Editor's note: For the past several years, Roslyn Kind has repeatedly donated to our Kindred Spirits memorial program. So we asked the singer-actress if we could profile her, and Kind graciously agreed. Unbeknownst to Ms. Kind, we'd also done a story on her sister, Barbra Streisand, and her deceased pet Sammy.

"We're very grateful to Kind for sharing this story about her special relationship with her dog Josh, in whose memory she has made many donations," notes Rob Blizard, director of gift planning for The HSUS. "We thank her for her continued support of HSUS programs. We think Josh would be thrilled, too."

During a recent concert tour, singer-actress Roslyn Kind sang "At Times Like This" while holding a picture frame. Audiences assumed that she was singing about a man. But at the end of the song's first verse, she turned the frame around to reveal a photo of Josh, her Yorkshire terrier, while she sang, "At times like this, a girl could use a—dog."

Nowadays it's difficult for her to get through the song, as she remembers her special friend. Josh would even come on stage to take bows with her. In fact, he spent a great deal of time on the road with Kind as she traveled across the nation performing.

"After ten years of unbeatable friendship, I have gone through a lot of pain trying to get over the loss of my little guy," Kind says of Josh, who was euthanized due to heart problems in 2000. Kind, whose multifaceted career spans decades and includes recordings and performances on Broadway and television and in nightclubs, concerts, and movies, loves all animals. But she and Josh had a special "soul connection."

In memory of Josh, Kind has made several donations through The HSUS Kindred Spirits™ program, which allows people to give in the name of deceased pets and people. The program offers an option for donors to send a sympathy card to someone who is grieving the loss of a kindred spirit. We also send the donor an acknowledgement confirming the gift.

Kind tearfully recalls their last moments together. Josh's veterinarian had determined that nothing more could be done for him and recommended euthanasia. In the final moments the vet asked Kind if she wished to leave the examining room, but she never considered abandoning Josh. She held him close during the quick, painless injection.

"He was never alone in his life and I would not allow him to go through this experience alone either," she remembers. "Even after he was gone, I just couldn't leave him. I sat there holding him in my arms for quite some time." Now Josh's ashes are surrounded in Kind's home by pictures, crystals, and candles.

These days she still misses Josh. "He had a fabulous personality—so full of spunk! He loved so unconditionally and everybody loved him." Due to the pain of losing her companion, Kind hasn't yet mustered the courage to get another pet. "Losing Joshie hurt so much. I have not been able to confront the hurt again." But she plans to look for another dog one of these days. In the meantime, Josh is still her kindred spirit.

For more on Roslyn Kind, visit her website at www.roslynkind.com. Her CD, Come What May is on sale at Amazon.com.