Another story: heart attack after dog seized

Every time something appears in the local paper, I seem to get another phone call from a stranger with a story to share. Yesterday, a woman left a message that made me hold my breath. She said she knows exactly how I feel and what I am going through: in fact, after her dog was taken away, she had a heart attack. The pain behind her voice was tangible.

"We are supposed to be kind to animals," she says on the message, "But we are not being kind when we take it away from the person they love. I would like to talk to you. I would like to support you to the highest."

This morning, I called her back and left a message. I'm hoping she'll phone tonight, though I almost dread hearing yet another painful and senseless story. I will share whatever she allows.