CONFESSION: We all love Lucy

I was saddened to read that Lucy Dukes is leaving The Press. I am happy for her taking the next step in her journey, but part of me is selfish in a way and will really miss her articles and influence on other features in the paper.

Ms. Dukes was a large part of the success of the last organization I worked for. I read through the dozens of articles she had written about us, and now as then, thought she was fair, balanced and was an excellent writer. Whether it was a story about microchipping your pet, an upcoming event we were having or a homeless cat abandoned at the shelter, she did her job writing the article, but was also a true champion for the animals in our community and in my care. The many stories she wrote kept our organization in front of the readers in this community and helped build our base of support.

One day she called me about a dog she had saved. It was a little ragged around the edges and less than friendly. The dog really liked her, but because of her circumstances, she couldn't keep it. She brought it into the shelter, and then visited it several times a week until it found a home. During one of her visits, she bonked her head on an open kennel door so hard it almost knocked her out. There was so much blood it looked like a bad slasher movie. After the stars stopped spinning around her head and she could stand, she allowed me to patch her up and kept right on visiting with the dog, never missing a beat.

Lucy, you are a kind soul and have a huge heart. If wealth was measured by the type of person we are, you would be a billionaire. I and the other people in our community you have touched will miss your charming wit and contagious smile. I feel fortunate to have crossed paths, even if it was for a short while. Please don't forget us in your journey; we certainly will not forget you.

PHIL MORGAN

Coeur d'Alene