Sir, – William Reville (Science, July 20th) expressed well the feelings of countless pet owners at the passing of a dear pet friend. Our Suki was a long-lived female King Charles spaniel. For eight years of her life, she joined with a friend’s dog in bringing comfort, joy and much relief to patients in the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, as part of the work programme of the admirable Pieta organisation. Every Monday from 11am until about 12.30pm, they would go from bed to bed, allowing patients with fingers scarcely able to move to caress them or tickle them behind the ears.
They inspired smiles and good cheer wherever they went, and when they passed on they left a record of almost two-thirds of their lives having been devoted to bringing some measure of peace and comfort to sadly afflicted lives.
I think it was Will Rogers who said, “If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went”. – Yours, etc,
TIM MAGENNIS,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.