In Memory

Joan was a Humane Society Special at six weeks old, and Special she was. We inherited her from our nephews who were too young at the time to give the pup the very necessary attention a pup requires. She grew up to be the best girl ever. She loved to play and the tail was non-stop as well as her wiggle butt. We had Joan for eight years when she was diagnosed with cancer. The medication she took, gave us nine months more than we ever thought we'd get. We lost her on December 19, 2006. She just couldn't hold out for Santa this year.
We'll miss you forever Baby Girl.

We adopted Freckles through a local animal shelter and got the best Cocker Spaniel ever. At two years of age he was diagnosed with a cancer that is very hard to treat in dogs; Freckles was given a 2% chance of survival, we gave him all we had! After fighting the battle for over a year and a half Freckles was cleared and amazed all vets who had taken care of him. He was all of our miracle dog. And he showed up his appreciation for a full thirteen years of his life. We just lost him June of 2009 and miss him every day. I hear him scratching on the door or running down the hall when I am having a bad day. He is with us always. Freckles will never be forgotten, he was and will always be our miracle.

The best dog we ever had. It was more like having a person around than a dog. We have had four other german shepherds, all great dogs. But you always have the one that steals your heart away and just is what the others can't compare to 100%. Even though we love all our dogs equally, there still is something different with each and every dog you have that touches your heart in a different way. Cookie did this. She could carry on a conversation with you in doggie language. It was great. I could ask her to go get a specific toy, she could. I could ask her to take food off my fork without touching the fork she could. She was our baby for 12 years. 12 special years that we wished so bad we could get back. Someday in heaven, we will!!! Love you Cookster and miss you very much!! Your human sister!!

Daisy was a silky terrier. She died December 2006 at 14 1/2 years old. She was a great dog. She got pretty mean and protective over her owners and food. She was also very aggressive toward other animals but for the most part very nice. She only weighed 10 lbs. but she thought she was a lot bigger. We had a lot of good times with her and miss her but will always remember her.

We adopted Dakota 9 years ago, she was a hyper, slobbering nervous girl, in time she calmed down but the last 3 years of her life she was blind but adapted well, knew the layout of our house and went out her doggie door, then katrina hit and changed our lives forever, we lost our home and moved 4 times, though all of that after we bought our new home she began to adjust again then on 10/5/2007 she had a stroke, and could no longer walk, the vet said she may never walk again, and i didn't want to put her though any more pain, so i made the decision with my husband to put her down, I stayed with her and she passed peacefully, but our home will never be the same and I will always miss her, but I am glad I got the privilege to take care of her for her remaining years.

When I was 9, my mother remarried. We moved into her husband's house where he lived with his youngest son. And like a snowflake falling in July, my whole word was completely out of the norm. Suddenly at the age of 9 I lived in a house, but not a home, surrounded by everything, but I had nothing. My mother drifted into her newlywed lifestyle, regularly forgetting that I felt absolutely lost and entirely alone. My newly acquired step-family lacked welcome arms and the new town we lived in seemed just as cold.
After a few months my mother took notice that I was regularly depressed and thankfully came up with a 9 year olds greatest anti-depressant, a kitten. I fell in love the moment I held that furry little bundle of joy and she covered my face in kitty kisses; I had never seen anything so perfect. She was a calico, with white little boots and a matching tuxedo front. The most loyal of cats I had ever met, she would only allow me to hold her and would rush to sit in my lap. Finally I had something and how wonderful it was.
As the years went on I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and with the title Marine under my belt I was deployed to serve my time in Iraq during the year 2005 (I was now 21). I remember hugging and covering my cat in kisses, how I would miss her. I served my time in Iraq, missing home, my family, my friends, and my cat.
After 10 months in Iraq I came home, greeted by friends and family, but my happy tears soon turned sour as my mom told me the dreaded news; my cat hadn’t come home in over two months. They last saw her July 29th, I came home Oct 1st just 3 days before my birthday. I felt like I was 9 again, lost and alone. For weeks after that I went on searches for my cat, calling every shelter and vet in the state, searching the web, and after 2 months my heart dropped as I knew I would probably never see her again.
With my recent deployment and the loss of my cat, again I went into a depression. February came and I needed to have a physical done to make sure I was still alright to serve in the military. I was assigned to a new doctor, one who knew nothing about me, and I remember being thrilled because that would be one less person to explain anything too, no personal questions.
At the end of the physical a nurse came in and started chatting with the doctor as I collected my things. Impossible to avoid, their conversation went something along the lines of, "Found any owners yet"? My doctor replied with a sigh and just shook her head while saying, "I don’t want to give them to a shelter; I would like to give them to someone who I know will take care of them". Perhaps she noticed me staring at them talk because suddenly my doctor looked at me and said, "You want a kitten?" I must have looked like a fool when I muffled out a weak, "Okay".
My doctor kind of laughed and gave me her address and directions to her house, she told me to come by later that afternoon. I went home, upset that I had said okay. There was no way I could love another cat as much as my lost one, no way. I decided I would show up to my doctor’s house to let her know that I had changed my mind and to explain that I wasn’t ready for a new kitten.
I showed up and she led me to the living room where I was told to wait before I could get in my piece about changing my mind. I heard her laughing in the other room and moments later a bright eyed orange tabby came rushing over too me, more like a dog than a cat, and then leaping into my lap, just crying to be held. I picked her up and she covered me in those same kitty kisses that my other cat had. I could feel the void in my heart slowly filling up with love again. I petted the 4 month old kitten and she lay in my lap purring away.
My doctor sat there explaining why she was giving away the kittens, I was barely listening, and I was too infatuated with this little creature in my lap that was making me feel again. It wasn’t until my doctor started rambling off dates that I looked up in amazement. “Not that it makes any difference, but my cat became pregnant with this litter July 29th.” I didn’t say anything about how my cat had disappeared that same day; I just sat there finding it ironic. “Funny thing, the kitten you are holding was born October 4th, first one of the litter. The rest came minutes later, but minutes later made it October 5th” She smiled sipping on her coffee not realizing that her small talk was hitting extremely close to home. October 4th was my birthday too and the tears came rolling down my face and I held onto this new kitten that would become my new pet to love.
Now some call it coincidence, some don’t care to listen, and others agree that it was destiny in my getting this new kitten. I never got a chance to truly say goodbye to my old cat, but deep down I just know this was a way for her to cover me in those kitty kisses, to leap into my lap, and to show that her love will always be with me.

When I was 13 or so, someone gave me a horse he said was a mustang.I took care of him and grew up with his strength supporting rough teenage years. When I was 16 I picked up a dog from the newspaper. She was listed as a border collie, German shepard mix. I found out later, from the lady whose dog had birthed her that she had coyote in her too. Never have I seen a sweeter dog. When I was 18 I had twin boys, one of whom was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The dog would not let those kids out of her sight. She was a perfect mommy dog. When the boys were old enough to go outside & play, we had the one in his walker while we were out flying kites. My horse came over and sniffed the walker, and stood there with that boy until we left. He taught those boys how to ride, and he felt bad when he scared the one. Both of these wonderful angels passed away within a week of each other July of 2006, and I have never missed a pet as much as I miss them. There is not enough room on paper to describe how much these 2 beautiful loving creatures taught me patience, and enriched my life. It makes it easier to accept knowing they are waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge, along with the others I have lost. I'll be so happy when I am back with you Shyka and Blayz. I know you will keep Toby and Dan company until I get there.

We moved to a farm and Josh came with it. He was a special dog; loving, patient, kind to all (except chickens -which he'd eat on the hoof...) He was great with the kids and my shadow, not leaving my side. Josh you won our hearts in 5 short months, you will never be forgotten... We love you forever our dear dear friend.

Bojean was the first dog I had. Had her from the time I was about five years old. When she passed on, it left a hole in my heart that no pet still has replaced. I found out that when each pet since passed on, they each took a part of my heart with them. Jackie, a lab was next. A truly spoiled girl, always laying on my bed with me, listening to me when I was a teenager and going through the emotional turmoil that all teens go through. We got our next two dogs a few years after my sweet Jackie died. We got Blackie and Diana, shepard and lab mix puppies. They were so completely different looking, no one ever believed us that they were brother and sister. Blackie being smooth coated and looking like a lab, and Diana being fluffy and looking like a cross between a shepard mix and old English sheepdog. While we had them, we found our next dog, River. Actually found her abandoned on the Colorado River bordering the California side. She was a terrier mix. She had one pup that we kept, that I named Princess. At one time, that left us with four dogs all at once. But they eventually grew old, and one by one left us, with my sweet, sweet Princess being the last. For several years, I wanted no dog, but our young son wanted one, so we got Jack, a lab-boxer mix. He is still a very great watch dog, sweet and loving. Finally, my heart healed enough for me to welcome in another dog, not to replace my Princess, but to add to our family. My husband got me my Maya, a spoiled little Chihuahua that I just love and love. We rescued from an animal shelter a few years ago, a chow-chow we named Nika. She is such a sweetheart, so gentle and loving, only wanting to be petted and loved in return. We have about an acre of land, so all the dogs have more than enough room to roam. Another chow (a male) recently got our chow pregnant and she had six pups. We're keeping one of them. We call her Houdini, cause she was such a great escape artist from all the pens we had the pups in. So, we're back up to four. Not one that we have now have replaced those that have passed on in the past. Each one was a special friend, companion, watch dog and listener. Each dog that we've ever had, will always have a special place in our hearts and souls. A dog to us is a member of our family, and cared for just as lovingly. We still miss the ones that have passed on, but at least we always take lots of photo's to keep remembering them by. They might be missed, but they will never be forgotten. I miss you all!

Babe, we love you and miss you. You gave us love and joy for 16 years. You were the best cat ever.