it is a constant struggle. You never know in life, I was so pleased – so was Red – when Dot appeared at the Open House at the farm to see him work. I told her to come again next year, or sooner if she wishes.

I am having another photo of Red printed up by George Forss to give to Dot.

I supposed I should not be surprised by Red any longer, but  I always am. His exquisite sensitivity to people and ability to know what is needed from him is extraordinary, in a dog or a human being. He has a big and compassionate heart.

Friday is my last day in rehab, it has been good for me, I am glad I didn’t listen to myself and avoid it. I have learned to sometimes listen to myself and sometimes not, I seem to know when to do one or the other these days. I supposed I ought to have learned something after all of this time. Take care, Dot, we will miss you too.