These are four of my angels. I lost R.J. yesterday. It doesn't get any easier. I think I've cried harder and longer each time I lose one. My heart is hurting but they each are in a much better place, free of pain, and whole again. Tucker was my first friend. He brought up five shelties, one human baby, and one adult. He deserves CD after his name but you can't get titles in fun matches and he was a wonderful mixture of long-haired shepherd and border collie. R.J. worshiped Tucker. Andrew was my first sheltie, a Christmas gift from my husband. Andrew was so special to us that our son's middle name is Andrew. Yes, family thought us crazy. Andrew had a short life, I lost him when he was only 6 years old. He had a lot of health problems because he was from a puppy mill (I didn't know there were such things until Andrew!). R.J. Joined us shortly after we lost Andrew. A beautiful puppy, he loved to nibble on your toes. We bonded closely since we were showing in obedience trials. The breeder said he was very smart!! During one match, on the long down, R.J. decided he wanted to lay closer to me; instead of getting up and coming to me, he crawled. Not all at once, you see he wanted to make sure it was ok, so he crawled a few feet, stopped, looked around, saw everything was ok, and then crawled a few more feet. Favor was the most gorgeous bi-black. He hated conformation showing but loved obedience. R.J. would do anything for food, Favor would do anything for my praise. He was shy, so we ad to work twice as hard and long to ear his CD. He was such a brave boy! One time during a fun match (noises bothered him greatly) a train went by and blew its whistle - he did not break his position. My heart exploded with pride. Again he showed his bravery when at age 11 he was diagnosed with liposarcoma in his left rear leg. Amputation was the only answer. He never lost a beat once he recovered. My son even said that Favor taught him about being brave. We lost him one year after the surgery, the cancer had spread to his brain. And now, only 1-1/2 years later, R.J. is gone. I think my other dogs who had gone on before were showing themselves to him the last night he was alive. When he was outside, he was looking around very excitedly, like he was watching other dogs jumping and carrying on - happy to see him. He acted very happy to see them. His expression was - "Where have you been? It's great to see you again!" I'm going to miss his greeting when I walk in the house. He was always on the landing, smiling, wagging his tail and "woofing." I hope when it is my time to go that my angels will be there to welcome me home. I love you guys and miss you terribly. Love, Mom.

Cheryl, David and Jeremy Howerton
The other Angels still here: Kellee, Tawny, Erin and Laya

"Candie"

Candie was my special Sheltie Angel! She was my beloved companion for over 14 years. I am still grieving that she is no longer with me. I miss her so much, only those that have been through the pain of "letting a loved one go" can understand the pain I feel. I'm so sad that "I" had to make this decision. I wish she had gone peacefully in her sleep, without anything on my part. But, in the end, I had to make the ultimate decision - to let her suffer, or to let her go to the Bridge and wait for me. I am sad, because I miss her, but I will see her again, my Baby. I have a new Sheltie Angel - her name is Mytzie Suzanne! She will join our family on May 2, 2003! I anxiously await her arrival. She will not replace Candie - who is irreplaceable - but will fill the incredibly large hole in my heart she left when she went to the Rainbow Bridge.

Love ya, Candifers!
Andrea

Parsley Glen's Gaelic Revival, CGC, ThD
"Gilli"

January 21, 1990 - April 3, 2003

Gilli was a small little girl and the gentlest soul I ever met in a dog. I think it's what made her such a superb therapy dog. She was never one to chase balls or play with toys but we had a game where she would spin and bark at us. She only did this when we played with her. And when I called her my Gilli Cat, she would wrap herself around my legs and rub up against me just like a cat. It was her most endearing trait. She battled arthritis for years and then her heart went bad but she fought so hard to stay around and lived 4 months beyond what was expected. Fortunately, she took any decisions away from us and died at home with Kandee and me at her side. Kandee misses her terribly and twice after Gilli died I found Kandee laying in the hall staring into the dog room. One of those times, she was right near the doorway and she backed up slowly and laid down, staring. I think Gilli came back a couple of times for some reason we'll never know. We're sure going to miss our little Gilli girl but now she's in no pain and she's joined Crackers, Misti, Brandy, Dillon, Lacey, Ace and all our other loved ones at the Bridge, so carefree and forever puppies.

Pat Knepley

Toby (The Tubbs)
June 21, 1990 - February 14, 2003

Pebbles (Pebboes)
May 1, 1991 - June 1, 2003

Our two beloved shelties have recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge and joined the angels. It is heartbreaking to lose our special friends so close to each other. When Pebbles passed on not only did we grieve for her but we also grieved for Toby all over again as they had been inseparable and we always considered them a pair.

Toby came into our lives as a six week old puppy and when we heard that his mother had another litter to a different dog in the following year we went to have a look at the cute puppies with no intention of getting another. Pebbles, the runt of the litter, however, had other ideas and soon joined our family. Not having had shelties nor having two dogs together before we did not realize the difference in personalities that could exist.

Toby was a loveable big oaf, probably not the smartest of shelties but friendly to everyone and everything and dedicated to food and patting. When we went on our daily walk it was to Toby a treasure hunt for food and he would run everywhere searching for and usually finding a morsel. He was such a gentle dog that even when Pebbles pulled his tail, as she would do regularly to bring him into line for disobeying an instruction, he did not retaliate. In fact, Toby's defence if another dog was to menace him was to sit very still until the other dog lost interest and left him alone. Obeying our commands was not high on Toby's agenda.

Pebbles, on the other hand, remained small, was always a little overweight, but very smart. At obedience school she went from beginners' class to advanced class with only one lesson. She was unfortunately attacked by an Alsatian at the class and was terrified of returning so we did not take her further. Her idea of a walk was to meander along slowly, sniffing at everything and she would not be hurried. On the walks strangers were always commenting on how beautiful she looked and trying to pat her but she wanted nothing to do with other people or their dogs. She would fetch a ball but only if it was thrown for a very short distance and I really think she only did it because she thought it would please me. In fact, I think Pebbles' whole life was dedicated to pleasing me.

During summer we had our pair clipped as it is necessary in our area to search them daily for paralysis ticks which are deadly and it is impossible to feel the ticks through their coats. When they were clipped they looked quite funny but it appeared to give them a new lease on life in the hot weather; the rule being no one was allowed to hurt their feelings by laughing at them.

Oh, how we miss the raucous greeting from Toby when we return home from work and Pebbles flicking her back leg and chewing on my fingers as she vied for attention. We don't know how badly Pebbles missed Toby in the few months she lived after his death as she had never known life without him. We wonder if, despite our extra love and attention, she lost the will to live without her lifelong companion.

The Tubbs and Pebboes or the Doggoes as we called them, were not show dogs with perfect conformation but they were much loved and loving family members who dedicated our routines and contributed so much to our lives over nearly thirteen years.

Their passing has left a void that will be impossible to fill.

Geoff & Anne Stephenson