January
Lily Willow Valentine Moore
December 6, 1999- January 13, 2010
Lily was our Golden Girl... and she was ever faithful, a best friend, a constant companion and a gentle and loving sister, to her brother, Tucker. We will miss her everyday and she will always be our "sweet pea". We love you, "NooNoo".
Waiting for
Chip & Jenefer
Diesel
Friend, Companion, Teacher
December 21, 2007 - February 15, 2010
I don't know if it's truer to say that we found Diesel or that Diesel found us. We already had two dogs, Presley, a border collie-golden retrieve mix who was 13 at the time, and Haley, a two year old Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.
We stopped by Haley's breeder's house one Saturday morning in February 2008 to pick up more dog treats. While we were there, the lady asked if we wanted to see her new Swissy puppies. We did. There was one puppy in the litter that had an eye injury. He watched us the whole time we were looking at the litter. He was playful, but he was more interested in us than he was in his brothers and sisters at that time. The breeder told us since we already purchased one puppy from her, that she would give us this puppy if we liked him because she would not be able to sell him. After having his eye checked that same morning, we found there was no information as to whether or not he would regain his sight, just that his eye has suffered some trauma. Knowing that Presley had a multitude of health problems, though, and knowing Haley became depressed every time she was alone, we decided it would be good to bring the puppy home so Haley would not be alone. That day, at seven weeks, this sweet puppy joined our family and became known as Diesel.
Our household was never the same. We love all our pets, but Diesel was different. He was playful, but he was also extremely loving from the get go. He grew and matured as any dog would, and we found out from an eye specialist later on, that he would never be able to see out of his right eye. It didn't matter. He got around famously, and when I would walk both Swissies together, Diesel always walked on my right, so he could gauge where I was. He loved to do anything- as long as he was close to us.
Diesel liked to talk. If you didn't greet him as soon as you walked in the door, he would "woo, woo, woo, woo" in his deep voice until you said hello to him. He also liked to "swim." No, he was not fond of water. Instead, he would lie on the floor on his back and do the "backstroke." If you said "swim" to him, he would move his front legs faster and faster in the air, always making us laugh. When he was done, Diesel would smile, while laying on his back, looking more like a shark than like a loving dog. Then, if you sat on the couch, Diesel would saunter over and would put his muzzle against your cheek. He didn't lick or bite, he just wanted to be close to you. He was ever gentle.
The only thing Diesel didn't like was getting up early. Diesel was not a morning dog. He would roll over on his back with his legs in the air when the alarm went off at 4:30am, creating "dead weight" so it was next to impossible to move him. To make the scene more dramatic, Diesel would then yawn loudly and would put his paw over his eyes.
He also loved to play with Haley. The only pulling Diesel was ever interested in was pulling Haley around the house or yard by her collar. It was a game, and the winning prize was removing her collar! They would also lie on the living room floor and "talk whale" together, and it sounded just like Dory did on the movie, Finding Nemo. And when they were done playing, they would lie on a couch together like bookends, or Diesel would sit on a couch with me, and Haley would sit with Steve on the other couch.
And, sometimes when it was time to come inside from his yard, Diesel would play "the Invisible Dog". He would sit stoic, like a statue, at the top of the hill in his yard and wouldn't come in until you walked almost all the way out to him. Then he would bound to the door, all paws flying. He even enjoyed rain and snow because he knew he would get "swooshed " with a towel to remove any dampness from his coat before he went back in the house. He would wiggle, body and tail, as I made the "swoosh, swoosh" noise while I wiped off his coat.
It was not until he was about a year old that Diesel had his first seizure. After a multitude of tests and blood work, we found out he had epilepsy. That didn't stop him or change his personality though. He experienced each seizure with grace, and bounced back and remained the same happy, gentle and loyal companion he always was.
Diesel was like a dream-catcher, but instead of catching "bad things" he captured hearts. He loved our neighbor’Äôs visits, and we began referring to our neighbor as Uncle Carl because of Diesel's love for him. He became a foreman at one time, supervising construction work at our house, because the guys enjoyed Diesel's company. And he always enjoyed helping our cleaning lady who visits every other week. I am not sure how much Diesel helped her, but he sure was tired by the time we came home from work those days.
All in all, Diesel made our house a home. He could easily convey his emotions through his eyes and the way he held his ears, he never wanted to hurt anyone or anything and he could never imagine anyone not loving him. Diesel was larger than life and was a teacher to me, as much as he was a friend and companion. He was fearless in the love he conveyed, the way he lived life and in the way he dealwith the disease that ultimately took his life. Diesel knew how to be patient, how to be a true friend and how to love life.
I only mentioned the fact that he had epilepsy briefly in his story because Diesel was not an epileptic dog, he was rather a dog with epilepsy. Yes, he had seizures. Yes, we tried constantly to regulate his medication- first with Phenobarbital, then with Phenobarbital and Potassium Bromide, and finally about three weeks before he died we were in the process of moving to Keppra which made him feel outstanding!. We went through the regular blood tests to monitor levels, and we endured the heart-wrenching helplessness of helping him through his seizures. The day Diesel died, he showed no signs of illness. He was happy and energized and he was playful, right until the end when he endured a seizure that took his life.
Diesel
Thank you for teaching me more about joy, love, life and acceptance
than I ever thought I would learn. I love you and miss you
more than words could ever express.
Please wait for me at Rainbow Bridge.
Love,
Your Mom,
Kathy
March
Toby
2002? - March 5, 2010
Toby was with me, in his body, from August 23, 2007 until March 5, 2010.
He gave me the opportunity to perfect my love.
I think I'll just let these pictures speak for themselves.
Love forever,
Peter
Sherlock
6 June 2007 - 3-13-10
The neigbors all called Sherlock "a gentle soul" and he was. Neither Beth nor I can remember him ever growling at anyone.
He loved marrow-bone dog biscuits and he loved to go for walks. He especially liked visiting the neighbors' yard across the street where he could wander freely in a chain-link fence yard.
Sherlock also loved climbing a ramp into my bed to sleep every night.
He will be sorely missed. We love you Sherlock!
Your Mom,
Thereasa & Beth