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“L±ð´Ç was very well-known on our ²õ³Ù°ù±ð±ð³Ù,†says Susan Streleaff of her ´Ú²¹³¾¾±±ô²â’s much loved golden retriever.
“A²Ô²â´Ç²Ô±ð who walked along Cawston, Leo would greet them. Often I would hear people call him over and ³Ù³ó±ð²â’d stop and pet Leo.
â€Àá³Ù was interesting to see the expressions on their face change. He touched their lives on their daily walks. For 10 years he did ³Ù³ó²¹³Ù.â€
Leo had love in his heart but it was fluid around it that brought his end at age 12.
The Streleaff family had Leo euthanized in mid-November.
At the ´Ú²¹³¾¾±±ô²â’s request, their veterinarian at in 91´ó»ÆÑ¼ sent him to in Oyama.
When Leo came back to them in a box, inside with his ashes was letter and a print of his paw.
â€Àá³Ù was comforting to have Leo back home with us. He was a member of our ´Ú²¹³¾¾±±ô²â.â€
Leo was the Streleaffs first pet.
“P±ð³Ù grief really hits you hard. I heard stories that pet grief hits you hard — they do become family ³¾±ð³¾²ú±ð°ù²õ.â€
To let all of ³¢±ð´Ç’s friends know of his passing, Susan put a poster up at the edge of the yard.
“W±ð’v±ð been receiving cards … a four-year-old called him ‘H²¹±è±è²â ¶Ù´Ç²µ.’â¶Ä
As the days went by more notes appeared, along with ribbons, bells, even kisses pressed to the sign.
“P±ð´Ç±è±ô±ð have been really °ì¾±²Ô»å.â€
Leo loved to swim and hike on Knox Mountain.
“W³ó±ð²Ô we went out for a walk people would ask â€Òµ²õ that the dog on °ä²¹·É²õ³Ù´Ç²Ô?’ It just kind of hit Cawston really ³ó²¹°ù»å.â€
The family brought Leo into their lives when son Ryan was 9.
â€Áè²â²¹²Ô was begging me to get a dog. I said, ‘W±ð’r±ð just going to ±ô´Ç´Ç°ì.’ But when 13 fluffy retrievers come at you, you know ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð going to go home with ´Ç²Ô±ð.â€
They did, picking a little girl out of the pack, but “i³Ù just »å¾±»å²Ô’t fit °ù¾±²µ³ó³Ù,†Susan said.
“W±ð went back and I feel that Leo picked us. There was a feeling when he came up to us immediately. He had a number nine on him and the owner said ‼«³ó, number nine: ±á±ð’s got ±è±ð°ù²õ´Ç²Ô²¹±ô¾±³Ù²â.’â¶Ä
±õ³Ù’s too early for the Streleaffs to contemplate getting another dog.
â€Àá can see the power of ±è±ð³Ù²õ,†Susan says. “H´Ç·É they add to our family, our community, our lives.
“L±ð´Ç »å¾±»å²Ô’t judge — you could be tall, short, young, old.
“H±ð was loving to the ±ð²Ô»å.â€