Mark (if I may call you that – I feel I know you after reading about Sprite)

I grieved with you, as I read your moving tribute to Sprite. It is always devastating when we lose our friends. I am sorry for your loss, but I am glad you were able to share Sprite’s life for even a little while.

I have had a variety of dogs, throughout my life. They have been my confidants, my best friends. Growing up in the military, they were very likely the most constant thing that I could always rely on. Right now I have two standard poodles and a doodle mix that I rescued two years ago.

Back when I believed the idiots who said dogs would have no place in our afterlife, “because they have no souls” (can you believe that drivel?) I stoutly stated that if my dogs weren’t in heaven, I didn’t want to go. Well, it was a painful lesson, but almost exactly twenty years ago, God vouchsafed me proof that our “furkids” go on, whether it’s a “rainbow bridge” we meet at, or when we “go to to light.” At the time, we were living in Florida. My mother, who lived with me, was up in Illinois, taking care of her mother, who had terminal cancer, while I stayed behind to care for our dogs. (We bred boxers at the time, and had five adult danes, as well.) (more…)

Murray was not a shelter dog, but he was rescued. We were directed to him, by a Sheltie rescue organization in California. At the time we lived in New Jersey. The caller asked us if we knew were Bridgewater NJ was. It so happened it was right up the road. We found Murray tied to a tree. He was the leftover of a marriage gone south. The women said “just take him” he’s good for nothing. She had two kids; I always wondered what she did with them.

For the 1st year Murray was a handful, he was a runner. If you left a door ajar, he was gone. A few times he got out and we needed to scour the neighborhood for him. One day it dawned on him and he finally realized he had a forever home. He was great, we loved him. Memorial Day weekend 1999. I discovered his lymph nodes were enlarged. Took him to the Oncology Vet and was told he had Lymphoma, stage 3. She explained our options but was not overly hopeful. Murray was put on Chemo. He accepted it like a champ and the Chemo worked. His cancer went into remission. There is no cure for Lymphoma, your just buying time, in an unknown quantity. During this time marching band season started. We worked with one high school marching band, with their music and marching. We discovered Murray had found his calling on earth. Murray insisted on going to the practices. Without any direction from us he started working with the kids, keeping them in their lines. He lived for these rehearsals. He was so energetic and alive. This went on 3 months. (more…)

We lost our Spikey about two months ago and miss him so much. From the very first day he was Mommy’s boy. He always made me proud and never gave us a bit of trouble. He was great with kids and would hide from them if they would get too rambunctious ..it was so funny to see his behind sticking out from the bed, I guess he thought if he couldnt see them they couldnt see him.I could fill pages and pages with stories of how great he was..and I know everyone here could do the same about their special friend..I just wanted to say he was the light of our lives! we miss him every day.

Jeanette from NY