Above: Bob Vince and his (then puppy) Remington.

Diane and Bob Vince are deeply grateful for all of the messages of love and support coming into them after I posted their e-mail address on the blog yesterday and told the story of their dog Remington.

Sometimes – no one can really say why – stories like this just touch us and lift us up, and we need that in our lives and our country. These kinds of stories show the best in us, while other kinds of media show the worst. This is my idea of a big story.

You can e-mail Diane and Bob at ([email protected]). Your messages are lifting them up after their house burned down and their beloved service dog Remington was euthanized after being diagnosed with cancer.

Diane says losing Remington was even worse than losing their home in a fire.

The couple came into Jean’s Place with Remington and were given a free meal after Robin, a great-hearted waitress there and a good friend of ours,  saw Diane crying.

Diane had just learned of Remington’s diagnosis and used a $100 gift certificate that a friend and blog reader named Eileen Peterson had sent to me as a gift. Diane’s place is a church of community in many ways, a family and kind of home to many people. You get good food and much love there

I gave the gift certificate back to the restaurant, suggesting they use it for people who need it more than I did.

It was heartening to see this Circle Of Good. First from Eileen to me, then from me to the restaurant, then from the restaurant to a heartbroken couple – Diane and Bob –  who knew they were about to lose their wonderful dog (he had just been diagnosed with cancer)  and now, back again from scores of people all over the country reaching out to them.

Diane has e-mailed me several times to say thanks, these dog lovers are deeply appreciative of your message and shocked and uplifted by their warmth and understanding.

I guess I am getting used to the warmth and generosity of spirit from so many of my blog readers, from the Army Of Good, from the many dog lovers who know the Vinces pain only too well.

To love dogs and live with dogs is to know death and loss and grief. I’ve felt it just recently, everyone reading this has felt it, the Vinces are feeling it.

It is the toll, the payment for loving these wonderful animals and receiving their love in return.

By all accounts, Remington was a wonderful dog, he loved to fish and hike and lie around with Bob.

You know my own philosophy of dog loss. I’d rather love a dog than mourn a dog. I hope Bob and Diane get themselves another dog as soon as they feel comfortable doing so. That is the path to healing for me.

But we each have to do it in our own way.

Thanks so much for reaching out to them and expanding the circle of good that has come to personify this place and the people who read it and support our quest for good. Many blessings to you, and to Bob and Diane, and the spirit of a great dog.

Their e-mail is [email protected]