Many years ago, I adopted a kitten from the Angell Memorial Hospital in Boston, Mass. He was a talkative little thing, jet black, and a stubtail Manx. He came home with another black kitten, an Ebony Oriental Shorthair, both taking the place of two other cats who had died a week or so previously. They encountered my household’s surviving feline, an older Sealpoint Siamese. She was lessthan thrilled with their arrival, so the kittens stuck together.

The little boy I named Merlin. As he got used to the house, Merlin becane adventureous, and he explored all the nooks and crannies of the house. He revealed an innate inteligence that was astonishing for a domestic pet. As he grew, he and I developed what I can only describe as a psychic bond. From the time he was little, if I held him in my arms, he would nurse on my chin. My wife accused me of enjoying the spectacle. I didn’t, but I was touched, and when he did it, he purred loudly, happy as can be.

Merlin and I shared many things. When I moved to Florida, he didn’t complain, though he was still vocal. He didn’t complain as I drive from Massachusetts to Florida, but every night on the way down, he slept close to me.
Eventually, he got old. He and I remained close. But one day, I learned that he was suffering from renal failure, and the vets convinced me to put him down. I was with him when the fatal injection was administered, and the little cat did not die peacefully, but fought with all his noble little heart to stay alive. Eventuaslly, I left, watching him still struggling to breathe, when I could see through my tears. I sincerely regret that I didn’t let him pass naturally, but for the 22 years of his life, I never loved anothger cat as I did Merlin. I could write a book about him, and I may yet. Rest in peace, little one.

Stephen from FL

 I am truck driver and I can’t help but listen when you or your listeners talk about there dogs. I have had dog my whole growing up life and luckly for me and my family our pet were taken by god! Right now my wife and I have 3 dogs 1 pit/pointer mix who is my co-pilot in the truck madison. 2 Maxx who my wife was at the denist one day and found out that one of the girls was showing off a pic of a dog, they were trying to find a home for or it was going to the pound so while she was all numded up i drove and picked him up. He is a BIG teddy bear he is a sheppard/ lab mix. 3 because i was taking madison on the road with me we figured we needed one to keep Maxx happy so we got Katie we bought her in a sportsmans parking lot she is a pur lab. And like u said when i come home the 2 that are at home jump me as soon as i open the door, I love my animals and I will always have dogs, they follow me everywhere and the neighborhood credits us for having such tam dogs, when ever I am out side in the front yard they are there laying down and when ever I open the garage door they dart for my pickup truck thinking we are going for a ride….
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Having always grown up in a house with a dog, my life was feeling quite empty without one in our home. My fiancé, Chris, on the other hand, never had a “real” dog. His dogs had been medium sized and generally spent most of their lives outside. After going back-and-forth, we decided that we really wanted a Dogue de Bordeaux. We searched for awhile, but then my sister sent me information about two 6-year-old Bordeaux sisters that had just come into the breed rescue program. She’d like to help, but couldn’t take both. I spoke with Chris, and we decided that we would foster one of the girls. It would be a good opportunity to find out if Chris was really a dog person, and if this would be a breed that would be compatible with us.
So, Labor Day weekend we drove up to the Philadelphia area to pick up our girl. Her name was Jade and she was incredibly sweet. She had spent her entire life living outside and being bred. She had never known love as a dog should know it. She had no idea what her name was, didn’t know treats or toys, was skeptical of food, and wasn’t housebroken. It was going to be a long road for us we could see. We took her home with us giving her lots of affection. She was unsure and would often cower in a corner when people came to see her. She never tried to harm, but her tail was constantly between her legs. She quickly put on weight, and her energy level started to build. We re-named her Macy and she became our baby. The whole idea of only fostering her was quickly thrown out the window as we could not see ourselves giving her up for anything.

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My story is similar to a lot of pet stories out there. I am an ARMY veteran, honorably discharged. I consider myself a pretty tough character, In 1985, my girl friend and I rescued a cat from a friend, who wanted to have the cat shot. He was a one year old Tiger Angora, and at the time weighed 28 pounds, although he was not fat. By the end of the first year, he had grown to a whopping 34 pounds, but still not fat.
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Last night, November 12, our vet came to our home to euthanize Carlee, a rescue dog that we had for 10 months. The tears flowed as we stroked her fur and said goodby and continue to flow now. Carlee was a stray that was recognized to be a Bouvier and turned over to a Bouvier rescue group to be fostered. She was about 5 or 6 years old and joined our other Bouvier rescue who is 12.
Carlee was a joy from the moment we picked her up. We never heard a sound from her on the 5 hour trip home. Carlee and our male, Kelly, bonded immediately and became a bit like each other.
She was the sweetest dog ever, but she had a few quirks. The first afternoon that the dogs were alone, she carried 9 stuffed animals through the dog door and buried them in our desert back yard. She had a love of paper products and T.P.ed the house whenever the bathroom doors were left open.
Sadly, in September Carlee was diagnosed with cancer of the sinus. We decided to give her the best life possible before she went to the Rainbow Bridge. We had given her a home, but she gave us great joy.

Barbara from NV

Your beautiful story has touched my life so much that I had to write to you. About seven years ago my husband Kevin, son Kyle and I lost our beloved yellow lab named Chesty Puller. (It’s a Marine thing). We had to put him to sleep after his health started failing. The night before we had to bring him to the vet, Chesty was laying on the floor in our bedroom. Our son kyle was about eight. We told him to hug Chesty and say goodbye. The next day the Vet was kind, he let us have as much time as we needed to say goodbye. Kevin and I were right there with him when the Vet put him down. I don’t regret doing that. I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else. He was like our child. Even still today, our family cherishes all the special memories of our beautiful Chesty. Thank you for all you do. God Bless Sprite. God Bless you.

P>S> We now have our third Chesty. Another yellow Lab. Now I know there are lot’s of people out there just like us who love our animals this way. Thanks Mark

Pam from NY