Susann
When I met you I promised to you and your friends that I would "get you outta here."
Sadly, It wasnt the way I had hoped for.
Although I didn't know you long, you were spunky, fiesty, funny and fierce!
I am glad to know you , and glad that I could hold you when we helped you cross the Rainbow Bridge.
Your owner saw you as a puppy factory, producing champions worthy of ribbons and trophies.
I was the animal control officer who saw your true beauty. You my sweet Susann, were simply my friend.
I will miss you my friend, and I will see you again one day.
PTS from mammary cancer 6/9/11

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.

Scamper
I've been sitting here reading the memorials with tears runing down my face. Today I had to help my wonderful Husky mix cross over. She and I found each other when I picked her off the corner of WT Harris and Idlewilde Rd. I told her she was a homeless puppy and we must find her a home. She threw herself into my lap and despite the fact that I had 3 other dogs at the time - she found a home. She adapted to our now 4 dog household without a hitch. She adapted to losing each of her "sisters" over time. When I moved from my house with a yard into a hotel for 3 weeks, she charmed the front desk folks. When we moved to my condo and she was confronted with the elevator - no prob- if I was going, she was going. Scamp, you're my girl and I will love and miss you forever.

Leroy
I got Leroy from German Shepherd Rescue in May of 2004. His name was Bogart then, probably because he was such a handsome boy. But after having him for about a week I realized his personality was just way too goofy for his name so I tried several others and Leroy was the one that stuck. I lost Leroy to cancer on May 1st of this year. We almost had 7 years together. He absolutely lived to play fetch. He also loved to take walks, play in his wading pool and chase the garden hose. He was never a lap dog but he loved for me to rub his ears and scratch his belly. There is so much about him that I miss. I miss seeing his big dog face appear in my front window the moment I pull into the driveway each afternoon after work. I miss the way he howled and talked back to me when he was displeased with something. I miss how funny and goofy he was, how much he loved life and how excited he got anytime my friends or family came to the house. I mis s you dear friend.

Shiloh
Folks,

I adopted Ilsa whom I later 
renamed to Cheyenne and then ultimately Shiloh on July 4, 2001. She was 
born on April 18, 2001. She developed pancreatic cancer and was euthanized 
Apr. 07, 2011. She was just shy of 10 years old. She had a wonderful life 
as part of our family.

She had an unbelievable personality, never bit or even growled at anybody in 
her life. She was gentle with my grandkids and my wife's tiny Chihuahuas 
and other munchkins. She even went to nursing homes to be with the 
Alzheimer patients who really enjoyed her visits. They couldn't remember 
her name so they just called her 'Big dog'. I remember one time I didn't 
bring Shiloh with me but brought a toy poodle instead. The patients asked 
where 'Big dog' was and I told them that this was 'Big dog'. I had given 
her a bath and she shrunk! They all started crying. That's when I learned 
one needed to be completely honest with Alzheimer folks.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to adopt Shiloh and 
want you to know I have had a wonderful past 10 years with my girl.

Mike Rembisz