I acquired Max several years ago. He was in the custody of my daughter’s ex’s family. They were moving and were going to put him down unless someone took him. Max had won my favors long before this so I was happy to take him home.
My oldest daughter got Max after she left the nest, got married and had her first child. Devin was born and a dog was acquired. Good plan. One morning when Devin was about three he got out of the house while his parents were still sleeping. Max tagged along with him. When they woke up and found him missing of course panic ensued! Police were called and neighbors helped look. Sometime later the police located Devin and Max several blocks away. Located was all they could do as Max would allow no one near Devin. Once mom and dad arrived Max stood down. He earned his keep for the remainder of his life that day… So now I look after Max as he cared for my grandson.

Andre from MN

Maxman and I met in a Petsmart in August 1995. The local pet rescue had an adoption day and I wanted and needed a dog. Me and Max were together for eleven years.

A bit about me…

From birth till my 32nd birthday I had twelve dogs. Until Max, not longer than two years and I never put one down… until Max. My dad was in the oil business (He worked for Mobil) and we moved often but never took the dog with us. After graduation from college I had a few dogs but always gave them away when I moved…. Until Max.

Their names were, Baby, Tiger, Sam, Suzie, Curly, Cindy, Hazel. Nutmeg, Annie, Reindeer, Blizzard, Keno and Bogart (Yes a Basset).

I was walking Max (he was called Marvin then) around Petsmart, seeing if he was friendly to others (he was) and trainable (he fooled me there). After fifteen minutes of walking around, I looked down at him and asked him “Do you want to go home?” He looked up at me and wagged his tail. I took this as a good omen until he pooped in the aisle. I spent eighty seven dollars that I didn’t have on Max. It was the best decision I ever made.

The first year together was a learning experience for both of us. Max learned not to drink my rum and coke, and I learned not to leave my $600 leather shoes on the floor. Max had separation anxiety and over the eleven years he cost me over $7000 in shoes, leather jackets and carpets. Worth every penny.

Max got me through every break up and every bad decision. I realized he didn’t care where we lived as long as we were together.

Max also had ear infections. He would get them every year or so and off we would go to the vet for meds and ear rinses. Until August of 2006.

Max was acting as he always did with an ear infection. He scratched, howled and made those sharp pain whelps in the middle of the night. After a trip to the vet and Max getting worse, I took him back to him. A sub vet was in and discovered that Max was deaf and blind. He explained to me that he was going insane.

I put Maxman, Max-a-million, Maxi-pad down on August 8, 2006. The last weekend we spent together, I had to put him in my car and drive away from my town home. I was up for 47 hours trying to make him feel better. I couldn’t. It was time.
I miss my dog.
I miss my friend.

Alan from Minnesota

10 years ago I couldn’t have written this story, because although I wasn’t a dog hater I thought that anyone who treated dogs like people or thought dogs went heaven were crazy. I worked as a director at a assisted living home. The manager decided it would be great idea if the home adopted a dog from a shelter for the elderly residents to befriend and pet. Since everyone else on the staff already had a pet, I was asked if I would take the dog to my house at night and on the weekends since that was the agreement with the shelter.

Wanting to make a good impression I told my boss, SURE. As soon as I got EDDY (a lab-newfoundland mix who weighs 100 lbs) into my car I had a talk with him. I told him if he ever had a accident in my house or chewed anything up he was going back, and it seemed that he understood. The arrangement really worked well, and my son & I really became attached to our new member of the family.About six months later a new manager took over and downsized my job so I was eliminated from the staff. She told me I had to leave Eddy there and they would take care of him. I was heartbroken, and soon learned they were locking Eddy in basement every night and leaving him outside for hours wihout food or water.

To make a long story short, I called the shelter about two weeks later and told them what happened. They were furious, and asked me if I wanted him. They told me to go and take him since they violated the contract. Not too easy since it was a secured building. On Saturday night that week I walked in there and told the receptionist I was taking Eddy. She said she wouldn’t let out. I said if you don’t I’ll call the police. She did, and 8 1/2 years later Eddy has been my best loyal friend. By the way they called the police and told them I stole the dog. When they found out the whole story, they dropped the case and told me they wanted me to have the dog. Eddy is the sweetest dog, also a great protector. I do treat him like a person, and YES I expect to see hime in heaven

Patricia from MN

My granddaugher, Sydney, who is 7 years old and lives in Denver, Colorado has a black border collie/chow mix named Remmey. Remmey is about 11 years old and was in good health. My granddaugher and her mother flew to Wisconin this past Friday to visit family. The day after arrival in Wisconsin, her mother got a call from the father saying that Remmey had died; she was laying out on the deck and was dead. As of yet, we do not know the cause of death. Of course, everyone was distraught and now the parents have to tell Sydney that Remmey has died and she will never see the dog again before they return back to Denver or upon arrival on Tuesday. How do you explain to a 7 year old what has happened to Remmey while she was visiting relatives. She loved that dog.

Please advise.
Thank you.
Monika From Utah

We lost our most trusted guardian part border collie Howie nearly 2 months ago. While the pain still lingers, my wife Sandy eased our pain in her blog posting :

Goodbye to a Friend

Howie, my boy, right now I’m sure you’re comfortably ensconced on that big hill under a spreading shade tree in Heaven, waiting for us to join you. I certainly can’t say I begrudge you your new home, you deserve it. If Heaven is what I think it is you’ll find lots of raccoons and deer to pester, and no one will constantly wag a finger at you and tell you that you’re too fat or too cranky, or too rough with the little dogs. In your new home you’ll be able to be outside as much as you want and it won’t be too hot or too cold. You won’t shed and you won’t have to deal with that dang arthritis in your leg. But I’m sure you’ll miss your babies, and they’ll miss you too. They’ll miss the way you made your girly noises at them and threw yourself to the ground so they could climb on you. They’ll miss the way you used to hit them with a squeaky toy to try to entice them to play. They’ll miss your sweet kisses.

As for your human family. We’ll certainly miss your incredible beauty, your hard won moments of affection, your determined guarding of our home. We’ll miss the way you greeted us so happily every time we returned home, and the way you stood as a proud sentinel over our precious piece of the world. We’ll miss your beautiful golden eyes, so full of expression, and yes, even your cranky times, when it seemed you just wanted us all to leave you alone.

We have lost much with your passing. You died much to soon. But we’ll try to concentrate on what you’ve gained and be happy for you. Now you have a new job. Your venue has changed, but we would still ask that you continue to watch over us and keep us safe. And save us a warm spot next to the tree, for when we finally come to join you.

Goodbye, Howie. We love you.

Thanks for letting me share our pain in hopes we comfort one another.

Bob from IN

Mark, pets especially dogs and cats, offer us a unique kind of love unavailable any where else. Unconditional love! Think about it, it’s true! If the time comes that we must end their life to end their suffering, that is the ultimate act of love we as pet lovers can show. It is an honor to be put in that position by the god that created us all, including our beloved pets. GOOGLE The Rainbow Bridge if you haven’t read it already, and prepare to shed tears as I have every time I read it, pray to your GOD for strength and he will give you strength. Peace be with you brother.

John from PA