It’s with a heavy heart and swollen eyes, that I report to all that our hospice/foster Tala crossed the Rainbow Bridge. We only had him a short time, but we loved him as our own. He will be sorely missed.

Godspeed my little man, you can run without pain. A candle is lit and know that we love you!!

Denise, Greg and the Deck Pack

??? – 2.7.2009

It is with regret that I write to you to let you know that Snow passed away February 7th, 2009. His body just got too old and fragile for him to enjoy life and be comfortable.

You brought him to me with Max in December of 2001 and I was fortunate to have both of them (although they really hated each other). I never knew how old he was when he died, I can only assume he lived to be about 11 or 12. I will love and miss him forever.

Thank you for bringing me two very special dogs that I am forever grateful for and I will always cherish the memories they gave me. I attached some photos of some of my best memories with him. Please know how much you have changed so many lives for the better… both for the dogs and their owners.

Dawn

We are so sad to hear of Snow’s passing. We are so happy he found a family where he belonged and was spoiled. Snow left knowing he was special and very much loved ~ our hope for all of our dogs.

Sweet Snow, you have earned your Silver Harness. Wear it proudly as you dance among the stars North of the Rainbow Bridge. Join the other fur-angels and run and play and be young again.

Dawn, thank you for giving Snow the ultimate gift of love. Thank you for making what we do count. Thank you for sharing your pictures and memories of Snow. He will always be in our hearts.

Snickers came to us as a stray and her exact age was unknown but she was definitely ten plus, probably closer to twelve.

She was definitely “daddy’s girl”, she waited by the garage door long after Pat left each morning and always greeted him when he came home. She loved to ride in his truck. She and I had a lot in common ~ two feisty broads with a lot to say. Our hearts are broken and there is a huge void in our home.

Snickers girl, wear your harness proudly. We had you for far too short of a time, but you will be forever in our hearts. Dance among the stars to the Bridge and join all of the other MaPaw fur-angels where you will be young again and can play like a puppy. Never forget how much we love you. I am so happy you spent your final time with us, thank you for your incredible gift.

Kathy and Pat

Our little girl came to us when she was three months old in November 1998. She quickly lived up to her name, Smokey the Devil Dog. Her favorite pastime was chewing TV remotes, slippers, socks and anything else she could find. As a true Siberian, her most favorite thing was snow. Picture a large, black, furry body sticking out of a snowdrift!

She went to the Rainbow Bridge on Friday, April 17th, 2009, after a long goodbye and in the hands of her vet who put her suffering to an end.

We will always miss her but sometimes late at night, if you listen closely, you can hear the jingle of her tags as she does her circle dance and lays down for the night.

Always in our Hearts,
God love you and keep you close,
Mary Ann and Chrissie D.

Sirus has been an integral part of our family for only six short months, but he has perhaps made them the richest months in our life.

When we were given the privilege of adopting this wonderful, gentle and loving Sibe we were well aware that, because of his condition, he was going to require special care and dedication and that he may not have had a long life expectancy. Despite all, we feel that he has given us much more than we ever gave him, because we have been blessed by the unconditional love of this wonderful Sibe who took just a few days to become an integral part of the family, pack and environment.

Sirus quickly learned to love to go for walks with his Sibe pal Bella, lay close with his pals and loved to get his special treats. Often in the evening he would just drop his head in my lap and expect a good and hard scratch on his neck and chest. Almost invariably the ritual would end with Sirus slowly dropping on to the floor right at or on my feet where he would take a well deserved rest.

Sirus loved to help babysit the grandchildren with Bella; he was the kindest companion and playful pal a child could ever have; he quickly formed a very special bond with them. It was just amazing to watch him play with them and see him at his best as the perfect family pet: sharing food, laughter and precious play time with them.

We learned very quickly, coming back home after a long day at work, to look forward to that very special and heart warming experience of being welcomed by Sirus’ loud baritone Sibe howling and wonderful charge toward the front door, leading the pack and looking for a hug and some very intense petting. These may appear to be very routine things, but they are the essence of the relationship between us and our special four legged friends: it was Sirus’ way to show us his love and affection.

After a few hospital trips late last year and early this year, Sirus had a wonderful long stretch of seizure free time. Unfortunately, the seizures returned and, despite the many attempts that the neurologist who took care of him tried to keep his condition under control, he spent the last few days experiencing a series of endless seizures that made him suffer and rendered him very incapacitated (seizures and medication induced ataxia).

Sirus did spend his last hour with us and his beloved pal Bella: while still sedated because he was coming out of a seizure, he seemed very happy to have everybody there with him and enjoyed immensely the special treats, the petting and hugging and Bella’s companionship. He slipped very peacefully in the early morning hours of May 16 to North of the Rainbow Bridge where he will be free to roam with all the other Sibes who have gone there.

Our only consolation is that now our fur-angel can finally run and play North of the Rainbow Bridge free of any pain.

We cannot express enough our thanks to MaPaw for everything they do for Sibes in need and to Sirus’ foster mom, Kim. They made it possible for us to experience the wonderful gift of his love and companionship.

Sal, Brenda, Cara, Bella and Vito

Our time together was brief,
but you stole my heart
I think of you every day;
I miss you and always will…
Until we meet again.

Kathy

11.28.1993 – 8.7.2008

Heaven has welcomed a new angel.

Queen Sheena, living in our hearts and minds forever.

7.10.87 – 12.22.2000

From the first moment we saw you on March 15, 1996, we promised to love you forever and to make your last years your best. You were very brave through all of your illnesses and operations. You were our angel on earth… and now you can run free and play in heaven.

Handsome Regal had no ego.

He would give up his water, food or even crate if another pet wanted it.

A complete gentle, compliant sweetheart.

Except when he got loose…

It happened the first time at 10 am on a Sunday morning. I’d only had him a few weeks. I had parked at the Quaker Meeting House on Goshen Road in Willistown. I opened the back door of the car to catch leashes for a short walk before meeting. Suddenly, my shy dog bolted past me and shot off, leash flapping, into the woods.

Starbright, his pomeranian/husky mix “big sister” went ballistic, screaming for him to come back. We followed him into the woods. He shot down the slope, zig-zagged across Goshen Road twice, then charged toward us. He ran several circles around us doing the “Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah” laps. Then he vanished into the skunk cabbage and briars of the swamp. No way to even track him.

Later that morning Pat brought Lady to try to track him. We fought through woods and across lawns, knocking on doors to ask if anyone had seen a black and white husky. Nope. The trail ended at Delchester Road. There was nothing to do but hope. I called the local vets, shelters and the Department of Transportation, but there wasn’t much response on a Sunday. He was wearing his collar and he was micro-chipped, but the trailing leash could tangle on anything, and Regal had no respect for roads.

Monday came. Still no news, despite more calls. The day dragged on. Starbright and I couldn’t eat. A little after six, I got a call. It was a veterinary hospital in West Chester. At about 4:30 pm a young woman driving west on her way to work at that vet noticed the traffic on Route 3, heavy at rush hour, had stopped. Craning her neck, she realized drivers were trying to avoid an exhausted husky staggering back and forth across the road. When he got on the grass on the right side, she maneuvered her SUV up on the shoulder and herded him farther off the road.

Another woman pulled off behind her, having witnessed the whole event. They both tried to cajole the panicked dog to come close enough to grab his leash, but he barked fearfully, and backed away. The second driver then suggested the dog could probably be lured with food, and drove off to Burger King. Sure enough, a trail of burgers later, Regal was safely in the SUV!

At West Chester Vet Hospital, they found my number and called me. What joy! The wonderful young woman even drove him home, all the way to Bryn Mawr, to see him reunited with his family. Regal was home, all four feet bleeding, and covered with (47) ticks.

Starbright danced around him, nuzzling and chortling with delight. Regal was too exhausted to move while the ticks were removed, the feet cleaned and he was powdered with insecticide. But did he learn??? Just loosen my grip on his leash and… it couldn’t happen, a husky’s ways never change.

After 13 wonderful years with Starbright and me, Regal crossed the Rainbow Bridge, age 15? 16? 17? I know he is running free with the pack.

You are now safe to run free Regal ~
Dance among the stars and play, young and pain free now.
You have earned your silver harness my friend, wear it proudly.
Watch over Nan and Starbright ~ you are their fur-angel now.
We love you.

“I’m Free”

Don’t grieve for me, for now I am free;
I took His hand when I heard him call:
I turned my back, and left it all.

If my parting has left a void: then fill it with a remembered joy.
My life’s been full, I savored much, good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.
A friendship shared a walk, a kiss: Ah yes. Those things too I will miss.
Perhaps my time seemed too brief: Don’t lengthen it now with undo grief.
Lift up your hearts and share with me: God wanted me now, He set me free.

~ Author Unknown