For anyone that has every owned a pet and has had to do the hardest thing of saying goodbye to them after many years of love and companionship, here’s the last of a series of entries that NRO‘s John Derbyshire posted about the last days with his dog, Boris. Sure the posts are sad, but they are also touching and meaningful. Having had to let go of two cats and three rabbits in my adult life, you have to look at these things philosophically – you can’t avoid sadness in life, and the joys animals bring into our lives are well worth the pain and sadness it brings when it’s time to say goodbye.

So condolences to the Derbyshire family and a thank you to Boris; I’m sure their house feels a whole lot emptier tonight, but may there soon be another deserving young pup bringing new love and joy to it someday soon!