The Loyality of a Rotti!

 

The Loyality of a Rotweiller

This week while Greg has been visiting family & friends in Canada I had a reason to celebrate our Rotti "Guiness". She is only 9 months old and for the very first time showed me how extremely protective and loyal she is.
While doing a little gardening outside in the backyard I heard a noise at our front gate. As I turned to go look, Guiness was right there circling around me. She lead me to the gate and upon seeing a stranger standing there (a woman in a hat) with a large bag. There was Guiness right at that gate barking wildly.
She never does this unless she senses a danger. Well, Guiness would not let me near the front gate - she kept circling me and keeping me back as she attempted to let this person know that she was not welcome!
I marvelled at the concern Guiness showed protecting me, her home and her pack members. The rest of the dogs seemed happy enough to let "the Rotti" handle things.
The woman disappeared immediately...................
My Girl Guiness!

Risk and Reward

More Reality........................

 

First: A reality check on MexicoMexico is in a unique position to reap many of the benefits of the decline of the US economy. In order to not violate NAFTA and other agreements the U.S.A. cannot use direct protectionism, so it is content to allow the media to play this protectionist role. The U.S. media – over the last year – has portrayed Mexico as being on the brink of economic collapse and civil war.

The Mexican people are either beheaded, kidnapped, poor, corrupt, or narco-traffickers. The American news media was particularly aggressive in the weeks leading up to spring break. The main reason for this is money. During that two-week period, over 120,000 young American citizens poured into Mexico and left behind hundreds of millions of dollars.Let’s look at the reality of the massive drug and corruption problem, kidnappings, murders and money.

The U.S. Secretary of State Clinton was clear in her honest assessment of the problem. “Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade. Our inability to prevent the weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers and civilians,” Clinton said. The other large illegal business that is smuggled into the U.S.A. that no one likes to talk about is Human Traffic for prostitution. This “business” is globally now competing with drugs in terms of profits.It is critical to understand, however that the horrific violence in Mexico is over 95% confined to the three transshipping cities for these two businesses, Juarez, Tijuana and Nogales.

The Mexican government is so serious about fighting this, that they have committed over 30,000 soldiers to these borders towns. There was a thoughtful article written by a professor at the University of Juarez. He was reminded of the Prohibition years in the U.S.A. and compared Juarez to Chicago when Al Capone was conducting his reign of terror capped off with The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre. During these years, just like Juarez today, 99% of the citizens went about their daily lives and attended classes, went to the movies, restaurants, and parks.

Is there corruption in Mexico? YES !!! Is there an equal amount of corruption related to this business in the U.S.A.? YES !!!. When you have a pair of illegal businesses that generate over $300,000,000,000 in sales you will find massive corruption. Make no mistake about the Mexican Drug Cartel; these “businessmen” are 100 times more sophisticated than the bumbling bootleggers during Prohibition. They form profitable alliances all over the U.S.A. They do cost benefit analysis of their business much better than the US automobile industry. They have found over the years that the cost of bribing U.S. and Mexican Border Guards and the transportation costs of moving marijuana from Sinaloa to California have cut significantly into profits. That is why over the past 5-7 years they have been growing marijuana in State and Federal Parks and BLM land all across America. From a business standpoint, this is a tremendous cost savings on several levels.
Let’s look at California as an example as one of the largest consumers. When you have $14.2 billion of Marijuana grown and consumed in one state, there is savings on transportation, less loss of product due to confiscation and an overall reduction cost of bribery with law enforcement and parks service people. Another great savings is the benefit to their employees. The penalties in Mexico for growing range from 5-15 years. The penalties in California, on average are 18 months, and out in 8 months. The same economic principles are now being applied to the methamphetamine factories.

FOX News continues to scare people with its focus on kidnapping. There are kidnappings in Mexico. The concentration of kidnappings has been in Mexico City, among the very rich and the three aforementioned border Cities. With the exception of Mexico City, the number one city for kidnappings among NAFTA countries is Phoenix, Arizona with over 359 in 2008. The Phoenix Police estimate that twice that number of kidnappings goes unreported, because like Mexico 99% of these crimes were directly related to drug and human traffic. Phoenix, unfortunately, is geographically profitable transshipping location. Mexicans, just like 99% of U.S. Citizens during prohibition, go about their daily lives all over the country. They get up, go to school or work and live their lives untouched by the border town violence.

These same protectionist news sources have misled the public as to the real danger from the swine flu in Mexico and temporary devastated the tourism business. As of May 27 2009 there have been 87 deaths in Mexico from the swine flu. During those same five months there have been 36 murdered school children in Chicago. By their logic, if 87 deaths from the swine flu in Mexico warrants canceling flights and cruise ships to Mexico, then close all roads and highways in the USA because of record 43,359 automobile related deaths in the USA in 2008.

What is just getting underway is what many are calling the “Largest southern migration to Mexico of people and real estate assets since the Civil War” A significant percentage of the Baby Boomers have been doing the research and are making the life changing decision to move out of the U.S.A. The number one retirement destination in the world is Mexico. There are already over 2,000,000 US and Canadian property owners in Mexico. The most conservative number of American and Canadian Baby Boomers who are on their way to owning property in Mexico for full or part time living in the next 15 years is over 6,000,000. Do the math on 6,000,000 people buying a $300,000 house or condo and you will understand why the U.S. Government is trying to tax this massive shift of money to Mexico through H.R. 3056. The U.S. government calls this “The Tax Collection Responsibility Act of 2007″. Those who will have to pay it are calling this the EXIT TAX.

Mexico: A better economic choice than China another large exodus from the U.S.A is high paying skilled jobs. The job shift in automobile sector, both car and parts manufacturing, is already known by most investors. In the last few months as John Deere and Caterpillar have been laying off thousands of workers in the U.S.A., and hiring equal numbers in Mexico. The most recent industry that is making the shift is the aerospace manufacturers. In the city of Zacatecas there is currently a $210 million aerospace facility being built. With the 11 U.S. companies moving there, it is estimated to provide over 200,000 new high paying jobs in the coming years. One of the main factors for the shift in job south to Mexico instead of China is realistic analysis of total production, labor and delivery costs.

While the labor costs in China are 40% less on average, the overall transportation costs and inherent risks of a long distance supply chain, and quality control issues, gives Mexico a distinct financial advantage. Mexico’s real economic futureMexico has avoided completely the subprime problem that has devastated the U.S. banking industry. The Mexican banks are healthy and profitable. Mexico has a growing and very healthy middle and upper middle class.

The very recent introduction of residential financing has Mexico in a unique position of having over 90% of current homeowners owning their house outright. U.S. banks are competing for the Mexican, Canadian and American cross border loan business. It is and will continue to be a very safe and very profitable business. These same banks that were loaning in a reckless manner have learned their lesson and are loaning here the old fashioned way.

They require a minimum of a 680 credit score, 30% down payment, and verifiable income that can support the loan. In most areas of Mexico where Baby Boomers are moving to, with the exception of Puerto Penasco (which did not have a national and international base of buyers), there is no real estate bubble.. The higher end markets ($2-20 million) in many of these destinations are going through a modest correction. The Baby Boomers market here is between $200,000 and $600,000. With the continuing demand inside the Bay of Banderas, that price point, in the coming years, will disappear. This is the reason the Mexican government is spending billions of dollars on more infrastructure north along the coast all the way up to Mazatlan.

The other major area where America has become overpriced is in the field of health care. This massive shift of revenues is estimated to add 5-7% to Mexico’s GDP. The name for this “business” is Medical Tourism.

The two biggest competitors for Mexico were Thailand and India. Thailand and India’s biggest drawback is geography. Also recent events, Thailand’s inability to keep a government in place and the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, have helped Mexico capture close to half of this growth industry.

In Mexico today there are over 56 world class hospitals being built to keep up with this business. Mexico is currently sitting on a cash surplus and an almost balanced budget. Most Americans have never heard of Carlos Slim until he loaned the New York Times $250 million. After that it became clear to many investors around the world what Mexicans already knew: that Mexico had been able to avoid the worst of the U.S. economic devastation. Mexico’s resilience is to be admired. When the U.S. Federal Reserve granted a $30 billion loan to each of Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, and Brazil, Mexico reinvested the money in Treasury bonds in an account in New York City.

According to oil traders, Mexico’s Pemex wisely as the price of oil shot to $147 a barrel put in place an investment strategy that hinged on oil trading in the range of $38-$60 a barrel. Since the beginning of 2009 Mexico has been collecting revenues on hedged positions that give them $90-$110 per barrel today. Mexico’s recent and under reported oil discovery in the Palaeo Channels of Chicontepec has placed it third in the world for oil reserves, right behind Canada and Saudi Arabia.

The following is a quote from Rosalind Wilson, President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce on March 19, 2009. “The strength of the Mexican economic system makes the country a favorite destination for Canadian investment. ”OPPORTUNITIES: WHY PUERTO VALLARTA & THE RIVIERA NAYARIT the answer is simple and old fashioned: SUPPLY AND DEMAND. The area of Puerto Vallarta/Riviera Nayarit inside the Bay of Banderas is an investor’s dream.

This area has the comprehensive infrastructure in place, world class hospitals and dental care, natural investment protection from the Sierra Madre Mountains, endless future water supply, low to nonexistent crime, international airport, and limited supply inside the Bay, first class private bilingual schools and higher than average appreciation potential. Like many areas in Mexico there is large demand for full and part time retirement living and a lot of construction underway to meet this demand. Pre construction of course is where the best bargains are available.

I would offer a word of caution for investors in Mexico. Do not be seduced by the endless natural beauty that is everywhere, both inland in colonial towns and along thousands of miles of beach. Apply conservative medium and long term investment strategies without emotion. The demand for full and part time living by American and Canadian Baby Boomers is evident throughout the country. The top two choice locations are ocean front, and ocean view. The third overall choice, which is less expensive, is inland in one of the many beautiful colonial towns or small cities.
Mexico, with the world’s 13th largest GDP, is no longer a “Third World Country”, but rather a fast growing, economically secure state, as the most recent five-year history of its financial markets when compared to the U.S.A.’s financial markets suggests.

Assisted Living - A New Frontier for Mexico

Mexico’s Growing Assisted Living Market Targets US and Canadian  Retirees

SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, Mexico – Laredo native Alice Edwards and her helicopter pilot husband have an active lifestyle in this picturesque town popular among retired Texans.
But the 60-somethings are also the new owners of a townhouse in Mexico’s first assisted-living development aimed at the U.S. market, Cielito Lindo.

With 75 million baby boomers heading toward retirement and the cost of private nursing care in the U.S. outstripping hammered retirement funds, Mexican developers say they have an irresistible product in the works: active senior and assisted-living facilities, in a warm climate full of friendly people, for as little as $1,100 a month.
“For us, it’s purely an investment,” said Ms. Edwards. The couple will probably rent it out. But Floyd Edwards quickly added: “At this point, you never can tell. It’s something we will all need eventually.”
Some developers are shifting their traditional condo and townhouse developments in midstream to include assisted-living wings focused, in part, on Americans who want modern facilities with quality services rather than the informal operations or go-it-alone approaches that now exist.
There are already an estimated 1.2 million retired Americans and Canadians in Mexico who – like their millions of compatriots back home – will need a greater level of care at an affordable price.
“This is not going to be a niche market; this is going to be an entire industry,” said Eduardo Alvarado, chief executive officer of La Moreleja, a residential development in San Luis Potosí, a colonial city in northern Mexico that also sports Wal-Mart, Home Depot and many other brands familiar to Americans.
“We already have the pioneers here, but what we are seeing is that many people will come perhaps not because they want to but out of necessity,” he said. Many will find Mexico far more modern and far safer than they had imagined, he added.
For example, Mr. Alvarado said, the drug cartel violence that gets so much U.S. media coverage rarely touches civilians.
Mexico “is as safe or safer than the U.S.,” he said.
The U.S. Embassy warns Americans to be extra careful along the U.S.-Mexico border but otherwise considers attacks against the millions of U.S. citizens who visit and live here to be isolated and rare.
Mr. Alvarado said that once his property is finished sometime next year, with 180 spots for assisted living and 250 for independent “Dallas will be one of the markets we go after immediately,” he said, because of the proximity and direct flights.
Next will be the Northeast, he said, mostly because of the harsh climate.
La Moreleja will charge a one-time inscription of $9,000 and a monthly rent of about $1,100 that includes a full range of services, including meals.
Unregulated industry
One problem, developers said, is a lack of regulations.
The private assisted-living and nursing industry is so new in Mexico – there are about a half dozen facilities under construction – that laws need to be written to cover its activities.
The Mexican Association of Retirement Communities is lobbying for legislation similar to that in the U.S.
Marisol Ancona Velten, director of planning for Le Grand Senior Living, an assisted-living development in Mexico City, warned against informal, “clandestine” senior housing that caters to Americans and offers substandard care in converted private homes.
She also said many Mexican resort cities, like San Miguel and Puerto Vallarta, do not have the world-class hospitals found in the Mexican capital.
Mexico has a national health care system (which Americans can buy into for $350 a year) along with many private hospitals and clinics with U.S.-trained doctors. Average life expectancy for Mexicans is 75 years, just three less than in the U.S., according to the retirement organization AARP.
Since most Mexicans take care of their parents often until death, there is not much of a nursing home industry at all, except for those run by charities or the government.
Texans have long retired in neighboring Mexico, but they have often been adventurous types willing to learn the language and traverse the obstacle course of setting up a home, securing quality medical care and adapting to cultural differences.
Jonathan Taylor, 78, came to San Miguel de Allende almost six years ago.
“I reached an age when I didn’t want to work anymore, and I couldn’t afford to quit in the U.S.,” he said.
Mr. Taylor, from Dalhart, Texas, now spends his time running, playing tennis and socializing but can imagine the day when he might need to move into a place like Cielito Lindo, which he visited when it was inaugurated in September.
“I hope I don’t have to consider it for a while, but if you get into your 80s and need assisted living, what could be better than this?” said Mr. Taylor, who can get on a bus in San Miguel that takes him to Dallas to visit his brother. “The people are so friendly and the scenery is so beautiful.”
Stretching a dollar
At another location favored by American retirees, on Lake Chapala near Guadalajara, several small retirement homes have sprung up, often operated by locals, to serve Americans as they get older and can no longer take care of themselves.
What’s coming now, developers say, is completely different: brand-new, turnkey developments, for sale or rent, that come with a buffet of services (from a maid to full Alzheimer’s care) at about a third or less the cost of that in the U.S.
A report last month by the MetLife Mature Market Institute put the average rate for an assisted-living facility in the U.S. at $3,031 a month. (In the Dallas-Fort Worth area it was $2,849.) Generally, that included room and board, at least two meals a day, housekeeping and personal care assistance.
More expensive developments in Mexico are also targeting American retirees.
The Luma beachfront development in Puerto Vallarta, for active 50-plus baby boomers, is building condos that cost half a million dollars – minimum. But what buyers get is still far more than they could purchase with the same money in the U.S. – even with the depressed real estate market.
“One of the huge advantages of retiring in Mexico is the lower cost of living. Property taxes, medical expenses, groceries, and other monthly costs are significantly less,” said Alexander Urrutia, Luma’s sales director, who calls the development “the first active-adult beachfront community in Mexico.”
A 3,500-square-foot high-end beachfront condominium at Luma sells for about $900,000; it would go for twice as much in a similar U.S. setting, Mr. Urrutia said. And taxes on a $1 million property are less than $1,000 a year – less than one-tenth of those for a similarly priced home in the U.S.
One thing that developers and operators of the new facilities call a major selling point is not just price, but the Mexican-style TLC that comes with a society used to caring for their parents and grandparents throughout their lives.
“One of the more important considerations,” said Cielito Lindo developer Sergio Cházaro, “is the Mexicanity of the people giving the service.”
His assisted-living units go for an average of $1,500 per month, with meals and services, and a maximum of $3,000 a month for an Alzheimer’s patient with specialized, round-the-clock care.
‘More are coming’
Javier Godínez-Villegas, president of the Mexican Association of Retirement Communities, thinks there are up to 50 Mexican cities and towns that are ideal for assisted-living facilities aimed at the U.S. and Canadian markets.
“There are many developers who are willing now to build these types of facilities, and more are coming,” he said.
For Texans living in Mexico, the timing is just about right.
Sandra Thorpe from San Antonio and her husband, Gordon, live in the active retirement community Rancho Los Labradores that is next to Cielito Lindo, where they have also purchased.
“The concept just blew my mind because it’s got everything, and the price range is affordable,” Mr. Thorpe said.
The couple plans to put their Cielito Lindo villa into the rental pool for two years, Ms. Thorpe added, “and maybe we’ll move into it someday.”

I thought this was worth posting...................

Easter Week in Chapala and Ajijic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtPP8lh4JQI

The Holy Week leading up to Easter is a huge event here in Mexico.  Most families take vacation and many celebrations are happening every day throughout Lakeside.  The video above will give you a good idea of how happy and excited everyone is.
Happy Easter Everyone, we'll be thinking of you on Easter Sunday.,
Love
Greg & Lori

Spring at Lake Chapala

It's hard to believe that we are already mid March.  Soon we will have been here a year!  What a year it has been - with many household renovations, the aquisition of 2 abandoned dogs - family and friend visits, the purchase of our second property..............we're now finished and are looking forward to some down time.  Things here in our little area are good - the mexican people we encounter continue to astound us with their happy and friendly ways.  Life here is simple and slow (well, not ours yet!)
Spring has arrived and with it the beautiful jacarandas trees (pic below) are out in bloom throughout Lakeside.  What a sight - the hills are covered in a beautiful hue of lavandar as these trees surround the many streets in the village.  The plants in our garden are growing like weeds and hummingbirds are regular visitors.
Greg's family - Brother Rob and Sis Julie spent 10 days with us late February.  Greg's Mom as well and Gloria is here with us until the end of March.  They all enjoyed the area and I think they were quite surprised at how "at home" it feels here.  We had a good time showing them around the area and Rob feels he may take the leap and join us in our retirement here in a couple of years. 
The days are heating up with daily temps hovering in the mid 80's.  Sun every day and a steady breeze.  The weather is simply not talked about here - everyday is like the one before it. 
Greg is heading back to Canada for a week the end of March and is looking forward to spending time with our kids and grandkids.  Our daughter Michelle & Son-in-law Trevor are expecting their second child at the end of May.  I'm looking foward to my visit home once our new grandson arrives. 
Happy Spring everyone, Easter is once again Just around the corner.
The Beautiful Jacarandas!

An Update

It's been awhile since I've posted on what we've been up to.  We have been busy around here.
In one of my previous posts I told you about the little dog we were fostering - Oliver.  Well we thought we had found Oliver his forever home.  After Oliver being with his new family for three weeks we got a call from the new owners.  Apparently their other dog took well to Oliver in the beginning but then decided Oliver was not his cup of tea.  The other dog began to attack Oliver so they called us and asked if they could "return Oliver to us."  Of course we agreed.  So Oliver is back and we've decided he will stay with us.  Took him into our vet and had the little guy neurtered - all is well.

We had our dear friends Shirley and David stay with us for 2 weeks - we had a wonderful time exploring the area with them and showing them around a little.  They are now settled into their winter rental in San Miguel de Allende Mexico.  SMA is a 5 hour bus ride from where we are - Shirley reported that the bus trip was uneventful with beautiful scenery. 

We had our General Assembly for our Homeowners Group here (called our Fracc) - I decided to run for a position on the board of directors - and I won!  There were three other candidates - I will enjoy this learning experience as the laws in Mexico are very different from back home.  Since we will now own two properties here in Chapala Haciendas it made good sense for one of us to be on the board.
I've also signed onto a committee here in Chapala Haciendas - I'm looking forward to that as well.

We're now having the exterior of our home painted and it's looking great!  Once this is finished we'll will have competed the work around here.  It's been a long haul - a year and a half of projects.  We will be glad to have the work complete. 

Greg's family arrives February 28th.  His Sis Julie, Bro Rob will be with us for 10 days.  Greg's Mom is also coming and she will stay on with us until the end of March.  Greg will fly home with her and will be able to handle our income taxes and financial stuff at the same time.  This will be Greg's first trip back home since we pulled out of the driveway last May!  I know he is looking forward to seeing our  Kids and Grandkids!!  Our daughter Michelle is expecting her second child in late May -  I hope to plan a trip home once the baby is born.  I miss our family - it's the thing I find the most difficult about living here in Mexico.  Really, it's the only thing I miss.  We really love the life we have carved out for ourselves here - many new friends, many events, lots to do all the time.  Our days are full with outings, friend get togethers and of course with 6 dogs - there is always something going on. 
Life is good !

The weather has been wonderful up until yesterday.  A cold front has moved in with heavy rains yesterday and again today.  Daytime highs are around 16 degrees and down to about 8 at night.  We bought a propane little heater for the house as it has been a little chilly here in the mornings.   It seems strange to look outside and not see the prestine clear blue sky and the glorious sunshine!  We have definately become accustomed to knowing that each day will be the same as the last.  No talk here much about weather - no weather network, no stormy days.  The rains that we are getting now are welcome as the gardens and mountains are dry .  We have not had rain since last October which is the norm here.  This morning as I post this, the birds are singing merrily. 

Hoping that you all are well and have a Happy Valentines Day!
Hugs
xoxox

So Many Abondoned Dogs .................food for thought..........

How Could You?

by Jim Willis

When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" - but then you'd relent, and roll me over for a bellyrub.

My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs," you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love.

She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" - still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love."

As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch - because your touch was now so infrequent - and I would have defended them with my life if need be.

I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf.

Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family.

I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter.

It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a goodbye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too.

After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?"

They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you - that you had changed your mind - that this was all a bad dream...or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.

I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood.

She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?"

Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself - a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever.

THE END