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

"Tawny"
1989 - 2003

We had to say goodbye to my sheltie, Tawny, today. She was diagnosed with failing kidneys last October but hormones had given her a reprieve until the symptoms dramatically reappeared two weeks ago. I tried to convince myself this was just a temporary relapse but finally had to accept that my old friend was not going to be around much longer. She had always been there to comfort my children when they fell down and now she needed us to ease her own suffering.

I barbecued a steak for Tawny's final meal and shared it with her as a type of communion between us (a drastic change from the low protein diet she had been on). I then took Tawny out to her favorite spot at the lake for a short walk and as always, she waded aimlessly around in the water until quenching her thirst. We then basked in the warm sunlight for almost half an hour and as I gazed at her - through reddened eyes - I felt I was seeing shades of the puppy we brought home all those years ago.

Tawny has been a wonderful companion for almost 14 years and has taught me more about unconditional love and acceptance than any book could ever hope to. As she continues her own journey, I have no doubt she will find someone in the great beyond to throw her ball for her until I arrive to resume our game.

We are having Tawny cremated and will keep her urn close to the family, where she always wanted to be.

In loving memory,
The Thoresons

"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