If this doesn't make you cry, nothing will

SooToday.com received the following letter from devoted dog owner, James Nolan.

************************** You might be thinking that he might have saved me from a fire, or a robbery, or maybe even saved me from drowning.

But Jupiter, my great dane, saved me from myself.

I suffer from depression and anxiety, and have for many years.

Throughout the years I've tried many types of drugs and therapy, yet I could never really manage it and even tried suicide when I was younger.

It took me over two years to learn how to manage it a little better and help deal with it.

Jupiter came into my life when my depression was destroying my life.

I lost my daughter, didn't have the greatest job in the world, and my marriage was falling apart.

He was already two when me and my ex-wife rescued him.

At first he terrified me due to his size.

He was a lot bigger than the other dane that we had, and believe it or not, I didn't even want him at first.

Jupiter and his brother Keegan (he's my pound puppy I rescued over 10 years ago) quickly became my dogs and were attached to my hip.

With my depression getting worse, my divorce was when everything finally fell apart.

She took her great dane and I kept the boys.

My whole world revolved around just me and my boys after that.

I knew I still had two lives to take care of even if I didn't care about my own.

I still had to feed them, take them out, and socialize them.

Jupiter was my connection to the outside world.

He always drew a crowd around him and and he loved all  the attention he got.

Jupiter was a very proud dog and never had to prove it.

He was a very regal dog.

He was such a big lover of people and animals that it forced me to talk to other people.

I always called him my real life Scooby-Do.

He was big, dumb, lovable and was scared of his own shadow.

Both Jupiter and Keegan were my security blanket.

It never mattered how I felt, Juppy was always there to help me.

There were many times that I wanted to take my own life, and even had the police called on me once because of it.

But every time I would hit that low, I would look at my boys and think, "Who's going to take care of my boys?"

I knew that no one would ever take care of them the way that I did, and that was enough to keep me alive and also keep me working.

A couple of months ago he was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer.

I was devastated over the news.

My vet had told me that the cancer was too far along to consider any type of treatment and the only thing was to try and make him comfortable.

So, he started on pain medications and anti-inflamitories.

He had good days and bad days during the last few months, but I wasn't ready to let go yet.

After a few bad falls, the pain and cancer got the best of him.

He stopped taking his pain meds, and his eating and drinking habits slowed down to almost a complete stop.

Jupiter always greeted me when I got up in the morning - it was his way of saying good morning - with a happy look on his face and his wag of his tail, and of course his "woo woo" in his high pitched bark, then followed by his howl.

He always showed me his love and bond that we had.

I knew on that Tuesday morning when he didn't come and greet me that he was telling me that it was time for him to move on.

The pain in his eyes spoke to my heart and he was telling me to let him go.

I never wanted him to suffer just for my own selfish needs so I made the choice to let him go and made the arrangements with my vet to end his pain and suffering.

After all that he had done for me, this was the least I could do for him.

We spent the whole day cuddled up on the couch, spending our last day together.

Jupiter had been there for me in my most darkest times of my life, so being with him during this time was very important to not only me but also to him.

He was very sucky and wanted to be beside papa.

He was also eight years old now and had a good life.

October 5 will always remain an important day for me.

It was the day that I had to say goodbye to my best friend.

Jupiter started his travel to the spirit world at 11 a.m. and me and my girlfriend were with him throughout the whole time.

I was holding his head as the vet was giving him his needle and he looked right in my bloodshot, teary eyes and it was almost like he was saying thank you to me, I love you, and goodbye - and then the life just faded away and I heard him take his final breath.

I laid his head on my lap and sat there on the floor with him.

I wanted to make sure that he knew that he was very much loved in this life and that he will be welcomed and loved just as much by my daughter and my other ancestors in the spirit world.

I sat there with him for half an hour.

I know he was starting to get cold, and his nose was dry.

I knew it was time for me to leave but I couldn't.

I couldn't stand up and thank the creator that my girlfriend was there for support.

I couldn't have done this without her and I will always be grateful to her for not only sticking with me during the hard times in my life but also being there for me when I needed her the most with Jupiter.

His paw print will always remain on my heart.

I will be putting him in the best place I know of, and that's with my grandparents and my daughter.

Juppy is family and belongs with family.

My father and my girlfriend will be taking the final journey with me to Missanabie when I get his ashes back.

Jupiter has touched the hearts and souls of many people from all over the world.

There are pictures of him from China to Africa.

He was an aspiring therapy dog.

I know that many people that he touched will mourn him now that he's gone, but they will also remember him for his kind and loving heart which showed in his face and eyes.

They will always remember him running through the park (looking like a deer) and being happy and carefree.

We will always remember him for his playful side like when he would pounce like a 165 pound cat - the way that he would howl and bark like a little chihuahua.

How his favorite seat was your lap whether you knew it or not.

Oh, and let's not forget the Juppy slobber, like I use to say: "You were just blessed by Saint Juppy."

Also cruising around town with his head stuck out the window enjoying the cool breeze in his face.

But most of all I will remember him as the dog that saved my life.

So, to whoever is reading this, Jupiter is proof that being a pet hero doesn't always mean saving someone from burning houses or frozen lakes - that a pet can be a hero in other ways like saving yourself from yourself.

I know I would be dead right now if it wasn't for him and I feel that he deserves medal for saving a life.

It's also proof that pet therapy works - that unconditional love that pets have can help one through dark times and also help to bring a little joy in someone else's life.

We need more pet therapy programs.

I know that Jupiter is ok where he is now and he will be well taken care of.

I also know that he would want me not to give up and keep going.

So in his honor I will keep up the fight with my mental illness.

James Nolan

Dedicated to my best friend, companion, and my life saver, Jupiter.

**************************