The final chapter for Waldo

Here's what I know: People love their dogs. In Sunday's Gazette, I wrote about my family's last days with our dog Waldo, the namesake of this blog and a member of our family for nearly 16 years. The response was emotional and uplifting. Dozens of readers sent me stories of their own beloved pets, shared their own uncertainties about parting with a pet, and offered to listen if I wanted to talk. My family was especially anxious about the story; worried that it would make them feel sad all over again, and worried that people might not be so nice about how we handled Waldo's last days. Their anxiety was unfounded. In what I hoped were the universal themes of Waldo's life story, I found a way to do something we strive for every day at the Gazette - connect to readers on a personal level. To all those who responded with kindness, thank you.