I have a Power Point Presentation that Mark may be interested in. It features photos of dogs with inspiring messages and the song “You are so beautiful” sung by Joe Cocker. The file is too large to send here, but if you’re interested in looking at it send me an email and I’ll get it out to you. Here’s a picture of my beloved cat who passed away two years agot. My wife and I had her cremated and we still have her ashes. Her name was Spot.

 Kent from NJ

My best friend’s name is Gonzo. He’s named after Ted Nugent, because this little guy is CRAZY! A friend found him along a busy highway in his neighborhood while on his way to work one morning. He posted signs with pictures, called the pound to see if anyone was looking for him and drove around all weekend talking to neighbors to see if someone was missing a dog. After trying his best to find the dogs home, he asked me to adopt Gonzo since a new baby and a new dog would be too much to handle. I was reluctant at first, but I took Gonzo into my home and have never had a better friend! He’s always glad to see me, he will fetch a toy or play chase on a whim, and I can play with other friends dogs and he doesn’t get jealous. Too bad I can’t find a woman like Gonzo, but without the hair all over her body! There’s no better friend than a good dog, and I don’t know what I would do without Gonzo in my life.

Tom from Texas

This is the love of my life. She was a replacement for our last dog Rusty. At 64 and disabled I can’t describe how much joy and love she has added to my life.

Gene from Texas

When I was quite young my family had a large G.S.D. named Duke. He was my friend, protector, and playmate. When he passed I was crushed. And we never got another. As I grew older I always wanted another Duke. Instead I got a Bruno who from over 25 litters had shown the most personality and above all chose me. He has been with me for Five years now. Traveled the country with me and has truly been my best friend. Bailey is my new addition who is now but one year old, and as you can see from the pics has personality and additude to spare. Along with Bruno being the perfect big brother. As I have no other family they have proven time and again to be best friends, constant companions, protecrors, and most important my family. Though I am parcial to G.S.D. I love dogs and can’t imagine how anyone could mistreat the wonderful gift we’ve been given in the form of the dog.

Dan from Ohio

3 years ago, my then 19 year old daughter had a “Paris Hilton” attack and forced her boyfriend, Mike to buy her a chihuhua. We already had Peaches the cat. When I saw her walk in with this tiny little thing I said “WHY???”. She promised to take care of this dog, named Bella, and she took the little thing into her room. I had grown up with a boxer, had a german sherpherd and a collie.

I was NOT used to a dog that looked like a mouse. I shampooed the rug three days in a row so, Toni (my daughter) had to keep Bella in her room. I went out of my way to avoid this dog. Then one afternoon, I heard my mother’s voice say “Be nice to Bella” (God rest her soul) She meant it. So I started to “visit” Bella in Toni’s room. As the weeks went by, Toni was working and just too busy to care about Bella. She would call from work and say she had forgotten to give Bella her vitamins or to feed her. I could see Bella was going nowhere fast. So I started bringing her with me. I would feed her, clean up her messes, give her the vitamins.etc.etc. Bella was so thankful to have a friend in the house she was fast becoming attached to me, and I to her. I sang to her, I gave her the nickname “poopoopup” which I sometimes still call her. I took Bella everwhere with me. As she grew we walked in the park, all over the neighborhood, and Bella was becoming a celebrity. Everyone loved her. She’s a panderer to everyone on the street. The mailmen, kids, teenagers, people going to church services. She’s been in stores and there is a sub shop that especially loves to give Bella cold cuts. My family cannot understand this.
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Her beautiful name was Lady. She was a beagle. We asked if we could have her brought out of her cage at the mall. She ran all over the pet store in circles and disrupted the whole store. We knew we had to have her. She was more than we could afford, Who cares, we boughtg her.. I was 30 when I bought my beautiful Lady, I grew old with her. Good times…. you bet. Then came the sad times, coming upstairs and finding her, at 14 years old, head in a corner, bleeding from the mouth and nose. I knew what I had to do. I took her to the vet and spent more money my family didn’t have to try and save her. I told my wife we didn’t have this sort of money to spend on the dog. Her response….Would you spend that kind of money on me, because she’s family just like me. Then came the drive to the vet. I knew what was next. I must say I was strong and brave I was not going to feel any emotion or cry. I had a job to do and I knew I was doing the right thing. As we were driving to the vet, she crawled over to me and put her head in my lap. She looked up at me with the trust she had shown in me for 14 years, thats when I started to lose it……we got to the vets and he came out and took my beautiful girl, my best friend out of my arms and walked thru these swinging doors….I was still doing O.K. then as the swinging doors opened….she looked back at me, for the last time. I was toast. Yes a big man can be brought to his knees with the look from an old friend. Especially the “last look” like “hey I’ll see you in a while, won’t I my master”

– Mark from CA