Tommy is a 24lb Main Coon. He came into my life in 2003 when I started my design company. My then wife, Denise, brought him and his sister, Lilly into our home. Tommy is like no other animal I’ve ever had. He sleeps with me every night and talks up a storm every morning. Where I go – he follows. He weighs over 24lbs and it’s not fat. My wife died on July 25th, 2010 at age 38 from liver failure. Even though we divorced in 2007, we still were close. Tommy is there for me in her absence, and both he and his sister, Lilly are constant reminders of how things used to be. Tommy is just an incredible cat – and his vet said, “If every cat was like this, everybody would have one.”

— Tommy from Weston, FL

Sandy was a 10-year-old Pug who developed a variety of medical problems around age 6. It’s a complicated story but, like your Griffen, she lost so much function in her back legs that I had to carry her in and out of the house, up and down the stairs, into and out of bed. She was incontinent too and I changed her diapers hundreds of times over the last few years.

Caring for her was often like caring for an invalid relative; but she was amazing because, in spite of her challenges, she loved life and she demanded to be at the center of all household activity! If I was making dinner, she’d drag herself out to the kitchen and deposit herself right in the middle. If I was working at my desk, she’d make her way over and lie next to me. If I went upstairs, she barked with annoyance until I came back down to her. Sandy would NOT be ignored! She demanded attention; but I loved her spirit and her determination to live her life, no matter what.

In late July, it became very hot and humid in New Jersey and of course, that’s when my central air broke down. Pugs don’t like heat anyway, and when the house warmed up to 83 degrees, Sandy was panting. My other, younger, healthy Pug, Cocoa, panted too, but not as much as Sandy. It took a couple of days to get the air fixed (it needed a part); but other than panting, Sandy seemed fine, going outside, eating and drinking and interacting.

Late the second day without central air, I thought, “Let me just call the vet and see if this is OK, if there’s anything I should be doing for her.” I spoke to the vet and he said not to worry, that dogs sweat by panting, that I could put an ice pack on her or take her down to the basement or wipe her paws with alcohol. She didn’t feel hot, but I put ice packs under her bed so she’d have a cool place to lie down.

I was hot and tired myself from the lack of A/C, so I decided to lie down on the couch after dinner for a little cat nap. As I drifted off I noticed that finally, Sandy wasn’t panting; I thought she must be feeling more comfortable. In about 30 minutes I got up and went out to run a quick errand. When I came back, things were quiet. I thought Sandy was sleeping, but I decided to check on her. I looked at her and she looked so peaceful, like she was napping. But she wasn’t moving at all, not even breathing. I called my son and he looked at her too and I called my other Pug Cocoa and he wouldn’t go near her. Sandy was obviously dead. I scooped her up in a blanket and drove her to the emergency vet, crying all the way there; but there was nothing they could do.

To this day, when I think of Sandy, I’m still so sad. I think that there must have been something that I could have done to save her, that if I had just taken her to a cool house for a couple of days, she’d still be alive. I did so much for her in her last few years, but I’m afraid that I allowed her to die when I could have saved her. I feel that she would still be here if I had done the right thing for her. I can’t get over feeling partly responsible for her death, even though the vet told me the next day that she undoubtedly had underlying cardiac issues (she was also diabetic) that we didn’t know about.

Even though Sandy died “naturally,” I still feel that she’d be alive today if I’d done something differently for her; she depended on me, and I let her down. It still hurts.

— Fran from Cedar Grove, NJ

three years ago, I lost my mother to lung cancer. My dog Reese had bonded with her. We snuck Reese into the hospital to see her. She would climb all over the bed, then lick my mother’s face. Mom smiled and loved every minute. She was in hospice at our home for her last couple of weeks. Reese was with her and announced the moment of her passing with one shrill bark across the house.

Reese then became caregiver for my grieving father.

They too bonded. Reese visited dad in the hospital earlier this year as he was dying of pneumonia. They were so happy to see each other.

These days she comforts their grieving son.

— Robert from McKinney, TX

We were blessed to have 13 years with our beloved golden retriever Trusty. He was a loyal companion who loved us unconditionally. He loved to chase the ball and go to the lake! He rode on the boat and couldn’t wait to go swimming! You had to watch him to make sure he didn’t roll on a dead fish! You couldn’t hook up the boat without him being ready to go! There is a maker on his grave that reads: if tears could build a stairway and memories a lane I would build one up to heaven to bring you home again.

— Connie from Wolfe City, TX

We adopted Flex from a family member who came to live with us for awhile. During that time Flex became our dog, he bonded with us so strongly his owner didn’t have the heart to take him away when he moved out. That was over six years ago. Flex died today after having four increasingly violent seizures – this on top of his recent heart condition was simply too much and we made the painful decision to “put him down”. Flex was a Pit Bull cross, and he put the lie to the myths about these dogs. He was loving, gentle, loyal and never aggressed against anyone, never showed his teeth, never growled, never bit. And he loved the water, loved it to a point of obsession he would spend the entire day playing, by himself, in the shallows of our lake hunting fish, minnows, frogs or just swimming around. He was incredibly smart and really had a “mind of his own”. Everyone who met him he loved and in turn everyone loved him even if hesitant. His extended family was huge. We will miss him dearly for years. This photo is typical of him, standing on the dock, looking intently into the water hoping to spot a fish or a fairie or… who knows he never told us.

— Bruce from Ottawa, Canada

To this day I do not have a more loyal ,faithful ,giving friend than Champ .. He chose me from four of us after a bow hunt when we found him along with 3 other dogs that year. He ran straight to me and the rest is pure bliss from there .. !! He was challenged from minute we met ,smallest of the 3 he prevailed over the other 3 dogs with pure heart. As a bird hunter my friends challenged my choice, they wanted me to take on a pure bred as I was given the pick of the litter from one friend. On his own Champ proved himself from day one of meeting my hunting buddies. Nose to the ground he found and retrieved pheasant wings to me at no more than 6 weeks old in front of my friend , he got an atta boy and that was it .. !!
After years of hard hunting he never received any proper respect from from friends other than he’s not bad for a MUTT ..!!
Champ didn’t receive accolades and did not need them , he was pure heart.. his performance in the field was incredible. He responded to simple hand signals , no audible commands were nessacary like the other PURE breds required.. !! STILL no respect other than from me. He prevailed with a wagging tail and a smile just as he did when I left home and returned home. At my side thru thick an thin wether camping ,hunting or just in the yard doing my chores Champ was there ALWAYS ..!! To this day when sitting by the fire I reach out to put my hand on his head and he’s not there … 3 years ago I took him to the Doc thinking he was coming home with me with some meds … I had to leave without him. Champs collar hangs on a nail in front of me as I write this , his picture is next to the collar… !!! I miss being able to say get the bird Champ , knowing full well he was going to do better than any other dog there.
I love and miss you my friend ……

— Greg from Warren, MI