I Once had a friend that waited and somehow knew when i would return from wor4k to greet me.
He didn’t ask for anything special, just a few crumbs from my snacks and a warm lap to rest on.
He loved to play with his toys when i sat on the couch, he knew it was playtime. If I put my coat on and he heard the rattle of my keys he would prance around and wonder if he’s going bye bye’s or have to get in his cage.
He never did anything destructive and was very well behaved, fo0r he was devoted to a kind and loving hand to stroke and comfort him when he needed love and attention.

When he needed medical attention I think he knew that i would not let him down and try to get help to cure his ailment. He had a lot of medical problems but he was worth every penny I spent on him for he was the best friend that anyone could ask for.

Unfortunatly he met with a tragic accident, for he took a leap into eternity and must have broke his neck in a fall.
After trying to breth the the breath of life back into him with CPR to no avail, it was hard to give up and pick up his limp and lifeless body and part company with such a companion and friend.
He will be remembered and missed very much, but if there is a doggy heaven I know he will be there for he was a good dog.

Farewell Zachary

Raymond from MD

Sometimes dogs are God’s angels. Our youngest daughter had been in an abusive relationship; on 2/8/04 she moved herself and her 7 yr old daughter to another town. On 2/10 she went missing; on Valentine’s Day morning my kids and a detective came to our house to tell us they had found her car, burned and a body in it. The detective took a DNA sample from me, as I stood talking to him I looked out the front door. There stood the biggest Rotweiler dog I had ever seen in my life; my daughters favorite breed. She had had to leave her two Rotweilers when she left town with a friend. This dog was friendly, gentle, and adopted my granddaughter the moment she came to our house. I told my kids and my husband “Trust Freda to come back as a Rotweiler” My husband checked around the neighborhood to see if anyone lost him, they hadn’t even seen him before. I truly believe this dog was God’s angel, sent to us at that time to stop the black anger that had filled our hearts at hearing our baby was dead. I was not able to keep “Fred” but we found him a wonderful home and that couple has experienced flickering lights when there was an argument going on. God Bless you Mark.

Jill from Texas

It was Dec 31, 2005. My wife and I were invited to ring in the new year at a small club in Ramona Ca. The weather was rainey, chilly and the roads had a thick marine layer. On the 45 minute drive out I saw several animal carcasses along the roadway as visibility was poor. We arrived at the cluba t about 9:00pm. A live band was playing and we ordered dinner. While waiting another customer walks in and behind him wanders in a wonderful older dog. Our party of course thought the dog belonged to the genltman coming in, but the bar owner quickly shooed the dog back outside.

I went outside and another customer was sitting with the dog. He was totally drenched from the rain as he had been walking around the area asking neighbors about this dog.

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Several years ago, about 20 to be exact, shortly after I got married to my beautiful wife, Jana, I had the unfortunate job of having to put her 15 year old poodle, Candy Bar, to sleep due to blindness, deafness and other medical problems that were inoperable and painful. On the way to the vet, I tried everything I could, yelling, waving my hand in front of her face to see if I could get any response. There was none. It was a decision that my wife had made, since it was her friend for such a long time. She couldn’t stand to see her suffer anymore, but she couldn’t do it. She figured that me being a police officer, only for about 2 years, but still one, I could handle it. I did what needed to be done, then went to the car and broke down and cried like a baby.
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I am an avid listener and appreciate all that you do for our wonderful country. I can’t wait to read your new book (after finals!) and I thank you for sharing your emotions and feelings on how important pets are.

I had my quaker parrot Charlie for exactly 6 years (August 18, 2000 – August 18, 2006). She was in perfect health when I boarded her at the local bird store when my now fiancee and I went on vacation to the East Coast.

After a week and a half of vacation, we were on our way to the airport to return back to Seattle, when we were involved in a high speed collision, which delayed our return to Seattle. I missed Charlie everyday and knowing that I would see her very soon helped me feel better about being in such a traumatic collision. The thought of being reunited with her was what gave me the courage to go in a car back to the airport, past the accident site.

We tried to pick her up the afternoon we returned, but the store had closed early, so we came back first thing the next morning so I could snuggle her immediately. Unfortunately, I was told by one of the employees that she had died the morning before. In disbelief, I rushed over to her cage and found it empty.
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My dog, Ciara, was first my cousin’s dog. But when she got married and moved overseas, she couldn’t take Ciara with her. So I offered to foster her until I could find her a home. Needless to say, Ciara is now part of my family. She and her two feline brothers are the best gifts a person could ever ask for. Ciara is the “enforcer” in our house-when the boys fight, she breaks it up, when one of them sneaks out of the house, she goes after them and herds them to a spot where I can get them. She has been there for me when I got a divorce, when I’ve been studying for grad school and when I’ve needed a friend. She loves to chase her ball (and her brother Comet too) and loves to tromp in the rain. She’s the first one to greet me and the one to tuck me in at night. I am thankful every day that I have her and I wouldn’t know what to do without her!

Jennifer from MD