Column Three - A Kiss Goodbye

I recently visited Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach with our Ambassador Dog and my personal pet, Bentley. The university had requested that we visit to help relieve the students' stress levels during exams week. We were happy to be of assistance.

While students gathered to pet Bentley, several would pull up a slab of sidewalk and stay awhile. We talked about Bentley, how he was found as a stray not far from the university, what type of pets they had, etc. One of the students, a young man with Golden Retrievers of his own, made a comment that stuck with me. We discussed how Bentley's house brother Max had recently become quite ill, and we had to put him down to ease his suffering. The young man asked, "Did you give Max a piece of chocolate before he passed?" I replied, "No, why do you ask?" He said, "Since chocolate is poisonous to dogs, it would be nice to let them taste it before they pass. Maybe a chocolate kiss could be the final kiss goodbye." I just smiled in recognition of his genuine kindness.

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