In Loving Memory of

Jasper Suto

Survived and sadly missed by
Collette, Steve, Jacob and Hannah

One who possessed Beauty without Vanity, Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, and all the Virtues of Man, without his Vices.  This Praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery if inscribed over human ashes, is but a just tribute to the Memory of a Dog. 

~George Gordon, Lord Byron,
"Inscription on the Monument of a Dog"

Bryn (top left),
Callie (bottom left) &
Durin (above)
Mitchell

You are missed by your mom, Sue, and your siblings Kaydyn & Keenagh

Aloha Articblue Howe
March 1 2000 - May 26 2006

would have been the classic American/Canadian gigolo...he was drop dead gorgeous, a great kisser and had all the right moves to charm the ladies...human and canine :-) It was a great privilege to have been his guardian. He will be sorely missed. Remember to give your special ones a big hug while they are here to hug.  My first look into greyhound eyes stole my heart forever...

Much love, Nina

JAKE TIDSBURY

Dogs in our Lives

We aren't house-proud. If we were,
We wouldn't abide the scratches on the door frame,
the holes in the screen,
the darkened shine of worn spots on the chair.
We would wince at the mottled carpet
and fret at the hair clinging to our clothes.
We don't.
If anything, we lovers of dogs are a tolerant lot,
finding greater value in the unabashed affection of our friend
than immaculate sofas. Shoes can be replaced,
but heroic Retrievers are timeless.
Without dogs, our homes are cold receptacles for things.
Dogs make a fire warmer with their curled presence.
They wake us, greet us, protect us,
and ultimately they carve a place in our hearts and our history.
On reflection, our lives are often referenced in parts defined by the all-too-short lives of our dogs.

Unknown

"Jakester"

Coco Foster
(January 1 1991 - March 1, 2006)

In January, 2006, my dog, Coco , a German Shorthaired Pointer of 14 years old was diagnosed with a mastoid cell tumor (cancerous) on her paw.  Coco was a pound rescue animal that had been found beaten and left on the road to die.  She had surgery and the tumor was removed successfully, but the vet had warned me that this type of cancer was very aggressive and may return (especially in the same spot).

Coco was healing pretty good, except that it took her nearly 4 weeks to walk on that paw/leg.  I babied her every chance I got, even picking her up the stairs etc.  On the 2nd last week of February, I noticed that her paw had healed, however, there was a lump above the surgery scar -- it was the cancer, it had come back. Coco was also licking it quite frequently, breaking it open in some spots again.

That week, I noticed that I wasn't filling up her food bowl (she had free range) but I was filling up her water bowl daily, sometimes twice a day as it was always half empty.  I also noticed that she had low energy.  Where we used to walk, she now declined, when we ate, she was always there mooching, but this time, she wasn't and come to think of it, she hadn't come mooching at all in the last couple of days.  That's when I noticed that she wasn't eating either, because I asked my husband if he was filling up her bowl and he said no, she still had a full one. He thought I was filling up her bowl in the mornings and I thought he was doing it. So I don't know how long she really went without food.

I was scared.  I knew in my heart that she was telling me it was almost time.  I didn't want her to suffer but I couldn't bring myself to do what was the right thing.  I tried to feed Coco her favorite food -- which was anything I was eating.  I left her 4 little sliced pieces of sausage on a plate, she ate one, just to make me happy, looked at the other 3 and went back to lie down on her couch.  I knew then that Coco was in trouble.  I waited a week, to see if she would improve, but in my heart I knew she wasn't going to.  My husband and I talked about this and decided that it was time. In her own way, she was giving me the hint that it was time to let her go gracefully and with dignity.

For many nights after that, and especially the night before, I held her and curled up with her and explained that I loved her.  I thanked her for being my friend, my guardian when things were not always what they seemed and I also thanked her for letting me love her.  I knew she loved me unconditionally, but my heart was breaking.  On March 1, 2006,  I phoned the vet and told them what was going on.  How upset I was and that I was afraid to let her go any longer and so, I took Coco to the vet.  My husband was worried about me, but I insisted I was ok. 

Once at the vet's, he took one look at her paw, stated that the cancer had come back, undoubtedly, and was infecting her foot right to her toes.  He could amputate her paw, but she was 14 - 15 years old.  Once he learned of all the symptoms she was showing, he agreed it was the best thing to let her go. 

I lifted her on the table, told her constantly thank you for being my friend, and that I loved her.  It wasn't until I was almost finished saying my 50th time that I loved her and stroked her that I noticed the shot was in her leg.  She leaned against me, and again stroking my best friend's head and face, I said that I loved her for I knew that when she leaned in to me, she was gone.  The vet listened to her heart and just nodded.  I asked if she was gone and he said yes.  She never suffered at all.  She went peacefully in my arms.  The vet told me to take my time, and that when I was done, just close the door behind me. After about 1/2 hour or a bit longer, I stroked her one last time, kissed her head, told her that I loved her and lay her head on the table.  I undid her collar, kissed her several more times, and stroked her one last time before saying goodbye. 

Despite my heart breaking, and knowing I did the right thing, I couldn't let her go with strangers.  We were best friends for almost 10  happy, joyous  (and sometimes humorous situations) over the years and I couldn't let her be on her own.  We were pals throughout our lives and pals to the end.  I know in my heart that she loved me and I hope she understood that what I did was because I didn't want her to suffer any more. 

Upon coming home, I hung up her collar and leash in the hallway. Where the leash had always been kept for her walks, for she was very impatient  when you mentioned walk, she was sitting at the door, looking at the leash and waiting for you. 

But on Wednesday, one week after she was gone, later in the night,  I was in bed, and the cat sleeping on the right side of me, and of course, Coco would have been sleeping on the left side of me (my husband works nights so Coco and Maui (my cat) were always in the bed. Any way, as I lay there thinking about Coco and crying again, I thought I heard the jingle of her collar.  What seemed like a few minutes passing, I thought I heard it again.  You know the distinct sound the tag makes on the metal clip of her collar.  I know I heard it because the cat also looked at the front doorway.  I believe in Coco 's own way, she was letting me know that she was doing fine, not hurting and was happy. 

Coco was known by many nicknames, mostly my baby girl (for that was what she was to me) Coconut (for when she was acting silly) and Coco girl. I miss  my baby girl so much. 

I appreciate you letting me talk about her.  She had many friends, both human and animal alike, sometimes a mom to kittens (when Maui had kittens before I got her fixed, Maui left the babies in her box and Coco, upon hearing a couple of them crying, went over and sniffed each one, licked them, got them quiet and sleeping until Maui returned a couple of minutes later).  When Maui had given birth, there was Coco and I both lying on the bed, our heads hanging over the edge watching Maui .  It was actually quite funny to see the two of us like that.  But that was just the way Coco was, kind to most animals and humans. Always giving of herself, especially to children.  She always knew how to make me happy and always knew when I was feeling down.  She would always have a nudge to be patted, sometimes making a nuisance of herself until she got her way and you patted her several times.  By that time, her head was leaning against my leg, or she would hop up on the couch, lying beside me, while I patted her. 

I truly believe that she is on the Rainbow Bridge waiting for me one day. 

Sisters by birth and best friends by fate, another of Kali's littermates was tragically taken by cancer March 27th, 2006.

Bailey your life was too short, and your leaving us was too sudden, but we know you are waiting with your canine family Kali & Czar at the Rainbow bridge.

Bailey Kinzel
(and her sister Kali)

You were only 9 weeks. Such a little sweetie, we thought we'd see you grow into a big strong boy. But your time with us was to short. We had you for only 2 wks, you passed your first vet check and had your first shot, little did we know it didn't mean a lot. It was already to late you were sick and it wouldn't wait. It took you so soon, I would go to the moon to be able to see you and hold you again.

You will always be loved forever missed sweet one.

From: Your family!

Morty was a wonderful ambassador for the breed. He made every visitor to his home feel that he had been waiting for that person to step into it. He was regal, he was loyal to the end as he would sit in the drivers set of his Mom’s vehicle waiting for her to return. Only to have a snack of brie cheese from the grocery bags while waiting.

I will always have my memories of Mr. Burgundy, handsome, stately, goofy sweet boy that was born October 7, 2002, at 2:55 p.m. 1 lb. 7oz. #10 puppy of the Mwenzangu litter.

God rest ye merry, gentle man.

Sleep well…….

We will light two candles tonight at KaribaRidge. One to guide Morty across Rainbow Bridge and a healing candle for Bruce and Mary.

Hershey proved himself to be the most friendly, faithful, and genuinely happy companion we have ever known.

We planted a flowering bush in our yard for Hershey in his memory. We have truly lost our best-friend. We miss him.

I’m Still Here

I stood beside your bed last night,
I came to have a peek.
I could see that you were crying,
You found it hard to sleep.
I whined to you softly,
As you brushed away a tear,
“It’s me, I haven’t left you,
I’m well, I’m fine, I’m here.”
I was close to you at breakfast,
I watched you pour your tea.
You were thinking of the many times,
Your hands reached down to me.
I was with you at the shops today,
Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels,
I wish I could do more.
I was with you at my grave today,
You tend it with such care.
I want to reassure you,
That I’m not lying there.
I walked with you toward the house,
As you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you,
I smiled and said “It’s me.”
You looked so very tired,
And sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know,
That I was standing there.
It’s possible for me to be,
So near you every day.
To say to you with certainty,
“I never went away.”
You sat there very quietly,
Then you smiled, I think you knew.
In the stillness of that evening,
I was very close to you.

- Unknown -

HOW SWEET

You whisper in my ear,
You tell me it's OK,
You say it's time to leave now,
That we'll meet again someday.

As I look into your beautiful eyes,
My tears just flow and I must cry -
Please don't go! It's so unfair -
Why can't you stay with us right here?

But I know you've gone to a wonderful place,
Someday I'll see your handsome face,
We'll laugh and play in the grassy meadow,
You'll always be my sweet little fellow.

You were so young, you were so dear,
And to the end you showed no fear.
You were gentle and kind in every way,
I'll remember your sweetness every day.

Leslie Dowler
May 9, 2004

Still thinking, Maty just needs some medical intervention, but I thought she would be okay. She was so healthy and wasn't ever sick....

The ultrasound on her heart showed that there was a tumour, the size of a baseball. It had ruptured, and she had fluid around her pericardium. We went through all the options, but the outlook was grim. Maty was so peaceful the entire time - she maintained her dignity through it all, never motioning to get up. I held her in my arms as she was put to sleep....I felt her take her last beautiful breath of air.....it felt like mine too....part of me left with her.....

My heart broke when we had to put her down. I never thought in a million years, that I wouldn't take her home from this trip to the vet. My heart is so heavy with tears, the pain and emptiness I feel can't fit words. Maty was so beautiful - as all goldens are - she was a member of our family.

We are better people for having her in our lives - she taught us so much - unconditional love, loyalty and her legacy of life will be with us eternally. We will see you again Maty -

Eternally,
Judie, Brad, Emily
George and Sherry

And said my place was ready,
in heaven far above,
and that i'd have to leave behind
all those I dearly love.

But when I pranced through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home,
when God looked down and smiled at me
from his great golden throne.

He said,"This is eternity
and all I've promised you"
Today for life on earth is past
but here it is anew.

I promise no tomorrow,
for today will always last
and since each day's the same way,
there's no longing for the past.

So when tomorrow starts without me
don't think we're far apart
for every time you think of me
I'm right here in your heart.

Tara Humphrey