I had news this week that absolutely broke my heart. Allen and Alberta Pensinger, two amazing people and wonderful supporters of the shelter, were killed in a car accident in Shippensburg. They were both 82 years old.

It’s difficult to write about this because I’m just devastated. Their vehicle was apparently pushed into the path of a tractor trailer. I just…can’t believe it.

Miss Alberta (as I affectionately called her) and her husband, known as Red, have been coming to our Christmas Open House every year for as long as I can remember. They would bring their sweet little dogs with them, two little Pomeranian mixes to get their photos taken with Santa. Every year during our open house, I know I will see them and get to talk about how they’re doing and how their animals are – they also have cats at home.

Miss Alberta and I would have long chats about life with four-legged friends. She and Red liked sitting with their dogs and enjoying the treats we had for people. I loved sitting and talking with them.

Miss Alberta always had a smile for anyone. I can still see that smile in my mind as I type this. It’s so difficult for me to reconcile that I won’t see them this year at our open house.

My heart just hurts. We took their animals in to the shelter earlier this week because we wanted to help Red’s only son and daughter-in-law with anything they needed. Charlie and his wife came in with the animals and we were able to talk and reminisce about two people that were truly special and shouldn’t be gone.

We told them we would take care of their precious babies and find them good homes. I just found out today that the vet’s office where Miss Alberta took her animals are going to adopt the pets they currently have. It turns out the folks at the vet’s office loved the Pensingers so much, they wanted to adopt their animals, so the dogs will be going with the vet and a vet tech will take the cats.

I cried again when I learned this was going to happen. I truly think it just goes to show how incredibly special Miss Alberta and Red really were. They touched so many people in this world and were just so sweet.

I can’t believe they’re gone. If you have a moment and could send a prayer or good thoughts to Charlie and Laura as they deal with their grief, I would appreciate it. Life is precious and can be incredibly fleeting and we should all remember how very much good there is in this world.

Miss Alberta and Red may be physically gone, but their essence, who they were, their strong hearts and incredible kindness can never really leave us. I’ll take Miss Alberta’s smile with me wherever I go. I hope they both know the impact they had on so many people.

Rest in peace, Miss Alberta and Red, and know your babies will be happy and very loved in their new homes and thank you for showing all of us what it means to be wonderful human beings. You will be very, very missed.