A Letter to the Governor

In response to the blurb in this morning's Seattle PI

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/258564_tl107.html

Gov. Christine Gregoire's tiny dog Franz, a "first dog" so popular with schoolchildren and state capital visitors that he had his own Web page, wine label and trading cards, died Monday after he was hit by a car.

Franz, a powder puff of a Pomeranian who was a Valentine's Day gift 10 years ago from Christine and Mike Gregoire to their daughters, darted in front of a car and was struck.

The pet was rushed to the vet, but could not be saved, Gregoire spokeswoman Holly Armstrong said. The pet was in the care of unidentified Gregoire family friends at their home in Olympia while the first family was in Michigan for the Super Bowl.

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Dear Governor Gregoire:

Everyone is saddened by your loss of Franz, who was taken from you unexpectedly. As a fellow pet guardian, I can't imagine what it would be like without my little Italian greyhound, Sophia, who I adopted last May.

My husband and I lost our favorite cat to a car last August. Cats are a little bit harder to contain than dogs when it comes to being outdoors. My dog has a protected yard - the cat jumps the fence. We were stunned by the loss and I still cry sometimes. You see, I was standing right there when it happened, he started across the street toward me when a car came around the corner pretty fast and it all happened in a split second.

We often are taught to minimize our feelings because it's "just an animal". Knowing there are thousands of us who empathize over your loss does not lessen your pain or other feelings. I want to encourage you that grief over the loss of a pet is totally okay, and there are even support groups set up by some of the animal shelters and rescue groups to assist you and your family through the process.

Please contact Connie Starr, someone I volunteer with at the Seattle Animal Shelter, at 206.937.6934. She is starting a group in Seattle and could probably work with you one-on-one. She also is connected with the King County/Humane Society group as well, and may know of others, perhaps closer to your home.

Wendy Hughes-Jelen
Seattle, WA

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Send your own note of sympathy to the Governor and her family.

Visit http://www.governor.wa.gov/