Thanks for the site Jackie!!!
Okay, I wrote the letter... the whole time I was typing it I just felt so discouraged and frustrated because I really don't think it's going to work... but hey it's worth a try right? If she can't come with us for two weeks I will be a sobbing mess leaving her! Well here's my letter... any advice/criticism will be very much appreciated! And just in case you think it's weird that I call him by his first name, that's what I was told to call him. Told you he's weird
Dear Arthur,
Hello! It’s Bridget. I have a very important question to ask you. It’s actually more of a favor that, if granted, would be greatly appreciated by my entire family. I’m sure you can guess it by now: yes, we would like to bring Daisy with us to the beach house. I know, I know! No dogs allowed, right? Well that’s why I am writing you this letter. I hope you will read it and not get angry with me, as I am only trying to show you our point of view.
I bet you think she would make messes, peeing or pooping everywhere, right? Well Daisy is 2 years old. She never has any accidents anymore inside, so you wouldn’t have to worry about that. She would always go outside and as soon as she goes, I would scoop it right up and dispose of it. You would hardly know there was a dog living downstairs!
Daisy is also a very quiet dog. She won’t bark or howl and keep you up at night. She’s actually kind of like you in a way: she loves her naps and sleep is very important! You guys could nap together on the porch! Come on, you know you love herAnd guess what I learned: petting a dog can actually lower a person’s blood pressure! Oh, and listen to this: if any little kid drops any food on the floor (I know you hate when that happens), Daisy will be right there within seconds and the floor will be cleaned. She is like a vacuum, only cuter!
You may think my family consists of five. Well it doesn’t. You forgot one. There are six in my family. Mom, Dad, me, Mackenzie, Rachael, and Daisy. Yes, Daisy is a large part of our lives, and an important and beloved member of our family. I don’t want to go on a vacation without one of our family members! I think of her as my baby. It would be hard to leave baby for two weeks, don’t you think?
If I haven’t changed your mind yet because you don’t want to do this for me, would you please do it for my dad? I know you love and care about him. My family does too. You don’t understand how important Daisy is to him, Arthur. She isn’t just a dog to him. Actually, she isnt even just another family member. She is like a medicine to him. He needs her every day, just like he needs all his pills. A daily dose of Daisy is just as helpful as the medicine we give Dad every morning and night through his feeding tube.
It’s been scientifically proven in many studies that dogs can benefit your health! I already told you about the blood pressure being loweed by stroking a dog, but did you know that petting a dog is a great muscle workout for arms, hands, and wrists? Dad needs to work his muscles so that if... I mean when he gets cured, he doesn’t have any atrophy. Dogs have also been known to ease stress and help pull people put of depressions. For someone with an illness like Dad’s, depression is almost guaranteed. But somehow Dad does great. People wonder what Dad’s secret is for keeping so upbeat. Well I beleive it’s a combination of good family and friends, an incredibly strong spirit, and Daisy. Have you ever watched his face when he sees her? His eyes light up, just like a child’s on Christmas morning! His whole face starts to glow with happiness as she sits patiently next to his wheelchair, and he flops an arm down the pat her head. They sit like that for hours.
Daisy knows that she has to be more gentle with Dad than she does with the rest of us. We tried an experiment the other day. I took a treat and held it up in the air. She jumped uo against me to grab it. Then we gave Dad a treat. We put it on his lap and watched Daisy’s reaction. She just reached up slowly and daintily plucked it from him, briong very careful and gentle. She just knows, and we never had to explain anything to her.
Seabrook is one of my favorite places in the whole world and I fully realize that I am extremely lucky to have great grandparents like you and Gram who let me and my family stay with you there in the summer. How many other kids get to go to the beach every summer and stay with wonderful family? Not too many! That’s why I really hope this letter doesn’t get you mad. Don’t get me wrong; we want to come to the beach! But we want to go as a family, a family of six.
I sincerely promise you that if you let Daisy come to the beach house, she will not bother you once. As I said before, you will hardly know there is a dog in the house. I will keep her quiet and clean up after her. I really think this could be a positive experience for everyone. I could have my beloved pup with me on vacation, Dad could have his “medicine” with him, and you know what? Maybe you could learn some things from her. I have learned a lot from my dog. I think people could take quite a few pages out of dogs’ books. If we were all as caring, loyal, fun-loving, sweet, compassionate, and as full of undying love for theit families as dogs are, I think the world would be a much better place.
Please think about this long and hard. I don’t even think you know how much your areeing to this would be appreciated by my family. We love Daisy so much, and she helps Dad deal with life. Please don’t get mad at me. Just understand I want what is best for Dad, above all. His life obviously isn’t the easiest; not many things can make him as happy as Daisy does. Why should we deny him of this happiness for two weeks? We love you and know you will do what you think is best. Thanks for listening, and please consider allowing Daisy to come to the beach house.
Love,
Bridget
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And that just won't do! They did beautifully with Kim, and I feel much more comfortable leaving them now, although it is never easy.
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