A Letter to my Dear Ernest

This moving letter from Yarden to their retiring guide dog Ernest, reflecting a heaven-sent partnership:

My dear and beloved Ernest,

How do you begin to summarise a chapter of such a profound partnership? A bond so deep, so symbiotic, that lasted for eight and a half years?
All the experiences, challenges, milestones and moments we shared together walk beside us still, as though we were one. Our hearts beat together with warmth, emotion and unconditional love. We breathed each other in and lived in complete harmony.

You were by my side through some of the most difficult moments of my life and through some of the most joyful and meaningful ones as well.
I am filled with gratitude from the depths of my heart. Thank you for your endless devotion, your unconditional love, for teaching me what boundless joy looks like and for supporting me through the hardest moments.

Thank you for your dedication to your role as my guide dog – the guardian angel who watched over my steps on this earth – and for the way you devoted yourself to such an essential and demanding responsibility.

For all these things, and for so much more than words can ever fully express, I am profoundly grateful to you.

My Ernest, more than a week ago you began a new chapter in your life – retirement.

Our bond has not ended; it has simply taken on a different form. My heart continues to beat in harmony with yours, just as it always has. My endless love for you continues to accompany you wherever you are and in whatever you do. We will continue to see each other, and we will share many more hugs together – with your successor by my side.

I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who accompanied us along this journey:

To the incredible team at the Israel Guide Dog Centre, led by Noach Braun and Carmel Reis. To Doron and Yael, Ernest’s wonderful puppy-raising family, who laid the strong foundation that helped him become such an exceptional guide dog. To Yoav, who trained Ernest. To the entire dedicated team at the Israel Guide Dog Centre, who were always ready to solve any problem and provide support whenever it was needed. To Keren Regal, my amazing sister and Ernest’s veterinarian. To Ofir and Shay, who are now lovingly caring for my Ernest in his retirement.
To my loving and beloved family, who have supported me every step of the way. And to everyone who loves my Ernest, and whose heart Ernest touched.

Love,
Yarden