On Thursday, July 15, 2010 our loving, dear Zeb had a seizure that took his wonderful life. He lived 14 years, 3 months. We are overwhelmed with sadness. We just wanted those who knew and loved Zeb like we did to know.

I adopted Isis (originally named Noelle because of her birthday) from Suzi in May of 2004. I was this poor dog’s 5th family in as many months, she just wanted someone to love her. She was initially owned by a man in the military who had to give her up due to orders to go overseas. He gave her to a friend to care for. This guy realized he wasn’t doing her any good because he was gone more hours in a day than he was home. Thank goodness he found Suzi and Pups2Luv.

In April of 2004 I was researching through rescues in the area for my boss who had just lost his golden retriever. I came upon Suzi and Pups2Luv completely by accident. I began searching through her available dogs and the only thing posted about this dog named Noelle was her description. Suzi hadn’t even had pictures of her posted yet. All I can remember from it was that she was half malamute, half german shepherd, white, grey and black. She had a beautiful mask but DIDN’T look like a raccoon! I immediately called the number and left a message asking if I could just come see her. I wasn’t looking for a dog for me at all…but she sounded sooo pretty that I just had to see her.

I went about a week later and fell in love… she had been kind of skittish around other people but for some reason she came right to me and just sat. I was done, it was over, I was in love. I was just out of college and living with my parents who had an older yorkie named Roo. I told Suzi I was interested but needed to talk it over with my parents. She was going to be MY dog, but I still needed to check with them. Long story short, she came home the first week in May.

Due to her moving around so much in such a short period of time, she had a bad case of separation anxiety. She hated being left alone, even for an hour. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, I couldn’t tell her I wasn’t going to leave her, that she was here to stay, I didn’t know how I could make her understand…. Then in late June of 2004, my father had to have an emergency appendectomy. He was out of work for almost 2 months. We thanked our lucky stars for Isis almost every day. She was still just a puppy and needed to go out relatively often. My father needed to get up and move around once home from the hospital… He was at home with her all day every day for almost 7 straight weeks. She finally learned that we loved her and she was stuck with us, and my father got the movement he needed immediately after surgery. He couldn’t just lay down all day, he had to get up and do things with her. This created a bond that no one could break. My father loved that dog like another daughter.

She had such a firm grip on my father after that summer that the next summer when I was moving out to get married, there was an alleged bet made between my father and I, the prize being Isis…. I remember making no such bet, but there was no way I could take them away from each other. So she became my father’s dog… and they had so many little routines. They would get up in the morning, he would have his coffee and she would have a treat. She learned from Roo that you didn’t eat your dinner until mommy was done cleaning the dishes… she usually gave you the juices from the meat as a special addition to dinner. Isis also learned that dinner was followed by dessert. When my father would get up to get dessert, she would follow him into the kitchen. He would grab a “doggie ice cream” out of the freezer and as soon as she saw him do this she ran over to her bed, laid down and waited for him to bring it to her. She also loved those hollow bones filled with peanut butter which we then froze. When it got to the point that she couldn’t reach the last of the peanut butter, she would drop it in my father’s lap, sit down and watch. She seemed to be saying, “Come on, aren’t you gonna get the rest out for me…?”

There are so many more memories about this fabulous dog that I could go on for pages and pages. My favorite though was driving over to my parents’ house and not seeing her in the window… then I would see my mom call to Isis when she saw my SUV pull in and Isis would come charging to the front bay window and put her paws up on it like she had never been so happy to see me… That is what I’ll miss the most.

Rest well good friend, I’ll see you again someday! Love you Isis.

Dear Friends,

It is with a very deep sadness that I tell you that last night (Thur, Dec 21st) Kash finally succumbed to the illness that had plagued him since early July. Cathi’s and my hearts are extremely saddened with the sudden loss of him. Please keep Cathi and Kash in your thoughts and prayers as her house is very quiet these days, as Kash always liked to let his presence to be known, even in his last few days.

About 8 years ago, Cathi had been to many dog adoptions days without any luck of finding a dog. Finally, at one adoption day, a bouncy little puppy with a big head and a brown fur coat that matched her long jacket exactly, picked her out of the crowd, came up to her, and gave her big kiss on the cheek as Cathi let out a big smile. A unique and very special match had been made.

In early July of this year, Kash became suddenly lethargic. Over those next couple weeks, Kash was in and out of the hospital several times, mystifying the Vets with both his illness and his resiliency to live. The Vet’s suspected that he was suffering from a severe case of autoimmune disease, likely Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). What caused this we likely will never know, but he fought hard against it as Cathi sought the best Veterinarian support we could find while she provided the best home care to him. Kash seemed to have stabilized over the last few months, as the drugs were being reduced as they too will their toll on the body.

About two weeks ago, Kash started going downhill, with a sudden downturn this past weekend. He saw a specialist for the second time on Wed with results that came back very discouraging, By Thursday afternoon, Kash was very weak and could not even stand up. We sadly, but without expectation, took him to the animal hospital that afternoon for a blood transfusion, in hopes this temporary measure would help him through as the doctors speculated a possible course of alternative treatment. About an hour later, prior to his blood transfusion, Kash’s heart and breathing suddenly stopped. Kash’s fight was finally over. Kash will be buried early Saturday afternoon in Cathi’s backyard next to her to previous special pets.

Kash has led a full life, as he has spent time swimming in his pool, chasing birds and squirrels, playing in the river rapids, lounging on the boat, playing in the leaf piles and in the snow, and sometimes his favorite sport, barking. He was a very special dog with a strong will to live and a unique personality that will be greatly missed.

Kash
Oct 1998 –Dec 21, 2006

I woke up yesterday & didn't know it was my dog Bandit's last day on earth. He passed away in his  sleep yesterday afternoon. I found him in his spot at the foot of my bed & he had passed peacefully on into doggie heaven. Even though he was 13 & 1/2 years old, I wasn't ready for him to go yet. 

I got Bandit when he was 6 weeks old. He came to me in a little red tub with handles on it. The people had gotten him at a roadside stand in Pa. over the Thanksgiving holiday. They were giving the puppies away for free or they were just going to leave them there by the side of the road. He was the cutest puppy I had ever seen in my life, he looked like a little Bernese Mountain dog, all fluffy & cute & loving & sweet. He slept in that red tub until he outgrew it - & I still have it, I could never bear to part with it! From day one, he loved everyone & everything!

He was so special, so wonderful & he brought so much happiness into my life & into so many others, especially the Senior Citizens that we visited in the Pets on Wheels Program. He LOVED doing the Pets on Wheels Program, & they always got a kick out of him because he always carried one of his stuffed "babies" with him wherever he went. He loved to give kisses, & he loved to "dance", especially to his favorite song - "Baby likes to Rock It Like a Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Trainnnnn!!" Only we sang it like "Bandit like to Rock it........"!! Whenever that song came on, anywhere I was in the house, I had to run to wherever he was, turn up the radio - full blast - & sing it loud, so he could wiggle his butt to it!!

He also expected me to sing along whenever I watched  CSI - Las Vegas, you know, the original one - when they go - "Who are you? Boop, boop, boo, doo??" It was a requirement that I sing that song each & every time it came on. He would flip his head around, even if he was sound asleep, & then come over wagging his tail a hundred miles an hour & dance around while I pointed to him & sang about "you, you, you, you, YOU!!"

When Shannon was in college soccer, he became their mascot & took laps with them around the field. I taught him to bark when they scored a goal! He went to almost every game for 4 years!

When my friend Tyke did his concerts down in Occoquan or at their bonfires, Bandit often sang with him - unfortunately not on key - but then, he hadn't had any voice lessons & didn't know all the words either!!

Yes you can tell by now he was my favorite dog! I love all my dogs & they are all special in their own way, but Bandit was one of a kind - a very special wonderful companion that gave me endless years of love, devotion, true friendship, laughter, tears, experiences filled with memories that I will hold close to my heart forever.

Dear Friends,

It is with a very deep sadness that I tell you that last night (Thur, Dec 21st) Kash finally succumbed to the illness that had plagued him since early July. Cathi’s and my hearts are extremely saddened with the sudden loss of him. Please keep Cathi and Kash in your thoughts and prayers as her house is very quiet these days, as Kash always liked to let his presence to be known, even in his last few days.

About 8 years ago, Cathi had been to many dog adoptions days without any luck of finding a dog. Finally, at one adoption day, a bouncy little puppy with a big head and a brown fur coat that matched her long jacket exactly, picked her out of the crowd, came up to her, and gave her big kiss on the cheek as Cathi let out a big smile. A unique and very special match had been made.

In early July of this year, Kash became suddenly lethargic. Over those next couple weeks, Kash was in and out of the hospital several times, mystifying the Vets with both his illness and his resiliency to live. The Vet’s suspected that he was suffering from a severe case of autoimmune disease, likely Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). What caused this we likely will never know, but he fought hard against it as Cathi sought the best Veterinarian support we could find while she provided the best home care to him. Kash seemed to have stabilized over the last few months, as the drugs were being reduced as they too will their toll on the body.

About two weeks ago, Kash started going downhill, with a sudden downturn this past weekend. He saw a specialist for the second time on Wed with results that came back very discouraging, By Thursday afternoon, Kash was very weak and could not even stand up. We sadly, but without expectation, took him to the animal hospital that afternoon for a blood transfusion, in hopes this temporary measure would help him through as the doctors speculated a possible course of alternative treatment. About an hour later, prior to his blood transfusion, Kash’s heart and breathing suddenly stopped. Kash’s fight was finally over. Kash will be buried early Saturday afternoon in Cathi’s backyard next to her to previous special pets.

Kash has led a full life, as he has spent time swimming in his pool, chasing birds and squirrels, playing in the river rapids, lounging on the boat, playing in the leaf piles and in the snow, and sometimes his favorite sport, barking. He was a very special dog with a strong will to live and a unique personality that will be greatly missed.

Kash
Oct 1998 –Dec 21, 2006

A Special Tribute to a Very Special Dog and the Woman Who Rescued Her

For Nancy.......I know Ebony would have wanted to say something like this to you.......

"When I Must Leave You"

When I must leave you for a little while
Please do not grieve and shed wild tears
And hug your sorrows to you through the years

But start out bravely with a gallant smile,
And for my sake and in my name,
live on and do all things the same.

Feed not your loneliness on empty days,
But fill each waking hour in useful ways,

Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer
And I in turn will comfort you and hold you near

And never, never, be afraid to die,
For I am waiting for you in the sky!

The Spirit Of A German Shepherd Dog

 I was standing on a hillside
In a field of blowing wheat
And the spirit of a German Shepherd Dog
Was lying at my feet.
He looked at me with kind dark eyes
An ancient wisdom shining through
And in the essence of his being
I saw love there too.
His mind did lock upon my heart
As I stood there on that day
And he told me of this story
About a place far away.

I stood upon the hillside
In a field of blowing wheat
And in a twinkling of a second
His spirit left my feet.
His tale did put my heart at ease
My fears did fade away
About what lay ahead of me
On another distant day.
"I live among God's creatures now
In the heavens of your mind

So do not grieve for me, my friend
As I am with my kind.
My collar is a rainbow's hue
My leash a shooting star
My boundaries are the Milky Way
Where I sparkle from afar.

There are no pens or kennels here
For I am not confined
But free to roam God's heavens
Among my Shepherd kind.
I nap the day on a snowy cloud
Gentle breezes rocking me
And dream the dreams of earthlings
And how it used to be.

The trees are full of liver treats
And tennis balls abound
And milkbones line the walkways
Just waiting to be found.
There even is a ring set up
The grass all lush and green
And everyone who gaits around
Becomes the Best of Breed.

For we're all winners in this place
We have no faults, you see
And God passes out those ribbons
To each one, even me.

I drink from waters laced with gold
My world a beauty to behold
And wise old dogs do form my pride
To amble at my very side.
At night I sleep in an angel's arms
Her wings protecting me
And moonbeams dance about us
As stardust falls on thee.

So when your life on earth is spent
And you stand at Heaven's gate
Have no fear of loneliness
For here, you know I wait".

Author unknown

Pups 2 Luv wishes to honor the memory of the very first puppy that we ever fostered and adopted out ‘way back in 1993.

My younger daughter was a senior in high school when I got the cutest little blond Cocker Spaniel puppy who wasn’t any bigger than a kitten. He was a rambunctious little guy and just stole your heart from the get-go! Don’t get me wrong now, I’m not a big fan of Cockers, but this little guy was a real cutie!

It wasn’t long before a classmate of hers said his parents might be interested in coming to see him and maybe adopting him. He won them over right away and on February 17, 1993, little Buster went home with Patty and Joe Dittmar and their family. For $50 whole dollars, the Dittmars got 13 years of unconditional love, loyalty and affection – which of course they gave Buster in return! All through college years, grad school, moving, marriages, grandchildren - and even additional four-legged friends, Buster has been their true blue friend and companion.

Fortunately for me, the Dittmars have been kind and thoughtful enough to keep in touch and send letters and pictures to keep me up to date with Buster and his family. Every year I looked forward to hearing what was new with Buster’s folks!

But it was sad news that I got this week that their beloved Buster had passed away on Saturday, March 4th – after 13 years of giving them so much joy and love and affection.

My heart breaks for them because the silence is deafening when you’re expecting those little sounds that you have heard for so many, many years that they have become part of the background – but when they are not there, you wait expectantly for them.

Buster was a lucky dog, a special dog – he had a wonderful family who loved him and that family grew in numbers and the love grew too – I wish that all dogs could be as lucky and as special as Buster – because as much as we love them, they always love us more!

When I go to heaven, I want to go to doggy heaven to be with all my best friends!!