October 21, 1990 - July 3, 2003 

To our Beautiful Sheltie Angel,

I have been trying so hard to think of just the right thing to say, something that could sum up just how much you mean to the family and how much your loss has affected us all. But there are just not enough words to describe what happiness, laughter, joy, fun and love you brought into our lives that December night in 1990 - that is what makes this, our first Christmas without you, so very hard. There are no words to describe the sadness, loss, loneliness and emptiness of the house now that you are gone, my darling.

You joining our family was one of the happiest and luckiest days of our lives; we became a family of five, with you the "youngest" and being spoiled by all of us. I miss so many things about you that the list is endless - when you were outside walking and someone admired you, the way your little bottom would wiggle just a little bit more than normal to show how proud you were.

I also feel privileged to have had you in my life and hope you will keep a watch over us now from your special place at the Rainbow Bridge, until we meet up there.

Always in our thoughts and dreams and hearts,
Sleep tight, four white paws.

Loved and greatly missed by the Woods family:
Marianne, Wendy, Jean & Tam

October 22, 1994 - March 9, 2004

Dear Rusty,

We miss you terribly. I always did say that the day you died I would be in bed for a week with the curtains drawn. I'll never forget the day I first picked you up from the breeder. You were pushing all your brothers and sisters away to get at me. You wanted me to know that I WAS taking you home with me. And I did. From that very day you gave me all the love, support, companionship I could ever imagine. You were my little angel, the most important thing in my life. For the next 10 years you put up with so much. First, the sudden addition of a brother Cody you never asked for but eventually learned to tolerate. Then came along daddy, with his 2 dogs. Eventually you bonded with your new daddy, brother Muggsy and sister Minnie, only to lose Minnie and Cody some 6 years later. You suffered each loss with depression and that just broke my heart. You were the most sensitive dog I had ever known, and for that I loved you intensely. You also weathered well the addition of two children with all the loud bangs of toys and tantrums.

Your sudden and unexpected death just floored me. The exchange you and I had the night before you died will forever be burned in my memory. You were so healthy and happy, never having any real serious illness. Daddy and the kids were all asleep and like old times it was just you and me. I did my usual pat and kiss on the head, but something made me look at you more intently. I looked right into your eyes and said "aw, baby do you want me to spend more time with you?" I am forever grateful for those next 5 to 10 minutes I petted you, kissed you and told you how much you were loved. You died that next morning without me ever having been able to hold you again. It was as if you knew you were going to die that night and you needed to tell me to say my goodbyes. I am forever grateful for that my Rusty boy. You gave me the opportunity to love on you, not while panicked and crying at your sudden dying, but just you and me, happy and like old times.

You will always be a part of me and Daddy. We love you so much Rusty. I will never be the same again having lost you, but I know you will be in my arms again. The day after your passing I wrote the following poem for you:

"Ben"

1986 - July 17, 2004

With love from Mom,
Barbara Palmeri

A Letter to Mom from Ben:

Dear Mom:

Thank you for being my mom and for taking such good care of me through all of the years of my life. Thank you for being my devoted companion and for all of the love and gentleness you showed me. I never doubted for one minute how much you loved me – not only did you tell me all the time how loved and special I was, but you also showed it to me with your eyes. Your eyes always glowed with such unconditional love whenever you looked at me, that I always felt secure in the knowledge I would always be safe with you, you would never hurt me, and you would always love and take good care of me.

I loved so many of the things we did together. When I was a little friskier, I looked forward to having you chase me around the dining room table. It always surprised me you would get tired before I did – and you were younger than I was! Do you remember how I used to put my paws down when I wanted to play with you? I loved having your attention! I loved seeing you when you got home from work – remember when I was still able to walk up the stairs by myself and I would follow you up the stairs when you went up to change clothes? And I loved our jaunts around the yard, particularly as I got older – that was our special time together, just you and me. I would wait patiently while you looked at your flowers, and then you would turn to me and lightly nudge me when you were ready to move onto the next area of your garden. I loved lying in the grass in the back yard while you looked at some more of your flowers – and then you would come over and lie down beside me and give me a great big, gentle hug. And when you were ready to move on, you’d tenderly help me up and nudge me toward the other side of the house, and you’d follow me, softly touching my back to let me know that you were there behind me. I so loved it when you would lift me onto the living room couch and gently lay me down with my head in your lap, and you’d softly stroke me and whisper your love and devotion to me. Mom, these are but a few of the lifetime of loving memories I have of our life together.  I couldn’t have asked for a more loving, gentle and devoted mom than you were.  I know you loved me all of the days of my life, as you told me so often.