On December 13, 2016 Kasey wrote:

“Dear Elizabeth,

The first thing I need to do is apologize for not keeping in touch and letting you know how Trace is doing… Trace is doing great. She is everything I could have hoped for in a dog for Gary. She has a very loving personality and is almost “passive” in her desire to please. She is totally devoted to Gary. In fact, you had said Trace wanted to be a house dog. I beg to differ. Trace wants to be a personal companion dog. If Gary is in the house Trace is happily by his side. But if he goes outside to do something (take out the trash, bring in wood, etc.) she waits at the back door until he comes back. Even if I’m in the living room she won’t come in there and lie down. She’s going to wait for Gary to come back…Trace is more alert to her surroundings than Kindra but she is not nervous or anxious in any way… As I said earlier, Trace thinks she needs to be right by Gary’s side. Although, in the living room she has learned she can actually lie as much as six feet away and still live! … She’s a sweet dog and Gary and I are happy with her. More important, Trace obviously is happy.

Now on to Kindra… She is lying beside me as I type… I couldn’t love her more. It’s so hard to go off and leave her. I love going to church but there is that little “hurt” at leaving her. And then as I back out of the carport and turn to go down the driveway I can see her looking out the window at the car as if she can’t believe I left her. And I’m sure she’s whining. Our good friends invited us over for their belated Thanksgiving meal on December 9th. They had said to bring the dogs and they meant it because they know how I feel. But I didn’t want Kindra and Trace shedding in their house. But that two and a half hours without Kindra at my side was hard.

Merry Christmas,

Kasey”