We pay tribute to our personal pets. Our angels who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge and wait for the day they can be with us again in a better place. We will never forget. We will celebrate their lives and the love they brought to us.
Cassie owned Sandy, founder of Lhasa Luv rescue in Milwaukee. Cassie lived a long full life with her family and was loved by Vince, Steven, and Joey her brothers (not the fur type). Cassie struggled with kidney disease and went to the Rainbow Bridge in October of 2008. Cassie will be missed and loved by Sandy and her family.
"Cassie"
Dusty
Dusty was a young dog when he was brought to the Humane Society with injuries too horrible to mention. Dusty was to be euthanized. He was the victim of abuse and his owners were brough up on animal cruelty charges. Dusty captured the heart of rescue volunteer Ann. Ann saw something in Dusty worth saving and save him she did. Ann had to fight hard to convince the shelter not to euthanize this boy. She was successful. Ann nursed Dusty back to health and gave him a life full of happiness, joy, and love. Dusty's second chance at life turned into a long life. At age 15, Dusty joined his sister Molly at the Rainbow Bridge. Dusty is now in a younger body and looking down on his guardian angel, Ann waiting for the day he'll see her again! Rest in peace sweet loving boy.
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Memorials
Ben
Ben came to Wisconsin Saint Bernard Rescue in February of 2009. Poor Ben had multiple health concerns but his foster mom soon recognized what a special boy he was. Special boys deserve special homes and Jan opened up her heart and home to ]Ben. Ben enjoyed life in his new home before leaving his work on earth (see photo) behind to journey to a new place. There he sits waiting for the best friend he had in the last year of his life but loving her enough to give her all the time she needs to get there. ::-)
Annie
Annie was owned, loved, and will be remembered and missed by Mary from The Labrador Connection. You might not know it by looking at this picture but Annie was an agility all star. Annie and Mary developed a strong bond as they trained regularly for Agility. Throughout Annie's years she shared her home with many foster dogs, mostly puppies.
As many foster dogs do, Annie sacrificed time with her beloved owner but she knew the day of the week and the hour of the day when it was her time. The one on one training time she spent with her owner was one of the many reasons Annie was a lucky dog. She went to the bridge having lead a full life with not one day passing that she wasn't loved.
Samwise "Wisa" 12/8/1998~2/2/2010
Known to his loved ones as "The Eternal Optimist,"
Samwise found his forever home when he was 8 weeks old.
His motto was "I'd like to buy the world a coke and furnish it with love". He loved life and all it entailed to it's fullest. Sam was born with a purpose. He would bring comfort amidst incredible pain and laughter through tears. Samwise supported his owners through the deaths of their mothers.
His owners were fortunate enough to own and love him for 11.5 years of his life. They will now love and remember him forever. Samwise's memory will live in their hearts forever and he won't be forgotten by those who knew him. His mom remembers him fondly by saying, "He is the greatest dog we ever had. He IS the reason that people love LABRADORS, he embodied the breed to the fullest."
Now the Eternal Optimist plays at the bridge where there is no sorrow or pain. He now brings joy and happiness to those companion animals that left this world before him.
Speedy (His story as told by foster mom, Lisa
Well, when he came back after surgery , i guess he figured he was home. He started coming out of the crate and actually laid on the floor in the doorway. Quite a breakthrough!
Soon, Speedy wasn't using his crate at all. He took over Dakota's (black lab) dog bed. He started protecting "his" yard - by barking at everyone in sight when he was outside. At feeding time, he would spin and hop when he saw his food bowl. And what a greeting when i came home! He would run towards me and hop in front of me until i picked him up.
I knew what it meant to bring a senior into my home. I knew that time was precious.
What a wonderful year it was. I would (and probably will) do it again. No regrets.
The Seniors are special and I'm so happy that I was able to provide the love and security that Speedy so deserved. He was my Speedy Boy and I miss him.
Speedy's owners gave him up after 16 years. Thankfully, they surrendered him to the Wisconsin Humane Society. Even though he is not a Chihuahua, they contacted the WI Chihuahua Rescue, because they know that we just love our seniors. Speedy came to live with me in late february 2009. At first, he wouldn't come out of his crate, except to go out to potty. After he was with me for a month or so, he went in for his dental -and came back out with 4 teeth. Didn't stop him from enjoying his meals, though!
She was a true-blue American Pit Bull Terrier, with the heart of her namesake Warrior Princess. And she's gone where all good dogs -- and heroes -- go. I got to know Xena through my work with Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue. She was one of the early ones who joined my now-extended family. Xena understood people are people, some good and some bad. She knew to love the good and ignore the bad. She was also able to overcome her past. Last night, when her mom texted me to tell me she had left, I shed a tear for that chunky girl, the one-eyed wonder, who I loved for her strength, power and amazing ability to love and forgive. She is a shining example of why I love this breed. For my dear friend Carolyn and the Mighty Xena, I wanted to share this tribute. Xena's start was not a good one, but she was given a long life of love and adoration.
Xena had multiple old and new breaks in her shoulders, legs, ribs, and pelvis. She also had an electrical cord embedded under her skin. After some more x-rays, we discovered her muzzle was cracked and she had 3 spots on her head that were shattered. And she was only 4 months old. She was beaten up by her owners for not fighting. Her neighbors saved her and called rescue.
Xena lived a long -- but not long enough -- life with multiple dogs around, kids going in and out all the time, and truly lived up to her name. She was the Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue mascot for years and accompanied me to every event to show off just how good pitbulls -- even abused ones -- can be. My fondest memories of her will be her sitting on a chair at the front of our booth waiting for people to pet her. As soon as they saw her eye and asked what happened, she turned to look at me as if it were my cue to tell the story.
She's always had difficulty walking but the last few months were the worst. She had a hard time getting up a couple of days ago and stopped eating yesterday. Thinking it was still her leg bothering her (especially with the change in weather) I wasn't too concerned. When I came home today and she just groaned when I rubbed her belly, I felt the distention and how cold her extremities were. Her gums were white and she had limited blood flow. She was bleeding internally from a mass on her spleen that ruptured.
Xena passed peacefully with her mom, Uncle Steve and friends Anna and Morgan with her this evening.
Xena
Grieve not, nor speak of me with tears. But laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you. I loved you so, twas Heaven here with you.
Goldie is the dog every rescuer remembers. She was the dog who got her foster parents interested in doing rescue work. She was adopted from GRROW in 2002 at the age of 4. Goldie blessed her owners for 8 years and died unexpectedly this past week from Hemangiosarcoma. Perhaps the angels knew that Lazer needed her as Goldie left this earth just days before her senior brother's expected passing. Now, the two will be together forever. We will not forget and pay tribute to the many pets who have and will lose their lives to cancer. Goldie will be greatly missed by her family.
Goldie
Last night, we had to say goodbye to Lazer, our only non-rescue golden. He was the sassy puppy we purchased when he was 7 weeks go, who was aggressive and wanted to go for blood. He changed our lives forever. We learned about obedience and gave him that job. He went on to get his CD, CGC, Rally titles and Therapy Dog title. When he was about 4, he was tested for Search & Recovery and became a nationally certified land and water cadaver dog. We learned how to deal with dog behaviors with him and when people met him, they never believed he had been such an aggressive little puppy. He was our soul-mate dog and our heart aches for him. He lost his battle with lymphoscaroma. He fought like crazy and out-spunked and outlived the odds to his very glum prognosis 5-1/2 months ago. He had a bad week last week, but rebounded to puppyhood for 3 days, then it was time to say goodbye. He had a very bad day yesterday and the look in his eyes told us it was time. For the first time in his life, he let us know he was in pain.
Lazer (written by owner Debbie)
We received Ceasar when he was eight years old. His family dropped him off at a local shelter to be euthanized. The staff could not find anything wrong so our shelter contact called the Northern Illinois Pug Rescue to pick him up. We picked him up and fostered him as he was up for adoption. We became foster failures as he brought humor to our Pug household and the first male we ever had. Three weeks ago he developed a cough which turned into pneumonia. On Monday, March 8th he stopped eating and even though daily trips to the vet were made, he got progressively worse and began retaining fluids. On Thursday, March 11 we took him to the Vet for additional x-rays and IV's. He collapsed in the office, with us and his favorite vet tech present, and could not be revived. The two years and four months that we had him was a joy.
Ceasar (written by his parent's Debbie and Rick)
Lightening was the best example of why people SHOULD adopt a senior dog. Lightening was 11-12 years old when she came into rescue. She was left behind in an apartment when her owner's moved and didn't take her with them. She had been alone for days before being discovered. It's a good thing the Humane Society workers didn't think Lightening was too old to save because Lightening went on to live three years post adoption.
When Lightening went to the vet after intake, it was discovered she had cancer. TLC and Lightening's foster mom (who later adopted her) spent the money for treatment for this beautiful girl. LIghtening had the energy of a two year old. She loved to go to the dog park and run and play with all the "kids." She was great with everyone and everything.
She gave her owner, Julie, so much love. Lightening touched the lives of everyone who met her. On behalf of the Labrador Connection, we extend our sympathy to Lightening's adoptive mom and ask that all potential adopters reach out and consider saving a senior!
Lightening
