Just two hours ago, I had to send my baby dog Piper up to the golden gates of heaven. The gates of heaven are golden because of all the golden retrievers walk through them leaving there goodness along with all other dogs who are not golden but share hearts of gold.
On the way to the vet, I was comforted when I began to think that I am joining a vast array of very special people who love dogs as much as I do.

I believe that dogs are a very special gift from God. Piper stayed with me during the hard times and cancer. I will think of her every day. Piper I love you and I will miss you. Please say “Bark!” to Dad for me. I will always love you…

— Rhonda from Grosse Pointe, MI

My dog Sadie was neglected and kept in a cellar with an outside door for most of her first 3 years. A wonderful vet in Ohio (Dr. Shirley) rescued her. We picked her up 2 years ago. She was suspicious of everyone and growled at first but we immediately found out she loves cheese and behavior changes began thereafter! She’s since blossomed into her own personality – a wonderful little girl, well behaved, housebroken, smart, and a typical Schip.

— Shelly from Atlantic Highlands, NJ

My hubby told me he had an all black cat when he was growing up and one day the cat never returned home.

About 2 weeks after we got married in 1993 I had to stop at the Trumbull Mall for something. While at the mall I visited the pet store that used to be on the lower level. As soon as I walked in the pet store I saw that there was this adorable little black furball with beautiful big green eyes, matching black paw pads, black velvet nose and black whiskers. He was completely black except for two little white spots one on his chest and one on his belly. Needless to say I had just found my hubby the perfect wedding gift!

About an hour later, I walked into our house telling hubby that I just got him the most beautiful gift in the world that I knew he would love. I was right! The kitty and hubby were like magnet and steel!

After pondering a few names we named him Flint.

Flint was with us for 18 years. He was the most incredible cat there ever was. He was my hubby’s best fur buddy. He was such a good cat. He slept under the covers and with his head on hubby’s pillow every night. Every day when my hubby came home from work he was waiting like a dog at the door to greet him. Every night after dinner was “guys bonding time” in that whatever hubby was doing Flinty was right at his side or sleeping in his lap purring real loud. When it was time to get ready for bed Flinty would hang out in the bathroom while hubby shaved and would sleep on hubby’s pjs while he showered. When they were both ready for bed he would run after my hubby and actually leap on to our bed before we got a chance to pull the covers down. What was really funny is if hubby decided to stay up later than usual Flinty would start incessantly meowing at him and then yawn real big yawns in hubby’s face to give him the message that it was time to go to bed.

Flinty like to help me make our bed…when attempting to place a sheet on the bed he would get under it, lay on his back and playfully bat at my hand as I moved the sheet around.

Flint brought so much joy and happiness into our lives. His love was unconditional. He was so smart and I actually think he understood when we spoke to him as he would look at you and even respond with a cute little noise or meow. Even though he weighed 13 pounds before he got sick I used to lovingly call him Furry Munchkin and My Little Baby Kitten of which hubby would tease me and say he’s not a little baby kitten…he’s a big tough guy!

Flint we miss you terribly but know that you are now with God on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. We will forever cherish your friendship and unconditional love and will always remember you. You were truly a gift of God and we were blessed to have you in our lives. We love you and always will.

— Joe & Carol from Shelton, CT

I didn’t know it when I woke yesterday, but it was to be the last day on earth for my sweet girl, Spanky. She was diagnosed with anal gland cancer last summer and surgery was performed. The mass had adhered itself to the colon wall, so it was impossible to remove every cancer cell. I knew it was a matter of time – I was told anywhere from six to 18 months.

Then yesterday, she tore her ACL. I thought we were facing another surgery – until the vet said the larger concern was a new mass on the remaining gland. I was told within 10 weeks, this very aggressive cancer would make my dog horrifically sick. Even with ACL surgery, her leg would not have been healed in that time so I made the most difficult decision of my life. She was not strong enough at 10-1/2 for two surgeries, and the leg surgery was pointless without the cancer surgery. I had her put down so she would not suffer with leg pain, and so cancer could not slowly ravage her body. The idea of her suffering needlessly for even 5 minutes was too much for me to bear.

The pain and sorrow I feel today is beyond description. This is a dog who I got for free from a woman giving away puppies in front of a grocery store and she ended up to be the best dog EVER. I have been around dogs my entire life and I have never seen a more gentle or tender-hearted animal. I cared for her to the best of my ability every day of her life from the day I got her until the day she died. She died in my arms with me singing to her, “She’s my Spanky girl, she’s my honey girl, she’s my sweet baby girl, she’s the Spankiest girl, she’s my missy miss, I love my baby girl, she’s the best girl EVER…” There will never be another dog as tender, gentle or loved as Spanky.

— Donna from Northglen, CO

I would like to introduce you to Bruno. Bruno was six weeks old when he came to our family–almost one year ago. I got him a few months after my first dachshund, T Bone, passed away. T Bone was 13 years old and died from complications brought on by Cushings. At first I felt guilty, like I was trying to replace T Bone, but after a while, I saw that I could love Bruno as much as I did T Bone. I still loved and missed Bones as much as I always had, but I realized that Bruno was slowly capturing my heart. He helped to ease the pain of losing Bones, and I was starting to be able to remember T Bone without feeling the pain of losing him. I thank God for his blessing enabling us to love infinitely.
Both of them were dachshunds, both had the same coloring, but they each had their own personality. I love them both as if they were my own children, and I will never forget them.
Two nights ago on 3/8/11, I opened the front door to let my wife in, and Bruno bolted out the door before I could catch him. He ran out into the street were he was hit by a car. We rushed him to the Vet’s office, but there was nothing they could do. He suffered too many internal injuries and they had to put him to sleep. My heart hurts, and I grieve deeply for Bruno. But I do know that he is in a better place, probably playing with T Bone and my Dad.
I will never forget T Bone or Bruno. The unconditional love they gave me and my family more than makes up for the grief I am feeling now. I love and miss you guys.

— Dan from Louisville, KY

This is the story of Tatra. A 70 lb fawn colored male Greyhound with the Polish name that barked all the time. On Monday March 7th,2011 at 430 am our beloved Tatra crossed over the Rainbow bridge into heaven.Tatras journey with us began on December 2, 2001. After quite a long verification process this was the day Elizabeth and I were going to “LOOK”. I had my check book in my back pocket. I knew we were getting a dog. Elizabeth did not. We had decided we were “LOOKING” for a male brindle colored greyhound. We arrived at the NJ Greyhound adoption program, met Julia Heiney the coordinator, and also met about 10 greyhounds. We then started the selection process, and there was no selection that was needed to be made. This fawn colored male went straight for Elizabeth,  licked her face, and it was over. Thirty minutes later we are driving up the Garden State Parkway with Showtime. We quickly came up with Tatra, named after the Tatra mountains in Poland where my wife is from and Showtime was now Tatra. We settled in at our condo in New Jersey and let the fun begin. Although Tatra was crate trained , my wife quickly thought that was cruel and let him have his run of the place. He went where ever he wanted, kicked me off the couch, slept on our bed ,and barked when ever he wanted to. Greyhounds dont bark.Yeah right!  He was a tremendous animal though.Tatra told you everything. When he wanted to go out. When he wanted a treat. When he wanted you to move, so he could take your place. When he wanted LOVE.He liked snow, he liked rain,he liked cats,he liked other dogs, he loved everything. We found out after his passing, that EVERYONE loved him to.We relocated to North Carolina in May 2008. Tatra hopped right in my Mercedes SUV, and he was ready to roll. Always adventurous.In North Carolina we live near the beach. Tatra loved the beach.Our new friends loved Tatra,and he loved them. He made many canine friends as well. He was a very popular guy! We gave him a decade of tremendous life and love. He gave us everything and more. A lifetime of memories to come that will light up our lives. Tatra taught us lessons as well. Elizabeth and I have become much closer, however the empty house is almost unbearable. We had Tatra cremated and we have his spirit very close to us in our bedroom. I know he is laughing at Elizabeth and I ,and I hope he is not watching us. You know what I mean.LOL. Our friends and family feel our anguish as well.Elizabeth and I have learned so many valuable things from Tatra we cannot even put it into words. We miss him so very, very much, and are looking forward to the day we feel healed and ready to save one of these tremendous creatures and open our hearts and home to another dog.

— Scott & Elizabeth from Leland, NC