Hercules
We adopted Hercules when he was 6 years old. We thought we could have a good 6 or more years with him, I can't believe it was only 2. He became our beloved son instantly. He loved us more that he loved himself. Our house was so full of love. He added balance where needed. There could never be another like him. I hope he knows that we haven't abandoned him and we will see him again one day. We love you so much Hercules. R.I.P.

Hershey
You were an emaciated rescue. We'll never know how awful your first three years had been. We can only imagine. We were so happy to see you flourish and become a magnificent 90-pound fellow. We're just so glad to have had you in our hearts and lives for the past eight years. You were Mommy's Big Boy. All who met you loved you; especially the cats. We're so sorry that you're gone, but the doctors couldn't save you from what was probably cancer. We miss you so much.

Hilda
Soo many precious memories of 13 1/2 years with my sweet baby, Hilda.

The vet gave me a lecture about separation anxiety and said, “I’ll bet she does this and such when she is home and you are at work.” I truthfully told him that, “No, she is a good girl and not destructive and not complaining at all when she is home and I am at work and the kids are at school. She only does THAT to YOU!” In hindsight, there were au pairs at home, so Hilda was never actually alone while the kids were at school.

Hilda went camping with us often and loved it. Our family each had their own tents. The children were pre-teens then teens, and wanted their own rooms. We put my tent on one end and Dad’s tent on the other, so the kids could be between us. Hilda had a futon (she was too big for doggie beds) that went in my tent and she slept with me. We camped as a family at least once a year, and often twice a year. Once, Hilda got me up in the middle of the night. Nudging and tugging at my sleeping bag until I couldn’t quiet her anymore, Hilda was insistent that I get up. I got her leash and my bathrobe and took her out (thinking she needed a potty break). She went berserk in the general direction of her empty food dish. 

Looming in the distance was a shadow. In hindsight, it was probably a raccoon in a tree casting a big shadow in the moonlight. The running joke is that Hilda took me bear hunting armed only with the trusty toothbrush in my bathrobe pocket. In all likelihood, the raccoon smelled Hilda’s empty dish and investigated. Hilda was outraged at the sound of someone investigating her empty dish.

There was the time our British Au Pair was leaving to go home at the end of her visa. We bought a 6’ sub and told the au pair from Sweden to pass the word among Vicki’s friends. 

At any given time, there were 20-something au pairs from around the globe dropping in to see Vicki. Hilda happily wandered among the guests. A British guy left to go pick up and Australian guy who was getting off work. When they came back, Hilda greeted the British guy, then snarled and showed her teeth like a dog straight from the movie, Omen. She lunged at the Australian guy, straight for his throat. It is a testament to what a good girl she is that I caught her by the skin on the back of her neck and she never snapped. We put her in the bathroom, much to the dismay of the rest of the guests who adored her.

The Swedish au pair (22, I think) dropped by the following week with cookies she had made for my children. She took me outside and said, “You know why your dog didn’t like that guy.” No, I really didn’t. She said, “Among us girls, he is known as a ‘rough date’! Your dog picked him out straightaway.”

When we adopted Danny (the cat) from the pound, Danny was a sick kitty. We took him back to the vet recommended by the pound. The guy gave the kitten an IV, and told me not to “get attached”. My son rubbed water on the kitten’s gums and spoon fed the kitten baby food. When the kitten’s strength returned, Hilda decided it was her personal kitten. 

Hilda carried the kitten around like a puppy. She gave the kitten water at her own dish. The kitten would bat Hilda’s face and tummy (just paws, no claws). Hilda would rough the kitten up and scrub it on the carpet. As an adult cat, Danny would steal a chicken patty from a sandwich and put it in Hilda’s mouth. They were cute together.

The fated day came when Hilda couldn't get up any more. The mobile vet came. A week later, they brought me Hilda's ashes in a velvet bag with Rainbow Bridge embroidered on it. Inside was the Rainbow Bridge poem. Sometimes, it is comforting. Sometimes, it hurts too much and I just want to remember how much fun we had with Hilda in our lives.

Holly
Our Li'l Holly Golly was born on Halloween, 1997. My wife "rescued her" from the flea market early that December. She was a beautiful chocalate lab/pointer mix...a bowl full of cocoa! Holly was as sweet a beast as has ever trod the Earth! She never met a stranger! She often had to be gently "shooed" away from visitors after a thorough hand washing/licking. More often still, she had to be more strongly encouraged to give "her" visitors a little peace! My wife and I commented through the years how she was such a sweet and loving dog she was, a truly loving companion. She aged gracefully and welcomed our new GSD in late 2008, after our GSD mix, Tori, passed away at age 14 1/2. After nearly 13 years of loving her family unconditionally, we learned over the summer that she had cancer. We watched her closely, ensured her comfort, and enjoyed her final months of health. Inevitably, her health declined very quickly over her last few days, a nd she lost her battle with cancer on 10.22.10. With my wife and I present with the veterianrian, we made sure she knew she was loved through to her very last breath. We love you Holly and miss you terribly.

Holly
My dog Holly was such a special gift to me. She was the most loyal dog I have ever known of. My family called her my secret service dog because she would only walk into a room if I was 2 feet behind her. When I was pregnant with my children she then became our Holly Mama. She would bark if the child was crying, she would bark when they were doing things they shouldn't, she would watch over them like she was their mama. She was always there to make me smile even on my saddest of days. She would lick away my tears or place her head on my lap to comfort me. She was extremely smart and somehow knew exactly how to communicate with me and let me know what she wanted. If she was hungry should would bark once every minute near our pantry, if she wanted fresh water she would bark once every minute at the sink, if she wanted the left overs on the table she would bark once at the table and look at me. She somehow figured out ways to tell me exactly what she needed. She died 1 month and 1 day before her 13th birthday. Although I could go on forever talking about my precious wonder pup, I will end with saying how much I will miss my German Shepherd dog. She was an amazing gift from God never judging always excepting of the changes in our lives. Maybe the word dog is spelled that way because it's God backwards and God sent them down for us just when we needed them most. I look forward to the day that me and my Holly Eve are reunited again. DOB 10/26/2002 At Peace 9/25/2015