It is sad, and it does bring tears to my eyes, but when I look at the picture I also think how fortunate they are to be surrounded by comfort in their illness. It makes me think of the many sentient beings, humans as well as animals, who are just as ill but are not surrounded by warmth, love, care, and softness. Years ago, I talked to a doctor friend about the loss of an 8-month old cat, a foster, who had just died of feline leukemia, describing the daily emergency vet trips and his last hours. When I'd finished, he simply said he wished all humans could die surrounded by so much love and care because he'd seen many who did not.