Art and Angels for the Holidays

It’s starting to look a lot like Christmas….in my e-mail in-box. Not only have I received invitations to several holiday get-togethers, I’ve also sobbed at several touching tales about animals. Here’s a sampling:

Coffee Cat Helps Shelter Cats. Coffee Cat, the popular downtown coffee house, will host the second annual “Cats in Art” art show to benefit the Animal Shelter Assistance Program—better known as ASAP. “Cats in Art” opened December 3 and runs through December 16. A reception will take place this Thursday, December 6 from 5:00-9:00 pm. “Cats in Art” will offer the public a creative exploration into the world of cats by artists who care about them. Artists and ASAP volunteers—including Kim Snyder and Carrie Givens, as well as several cat-loving members of the Goleta Valley Art Association—are donating 50 percent of the proceeds from the sale of their artwork to ASAP.

The Coffee Cat is located on the corner of Anacapa and Anapamu Streets, across from the downtown library and, um, catty-corner to the Courthouse (plenty of parking is available in the Granada Garage). For more information about “Cats in Art,” please call (805) 898-8981; to learn more about ASAP, stop by the Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter at 5473 Overpa s Road, call (805) 683-3368, or visit www.asapcats.org.

Hound is Heaven-Bound. I received the following e-mail recently from a loyal Daily Sound reader. While the author is unknown, I have no doubt you’ll agree that it’s paws-down the best Christmas story you’ve heard in awhile. Have a box of tissues handy as you read about an amazing angel who works in the dead letter office (no pun intended) of the U.S. Postal Service.

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Our 14-year-old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:  

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then, Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, “To Meredith” in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, “When a Pet Dies.” Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey and Meredith and this note.

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I am wherever there is love.
Love, God

P.S. I checked with Chaucers and they have ordered copies of “When a Pet Dies” by Fred Rogers (a.k.a. Mister Rogers). The cost of the book: $5.99. The lesson learned about pet loss: priceless.

 

 

Even though her holiday schedule is filling up fast, Karen still finds time to answer e-mail, so send her a message at karenleestevens@cox.net.

 

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By Karen Lee Stevens,
Founder & President, ALL FOR ANIMALS, Inc.
Copyright © 2008. All Rights Reserved.

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