Last December, I received a letter addressed to "Island Tails" with a photo of a bichon frise puppy.

The letter was from Kazuko Hardy, an 81-year-old woman who was battling pancreatic cancer.

Her letter was about her dog, which she found in a pet store earlier in the summer. Hardy named her Yuuki, which means courageous in Japanese. Yuuki reminded Hardy to be strong and fight the cancer.

She wrote, "Whenever I had to get up to take my medication or when I did not feel well, she nudged me to uplift my moods and banished my loneliness by pressing her wet nose on me. Yuuki has inspired me to continue living as fully as possible, to another day of delightful laughter and love."

I wrote a blog about Hardy and Yuuki on Dec. 18. I got many calls and e-mails from people who knew her. They said that she was a good worker and a wonderful friend.

Hardy and Yuuki came to the Advertiser building to visit on New Year's Eve. I got to meet the most vibrant, beautiful woman and her loving, fluffy dog. While they were here, Hardy cradled Yuuki in her arms the entire time. You could plainly see how mutual the love was.

Hardy said, "I don't feel ill at all. I'm going to keep on going until I can't anymore."

Hardy's daughter, Cheryl Seawright, flew from Mountain View, Calif., to take care of her mother. "Yuuki walks like a lamb, bouncing all over the place making my mother laugh. Because Yuuki needs to be walked, my mother gets her exercise every day.

"My mom talks to her in Japanese and I think Yuuki really understands her. They even sleep together in the living room while my mother watches Korean soaps. I believe God created dogs to touch people in a certain way. That's what this dog did for my mother."

Hardy enjoyed Japanese dancing. I saw her perform on Centerstage at Ala Moana Center with her dance group in January. In her silk kimono and floral pins in her hair, she looked elegant and serene. She glided across the stage, extremely graceful in the art she had practiced for so many years.

On July 10, Hardy passed away after spending several weeks in hospice. The cancer finally won but her spirit stayed strong to the end. Her life was celebrated on Friday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

Pets make our lives happier and healthier by doing just one thing: loving us. Yuuki filled Hardy's last year with comfort, encouragement and laughter.

Animal lover Leslie Kawamoto has been with the Advertiser for 19 years, or 133 in dog years. Check out her blog at http://HonoluluAdvertiser.com/Blogs.