I hope to meet you some day, I appreciate your intelligence and your great humor. In the past I have had the great fortune to work as a registered veterinary technician. Those ten years were some of the most wonderful years as I was able to work with dogs and cats every day. In my wanderings in the veterinary field, my wife and I were able to save, rescue, or adopt out upwards of 20 to 25 dogs. There were years when my wife and I spent roughly have of my wages on other peoples pets to help pay veterinary bills and to rescue these fine critters.

We have been blessed with the company of some very special dogs. At this time we share our house with 8 dogs who were all rescues. We have knuckleheaded huskies, a sweet bull mastiff, a terrier that runs the house and a goofy golden retriever mix. In the past year we have lost 2 wonderful huskies and a hounddog that was irreplaceable. As I tear up thinking of my hounddog, Samson (aka:loaf), it is very difficult to describe. He was the best friend I ever had. Samson was a dog my wife and I resued in Soldotna, Alaska. He had a terrible fracture of one of his rear legs. Surgery was performed, but the leg never fully healed. This did not slow him down in the least. After years he developed problems with the leg with signs of cancer. We had the leg removed, but this still didn’t slow him. He lived for truck rides. I can remember days when I would load him in the truck, lifting him, as he couldn’t jump in the truck any longer. He would ride 500 miles round trip and love every minute of it. Oh, the stories I could tell of my wonderful loaf. I am sorry for being so long winded. Years ago I read a book, I don’t recall the authors name, but I do remember how the lady talked about the day when she went to heaven and was able to see all of her dogs again. When questioned how she knew there were dogs in heaven, she responded “It wouldn’t be heaven if there weren’t any dogs!” That’s exactly how I feel.
Thank You for your time

Rick from Alaska

10 years ago my wife brought home a dog from the pound. She told me she had a surprise for me and she let the dog out of a cage. Here comes a black dog with short legs. It was a half lab, half basset hound. I always had dreams of a registered champion black lab. I was so angry that I made a total fool of myself. I told her she was taking the dog back to the pound. I could not believe she did this. A day went by and I was in the back shop and the dog came in and looked at me. Right then I knew I could not take the dog back. My wife told me the dog was two years old and was tied up in the yard 24 hours a day. I started to feel sorry for the dog.
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I have never grieved as much when any human being has died as much as I have when I lose one of my pets! It is a loss to the soul. All are such unique, pure creatures! I know they have a special place in Heaven.

Shann from NM

I am only to familiar with the loss of a dog, but not really a pet it IS a family member! As loved and close as a child. My wife and I have lost two in the last two years. Our chocolate lab Grizz was our red headed step child he would hide food and irritate the other two yellow labs as a pup. He alway vied for attention and would want to be the center of attention. He had cancer in his blood and we nursed him for almost a year. Our vet worked with us to give him as much time as possible. Now were were down to two yellow labs. Our female Babe was a rescue that was near death when we got her from the animal shelter. She had been drug behind a pickup and was in very bad shape. Because of donations from the community and the vet we were able give her several years of good life. A few months after Grizz was released from his pain Babe had a seizure and was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Babe was the other woman in my life. My wife would often say if Babe had two legs she would have to take her out.
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My 3 cats are my oldie-pie, 17 year old Chrissy, who’s pretty much a momma’s girl and only likes me, 5 year old Stephanie, who was almost dead when we rescued her, resulting in a $700 plus vet bill. She’s fat and happy now but has stunted growth ans a bent tail from the state she was in as a baby, and 2 year old Badikins, who is very sick right now with juvenile kidney failure. The vet believes it is congenital. Our rabbit is 3 year old Drako, who is so gray, he’s blue. They all get along with the 6 dogs, except Chrissy, who doesn’t like anyone but me.

My heart goes out to you…. I have always had dogs in my life… they just aren’t around long enough. Beau was a golden retriever, truly the best dog ever. He was more human than most people I know. He died in the middle of the night of a heart attack. I didn’t know how I could ever recover from this. My husband and I gave him mouth to snout cpr, he came back, only to leave forever. We had 2 other dogs, Barney and Beau’s son Rebel. Barney lived to be 13 years old when he started to stumble. He was part shepherd. Apparently, Shepherds commonly get the condition he had, where his back legs just won’t go anymore. The Vet said his front end was that of a puppy, his mind didn’t understand what was wrong, which you could see on his face… I had to carry his back around, he often couldn’t get up to go to the bathroom… I finally realized I had to let go… He deserved to go and not live in this way. I though it was hard to let Beau go, suddenly, quickly in the night when he didn’t know anything. I was wrong. I held Barney in my arms as the life drained out of him. I took him home myself. I didn’t want anyone to handle him with rough hands. I took him home, cleaned him up, and buried him in my back yard, under the trees with my shoe, his collar and his stuffed toy. Rebel, Beau’s son, had much of the same symptoms as Pepsi. He stumbled. he seemed to be dazed at times… one day we noticed the indentation in his skull. It was a tumor. Again, the decision…..

I have 3 dogs today. All of them in their later years. I dread the day… and yet I know in my heart they had a wonderful life, they were always loved and cared for, and I will be there until the end to be sure they are never alone or afraid. It’s the least I can do.

God Bless, and take comfort in the memories.

Here’s a picture of Rebel.

Jana from MN