I very suddenly lost my Snickers to hemangiosarcoma on 5 August.  A 12 1/2 year old  female Brindle Boxer that was quite simply, the sweetest soul I ever had the privilege to encounter.  Snickers was born at the beginning of the “Digital Picture” era 19 November 2000.  The pictures are the first (6 weeks) and last (12 1/2 years) images taken.  Her story is amazing and I’m doing my best to document it.  In no small part pursuant to inspiration from Mark himself.  It won’t be “Rescuing Sprite” but I am unusually compelled to write it.  Miss you Snicks… So very much.

— Larry from Cape Coral, FL

We have 4 dogs…..3 are rescue dogs and one is a trained protection dog.  Xena is our German Shepherd protection dog,  Fly is our matriarch….my girlfriend got here almost 14 years ago.  Guerin is our boy dog and is he all boy….fast as greased lightening.  We recently got little Syd….and he may be small but he is fiesty.

We just had a close call with Xena when she got a terrible infection and we almost lost her but witht the grace of God and a wonderful Vet….she was saved.

I come today with a heavy heart as our matriarch Fly has sucumbed to Kidney Failure….we will have to let her go soon as she is getting worse and worse and with no hope for a cure we do not want her to suffer…she has been a fixture part of our family for so long I do not know how we are going to get along without being greeted at the door with her smiling little black face.  All of the other dogs show her so much respect and we can see that they know something is wrong just not exactly what.  We are spending all of the special time we can before she leaves us and we ask for any prayers you might give….she is very special to us as are all of our dogs…..but she is the momma of the house.

This is a picture of Xena and Fly….Fly is the little black one.

— Bob & Dawn from Grand Prarie, TX

It has now been one month since our pet Chipper passed away.   Words just can’t express how much a void we have in our lives since he left us.   Every time I walk through the door into the house I expect him to be there to greet me with a hug.   His presence is felt just as strongly as it was when I took this picture of him inspecting his stocking early on Christmas morning before everyone woke up.

He was very high maintenance to the point of stalking me all over the house and he would go crazy to be with me when I was outside.   I loved it!   Having someone who unconditionally loved me and wanted to be with me 24/7 was a joy and I miss it!
My kids grew up with Chipper and miss him so much.   My wife has mourned along with me as he meant so much to everyone.   Domesticating Pets has to be among the best inventions ever made by man.   What a blessing they are!   RIP my beloved Chipper.   We love you!

— Fred from Suwanee, GA

Monday a week ago, our Doberman passed away. We had her for 12 and 1/2 years. She was the best companion – the last 3 years have been very hard on my wife, as her father passed away and our disabled daughter was in the hospital twice for weeks at a time; one visit was an extended period in the ICU. My wife relied on the dog for comfort and companionship, so the loss of her baby is especially difficult. “Loo”, her nickname, was a protector of everyone in the house and the most gentle of demeanor. We have missed her quite a bit.

— Barry from Jacksonville, FL

Yesterday I took my dog Puddin to her last vet visit. It was devastating frankly. She had bladder cancer and we nursed her along for 6 months, giving her pills, cleaning up after her, comforting her. I couldn’t afford chemo and the vet did not think it would be successful in her case. I don’t I just know I feel bad, we lost a good friend.  I wish I could have done more.

— Tim from Manassas, VA

When I was younger my family (there were 7 of us altogether) had a beautiful collie names Sandy.  Like most collies he was gentle, affectionate & loving.   Most of all he liked to be petted, but when we got our first TV (in the 50’s) we were all so facinated with Roy Rogers and other programs and we would all sit around it and be more occupied with it than with him.  One day he went around to each of us to be petted and praised, but his feelings must have been hurt when we told him to go away.  Then he went in front of the TV and sat down so that we couldn’t see the TV, — only him!!  We all laughed and decided he was the most entertaining of all — even more than what was on TV, so we all got up and petted him and praised him.  I’ll never forget him.  He was our first and my most favorite pet of all.

— Rena from Stanely, WI