This is our beloved Sadie, who left our lives on October 4, 2012. We rescued her from our local shelter, and she gave us the happiest years any dog could ever hope to give. In 2010 she contracted SARDS, a disease that robbed her of her sight and packed on a lot of extra weight. We loved her no less however, and made sure to help her around the house. She still always managed to find her favorite toys. A few days ago she collapsed in our home, her back legs seeming to be almost completely useless. What caused this we don’t know, but we took her to the vet as my wife and I were completely stunned and distressed, and as Sadie herself seemed to be in pain. We had to put her down that same day, and it was and I’m sure will be one of the hardest decisions we’ll ever have to make. For a dog that had been abandoned she was one of the sweetest my wife and I have ever known. I find myself apologizing to her over and over. I’m sure you can sympathize with the pain we’re feeling, for there will never be another dog like Sadie in our lives again.

— Eric from Kent, WA

Growing up, every dog we had that I grew close to, died. So I decided I\’d never get close to another one in my life. In 2004, my parents little dog was killed and my dad grieved alot as Jack was his shadow and buddy.

My sister got him another dog…a terrier mix pup and they named her Brooksie. She was young and loved to be outside, explore, walk. But my folks are old and really couldnt take her out for walks like they wanted to. That became my job when I went down there on weekends.

Somewhere on one of those walks, the bonding began. The folks would tell me she’d look forward to my weekend visits, and I began to look forward to them myself.

What seemed a chore became a pleasure and Brooksie managed to do what no other animal had done in years…broke thru the wall and became my furry friend and companion.

She still lives with my folks…there she has 90 acres to run on and she keeps a good eye on my parents.

But on the weekends and vacations…she’s my girl and my best friend…best friend I ever had…and I will cherish this friendship to my last breath.

— Leonard from Ruther Glen, VA

Loopy de Basset she is 8 yrs. Loves & eats 2 chicken hot dogs every night. Likes to go to park and pick up a scent; when she did find that ground hog they just stared at each other. When she sleeps with me if I move around in bed she growls for disturbing her!

— Frank from Englishtown, NJ

just adopted a new cat after the sad death of our 10 year old one. bitter sweet. my daughter and I went to the local “kill shelter” and told them to give us something on death row! We aquired “Mitt”, this was a friday his last  day was on monday! He was a older cat, past the cute adoptable kitten stage! He is fantastic! he fit right in with our other “shelter finds” which include 2 other cats, eugene, who was returned to the shelter twice,and a orphaned one, known as, the terrorist that we had to hand raise,and a bejingi/beagle mix dog! Please remember to always check the shelters first!

— Jill from Bellflower, IL

Our story is one of many who have loved and had the best furry baby anyone could. Her Name was Tootsie Roll. She was our heart and soul for one month shy of 11 years. We drove her 13 hours to our home in the mountains because we didn\’t want her to fly in the baggage dept. She would dance down the street in her regal way with her leash in her mouth…all the neighbors would come out and hug her. Unfortunately she left us after we discovered she had a degenerative spinal disease. After a year, when her legs gave out in back, we carried all of her 85 lbs using a tummy sling…and a special cart. We even bought a golf cart so she could see the neighborhood, as she was so used to walking twice a day to see everyone. She is still with us in spirit and gave us so much! Miss you toots! Thank God for dogs!

— Sue from Newport Coast, CA

Our two rescue dogs came into our life on two separate road trips.  We found Sadie on a country road during a day trip to the Reagan Library!  She was covered in cow manure, and didn’t move as we drove by her.  I told my husband we had to stop. We scooped her out of harms way, took her back to our house, gave her food and water, then off the the Reagan Library.  She was pregnant, which we didn’t know at the time, and had 5 beautiful puppies 8 weeks after we rescued her.  We found homes for all the pups!  The next summer, while coming back from the midwest, we stopped at a small market in Arizona, and a sweet little doe-faced dog was laying at the entrance of the market, thin as a rail, and starving.  I looked at my husband again, and you know the rest.  We snuck the pup into the Comfort Inn that night, took her home to California the next day, and Missy has been a blessing ever since.  I believe that we were suppose to find these angels, because they have done so much for us.  They love the dog beach here in California, and our neighborhood dog park.  It doesn’t get much better than this………

— Martha from Corona, CA