Bridge Memorials Page Five
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn stuff like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.
Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
RICO
Rico was adopted through BRAT - Basenji Rescue and Transport and came to us in September 1999. Over the next several weeks he began to adjust to his new home and new people - his new world. When we went out he stayed in his travel crate. When he went outside he found no grass in his new backyard. Later when we put in a Hale Security dog door and got a large two door crate, he would dig a depression in the dirt and stay there in the afternoon; eventhough he could always come back into the air conditioned house. Rico liked the sun and the warmth.
Rico was an escape artist. He got out under a gate, tried to go through a drainage opening, and removed a screened vent to get into the garage. We were very surprised when he came walking out of the garage as the garage door went up.
Rico’s day was spent following the sun around the living room floor and laying on his pillows - one on the couch and one in his crate at the dog door. He had lots of toys, but his red capped hedgehog - his Happy Hedgehog was his favorite. Whenever something happened that made him happy, he would go looking for this one toy and bring it to us.
Rico became a good traveler. Rico traveled inside his plastic travel crate. He took many trips to Elko, NV, where he walked on snow and mud but did not go near puddles. He would go in and out of his travel crate and occasionally put his nose on Cliff's left shoulder to see what was happening.
This idyllic life changed suddenly in September, 2002. Rico had been to doctors before and even had some surgery, but in September, he could no longer hold down food. On September 19, Rico was in surgery for 3 hours and 40 minutes. Rico had a plugged common bile duct and a gall bladder near rupture. By September 22, We had gone back and forth to Dr. Myke's to see Rico many times. Rico was being treated for pancreatitis and possible surgical infections which meant he was getting two types of antibiotics and a liter of fluid a day. Rico seemed glad we visited him and he responded to our voices and being petted. We brought Rico’s blanket and red cap Happy Hedgehog so he had both some smells from home during each visit. He would lie down on the blanket next to me and doze. When JoAnn visited, he wanted to be close to JoAnn and have her pet him the way she did when she came home. Rico hurt, but he still wanted to greet her the way he did at home. He responded to affection and he did not seem to feel abandoned. Rico seemed to accept the fact that he had to stay at the hospital until he was better. He was clean and his incision was never infected.
We brought Rico home twice. The first time was for only a day and then he went back for a week of fluids and antibiotics. The second time was Thursday, October 3. He had a good night. He got to walk. He took medicine and generally tried to be Rico following sunbeams, being cuddled and being on our bed. By Sunday, we knew he was in trouble. We took him to the vet at 7:00 am and they drew blood and gave him his antibiotic. They asked if we would leave him and we both said no. Rico was going home for at least the rest of Sunday to be loved and to be himself.
Rico Austin died in my arms at noon on Monday, October 7, 2002. We believe he was about 11 years old. He never truly recovered from his surgery. Acute Fanconi, the Basenji nemesis, set in over the weekend on top of the pancreatitis and its underlying infection. His kidneys were failing.
Rico was with us such a short time - 3 years and 1 month. During that time he won our hearts and gave his love back.
Rico always greeted us when we came home. He was such a little gentleman to JoAnn and always nuzzled her and waited for her to pet him. For me, he wanted to be held with his nose on my shoulder and then put down to get his Happy Hedgehog. He was happy to be with us, to be near us and to walk. It did not matter to Rico that it was 100-deg or that it was 30-deg with a blustery wind; the evening walk was the highlight of the day. After that came lying on the couch, belly rubs and finally the cuddle bed laying in our bedroom right next to our bed where he could curl-up and get petted before falling asleep. Weekend mornings Rico would be up on the bed getting petted and loved or just being close while we read the paper. Rico always responded to affection and gave love back in return. He was a great traveler and companion. He rode in his crate with the door open, but occasionally he would pop-up to see what was going on and put his head on my left shoulder.
Rico was a very good, brave little Basenji and loved dearly.
Rico is and will be missed.
Cliff and Jo Ann
If you have an angel pet and would like them to apopear on these pages, please email pictures in jpg format and a few paragraphs to me.
Bridgette
Beloved dog of Sandi T.
Always happy!
Catching snowflakes
Cody (left) and Bridgette enjoying a summer day on the deck.
If you were to look up "love" and "devotion" in the Big Book of People Words, Bridgette's picture would be there.
Sandi and Bridgette were playing on the couch one morning when Bridgette lost her footing, fell off the couch, and knocked her head on the coffee table. She never regained consciousness.
"Bridgette's passing was so sudden and final that I feel like my life has been ripped out from under me," Sandi said.
Sandi, please know that Bridgette is smiling down on you from the Bridge and will always be alive in your heart.
To see another memorial for Bridgette, please CLICK HERE.
Heidi
Heidi was my seven year old schnauzer who became a part of my family as a puppy. She was full of fun and rough and tumble, but at the same time as gentle as could be. She and her partner Fritz were inseparable; he could torment and tease her without any payback from Heidi.
When she left us in July 2007, after receiving one of her yearly booster shots, it certainly created a big hole in our lives. I know that she's OK at the Bridge playing with other members of the family that preceded her. Toby, Sparky, Teddi, Buddy and Cuddles. Quite a menagerie.
Tom K.
There comes in the lives of the lucky, a dog that touches their heart like no other. I am lucky. I had Mira and she had me. For five and a half years Mira brought laughter and delight to our home. Her intelligence and humor constantly amazed me. This was a dog that, when caught in the midst of mischief, would lay her head down and pretend to sleep. Periodically she'd open one eye to see if I was smiling. If I was, she'd start thumping her tail, but would close her eyes again until she heard my laughter.
Mira was my constant companion at Havanese rescue booths. She was a volunteer as much as I, greeting the public with her beauty and sweet nature. She wasn't fond of crowds, but she loved me and trusted me, and as long as I was with her, all was right in the world.
Mira had many trials in her short life. She had surgery for Legg Calve Perthes. Her hip had so deteriorated in the two week wait for surgery that the surgery itself went on for almost 4 hours. Several years later she ruptured her CCL on her good leg, likely the result of it being overused to compensate for the LCP affected leg. No longer able to run the fastest outside, to lead the hairy chevron to the edge of the sidewalk to bark at passersby, Mira devised a plan. (It was just like her.) Mira would run part way down the sidewalk, then stop to bark at a nonexistent intruder. The other dogs would turn their hairy jumbled selves around to join her. While they stood looking for something that wasn't there, Mira trotted down to the edge of the sidewalk to take her rightful place as lead dog watching the alley.
Mira was struck by lymphoma the first night in October during a particularly cloudy time. There wasn't a star in the sky for me to wish upon. She fought a good fight, but eventually became septic after developing pancreatitis from her third chemo treatment, the one where she was declared to be in full remission. I will miss her always, love her forever and honor her life by freely admitting other dogs into my heart. They cannot crowd her out. Mira owns a large part of it and always will.
Lu W. - Havanese rescue
Mira
