Reggie (a Shi-Tzu mix) was received as a gift from friends in 1989. Kandi (a Toy Poodle) was adopted on the death of her owner in 1991. They became very close with Kandi running the show. We were the best of friends and companions for the next 14+ years. Reggie went blind and became diabetic in 2000 requireing me to give him insulin injections twice a day. Kandi developed pulmonary prolapse which also required medication each day. Neither of their health problems took away their zest for life and we continued to enjoy our time together. In 2004 I was required to leave for 4 days to attend the funeral of my brother-in-law. I boarded them with their veterinarian. When I returned Dr. Warren, their Veterinarain, called me aside and told me that Kandi had died during the night. He said that when he came in Reggie was wrapped around Kandi protecting her. He also said that Reggie was listless and could not stand up and did not know if Reggie would survive the loss of Kandi. We agreed that he would observe Reggie at his home overnight and make a recommendation the next day. His recommendation was that we should euthanize Reggie and I agreed. (Reggies health had deteriorated during the past year and the decision was based on that as well as the current situation). I spent the next four hours reminescing with Reggie. He talked to me in his own way and I knew by his demeanor that he wanted to say goodby. I kissed him and then Dr. Warren took him. I had Reggie and Kandi wrapped together in their favorite blanket and buried in a beautiful pet cemetary where I visit them regularly. You can imagine the shock and anguish I felt at loseing both of them in this way and within 2 days of each other. I will always cherish the memory of our
freinship and companionship. I carry a lock of their hair and their picture in my wallet and many pictures of them adorn my home. I received more then 50 condolence cards which shows the compassion of people who understand the bond between a master and his canine pals.

Best Wishes, Stan from TX

Remmie is my third German Shepherd Dog I’ve adopted from rescue.

Nobody wanted him because he was skin and bones, his fur was like wire, he was old (I think they estimated about 6 at the time, now about 8).

I’m not sure what his prior “owners” did to him other than starve him, but he looked a bit like someone stuck his bones in a dryer for a few minutes and then just draped his skin over top.

Now he has degraded quite a bit as he’s not able to walk very well. Since I can’t ASK him what he wants, I don’t know what to do: put him down? Keep him around until he totally can’t walk? I don’t know.

Mack, a prior adopted GSD I did the latter and that was just horrible – or did I just THINK it was horrible? I don’t know.

Sometimes it feels like Remmie is trying to tell me “see, I’m okay – don’t put me down” as he picks up a ball and tries to play. But he can’t go anywhere, so he just sits back down.

Other times, it looks like he’s in so much pain as he tries to ambulate through the yard to relieve himself (if he actually makes it that far…).

I don’t know what to do – do you know? How do I know if it’s not just me giving up on him?

I have two other GSDs – one I’ve had since birth (which was a gift) and the other is another rescue, who had also been starved previously.

I will continue to adopt from rescue – these people who throw away their dogs like a piece of garbage make me sick.

I’m going to hit the submit button – this is my second attempt at sending the article and pic – I’m not very good with this medium I’m afraid! Sorry if you got it twice!

Can’t wait to get your book. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to read it – every time you talk about it on the air, I cry. In fact, I cry a lot when I listen to your show – so thanks for mixing in the jokes!

God bless you. Keep up the priceless work you do.

Liz from MD

I remember the very day some 38 years ago when my father came in the door of our home carrying an 8 week old puppy. My brother, sister, and I were ecstatic as we were now the proud owners of a beagle. We named him Skipper fondly known as Skippy. From that day forward, Skippy was a member of the family. I have many memories of Skippy, but can only write of a few. Kids spend a lot of time in an imaginary world. Both my brother and I would team up and create Skippy’s “biography.” Not many people know this courageous beagle was the most decorated
dog in the “Dog and Cat Wars” of the 1970s. His heroism and valor led to him becoming a 4 Star General. Because of his stellar wartime experience, Skippy was elected President. That’s right….that is what I said, “President”. When Skippy would enter the room my brother and I would hum “Hail to the Chief” and out of respect refer to him as “Mr. President”. We put our beagle, our Skippy, on a pedestal in our imaginations and that was all a part of our early years with Skippy
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Lucy gives us so much love. She was abused when she was a puppy. Our family rescued her.

They had her for almost ten years. The family has other small dogs and in the mix Lucy bit a family member. They gave her to us.

We have had so much love from her that we can not imagine life without her. We are so glad she was out of character to bite her way to us.

Vonnie from Fl

Jake, my Bouvier des Flandres, was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2001 at the age of 7 1/2 yrs. and I put him to sleep in January of 2003. The loss of a beloved dog is never easy, but when it is spread out over a long period of time, it presents a unique challenge, because we just have to stare at them every day and try to figure out what’s going on with them. I hope my story will help others in the same situation.

It is hard to know when the time has come to say goodbye, because dogs instinctively mask symptoms of illness for as long as possible.

Our time came about 2:00 AM on a very cold Texas winter night. It was 22 degrees outside with a strong wind. Jake was insistent to go outside, so I let him out, but when he didn’t come back, I went out to search for him in the yard. He wouldn’t come to me as he had always done before, but ran away from me when he saw the leash in my hand. I had no choice but to follow him through the shrubbery until he finally gave up, so that I could bring him back into the house. I must have been quite a sight following him, with my robe flapping in the icy wind, but there was no way I was leaving him out there, and my mind was made up that I was going to win this particular battle.
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Let me begin by stating the obvious: DOG spelled backwards is GOD. With that said I want to make it clear in no uncertain terms that Man’s Best Friend is God’s way of showing us his unconditional love for us. Love based on nothing but “I am here to love you with all my might, and with every fiber of my body down to my wagging tail which only reflects my heart..’ No judgment is ever made on our looks our place in life, our income, skin color, ambition, education or anything else we tend to judge ourselves by. Utter unconditional love is what they bring to us. They demonstrate trust in us that is nearly impossible to find anywhere else in our lives and their Joy is based on one thing only.. to be by our sides. The goal of our dogs is simply to Please us. I could go on and on but those that have dogs and have come to recognize this gift of joy, humor, companionship and never ending love all wrapped up in a furry ball of sweetness.. already know these things. They are head and shoulders above the rest of God’s animals in character and integrity and honesty that simply goes beyond what we have come to expect as the norm from animals, and unfortunately even the norm of what we have come to expect too often from our fellow man.
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