In the summer of 2024, Lucy the Dog grew very ill. Over the course of one week, she became uninterested in food, uninterested in playing, and then completely lethargic. Veterinarians told her owners that Lucy was anemic and on the verge of death. She needed an immediate blood transfusion.
Later that day, they discovered she had a cancerous tumor in her digestive tract. This came as a shock because Lucy was roughly 5 years old. She underwent emergency surgery to save her life. The operation was a success, but the cancer was aggressive, and life-threatening. The doctors determined she had only a few months to live.
“That was the hardest part,” said Holly Macario of Sarasota, Lucy’s guardian. “There were these moments when she nearly died. Then she survived radical surgery. Then the doctors told us maybe she would get only another month, or if she was lucky, maybe three.”
In the time she had left, Lucy began to pose for many, many photographs. She also expressed interest in “writing her memoirs.” Over time, her writings took shape as 30 letters to her owners. In one sense, these are love letters. In another sense, these are lists of demands, unsubtle complaints about her dietary options, and over-the-top boasts about her positive personality traits and abilities.
The resulting book, “Letters From Lucy: Reflections on Life, Love and Human Relations,” came out on Sept. 1. A photo compilation and memoir, it is available in ebook, paperback and hardcover versions, sold on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple, and many other platforms.
“Lucy’s story is both heartwarming and inspiring,” said Brian Dunleavy, author of “The Covid Home Companion” and “Crunch Time.” “This is sure to resonate with dog lovers everywhere. It is often funny, always touching, and ultimately heartbreaking.”
Lucy was a Labrador retriever and Australian shepherd mix. In her spare time, she posed for photographs and paintings, rode in cars, chased balls, swam, ate and slept. She was a friend to everyone and a very good dog, Macario said.
For more information, write lucydogbook@gmail.com.
Submitted by Holly Macario
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: A canine love story: Sarasota woman publishes memoir with her dying dog Lucy
Reporting by Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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