Dear Betty, thank you for sharing your album with me. Wow, its beautiful! The dogs...the way they interact with the much bigger animals. These are truly an amazing photo album you have compiled. Just made me smile a lot. I was born in NY, so to see such huge farm animals makes me smile. My husband on the other hand grew up in upstate NY, so that is he way of life...and I would actually pick up now and leave for something huge, more property...don't laugh, but he took me up to where he was from and I got an electric shock from the fences which have currents running through them...idiot city girl that I am. Thanks for your kind words, and for sharing this album with me, I LOVE it!

Yes, she was beautiful to me. When I got her, many made fun of her slight "coat" and slight fuzz around her ears, but she wound up losing that. To me, she was my beautiful girl. But for the saying about being worth every tear, yes...she surely was and is. If it were not for my vet helping, I would not have made it without him. When I lost my old time, older "country type vet" I was devastated. Funny, when you have a child, you want the best doctor for them, I was insane looking for a new vet after my doc died. He was a special person, and passed away around 7 years ago. I was angry at losing him, so the search for that new special vet took a LONG time. I'm glad I have the new one, and I cherish the old times with the old one. Many good memories with him! He let me work to pet off my vet bills, and gave my son a job when he didn't have one. Its truly amazing how in our lives we are touched by so much.

Yes, she was beautiful to me. When I got her, many made fun of her slight "coat" and slight fuzz around her ears, but she wound up losing that. To me, she was my beautiful girl. But for the saying about being worth every tear, yes...she surely was and is. If it were not for my vet helping, I would not have made it without him. When I lost my old time, older "country type vet" I was devastated. Funny, when you have a child, you want the best doctor for them, I was insane looking for a new vet after my doc died. He was a special person, and passed away around 7 years ago. I was angry at losing him, so the search for that new special vet took a LONG time. I'm glad I have the new one, and I cherish the old times with the old one. Many good memories with him! He let me work to pet off my vet bills, and gave my son a job when he didn't have one. Its truly amazing how in our lives we are touched by so much.

Thank you...its a huge one. I'm glad she had a chance of getting her TC. I had other plans for her, but not enough time to do all of them. I'm thankful for whatever we did accomplish as a team...your note means a lot, thanks so much.

I'm so sorry for your family loss- sending healing thoughts your way. It's terrible on small children- my kids have been there too, with a dog they knew for their entire lives. It's so hard on the little ones.

It sounds like you did a great job caring for Laurel, in all her troubles. She's lucky that she had you to make the best of the cards she was dealt in life.

RIP Laurel.

It's always rough to lose them at such a young age. Condolences.

Holly,

I am so sorry for your loss. Laurel sounds like such a wonderful dog and a huge part of your life. She touched many in her short time.

As you know, we've been there. It never gets easier to say good bye to them. When it does, I think we need to re-evaluate why we have dogs...

I am holding my "heart dog" right now. My Caterina. She saw the tears and jumped into action. I love the song "Leave out all the rest." When I hear that song, I think of Caterina's mom Aera and when she left us suddenly. Think of the good times and the love... leave out all the rest. Her "reason to be missed" is the love you shared, and all of the hearts she touched.

Hugs to you from me, and kisses to you from Caterina.

--Kel

Thank you, Kelly. My family really appreciates that. When I was a kid growing up in the Bronx, NY, I used to walk home and stop to look at all the dogs in yards that belonged to people. On numerous occasions, I wound up taking them, bringing them home, telling my parents that I "found them." Of course, my family had to return them saying they were "sorry" for their daughters actions. I was only about 5 when I started doing that. We were never allowed pets but I was always with my uncles who were K9 officers, and I was always around their dogs...when I was about 7 I got my first dog, Samantha, she lived a long time. I guess it started a trend with me.
I did do a wonderful job with Laurel. She knows that, I know that. I'm just glad she was sent to me, as if it were someone else, they probably would not have gone through all of it. Yes, there were times it was frustrating...I experienced a lot of anger towards the breeder, but who's to say...pointing fingers or blaming would not return her. Personally, I have no crystal ball, but I think much of what started this was indeed vaccinations. I need to look at this site more, as there is a section of over vaccinating, and at the time I got Laurel, I was amid vets so I used the breeders vet. Every time she received a puppy shot, she would get bloody stools and shoot fevers over 105.7. I was very uneducated then, and kept asking the vet why this was happening, but she still continued to vaccinate and make her finish her puppy shots. This is something that now, is of great importance to me. I need to further research the subject and the "why's" and hows. I have not vaccinated either of my new GSD's. Not that its the reason, but I see how they are indeed pushed.
It's unfortunate to lose her, but I'm glad I was the person who got her. My husband and I were looking at two girls at the same time, but decided on her. I will never regret that choice. During this time though, there are people I will not speak to, one was a very close cousin. She was mad because I missed her daughters baby shower and I still have the skathing email. Not long after that she lost her dog at 15. I wonder if she knows, now, how I was feeling that my girl was sick, and not even anywhere near the age of her pup.
Regardless, I wanted to share that. Maybe one day I can speak to her, but not now.
Thank you for your note about Laurel. She was my special girl.

Thank you, Marj. At any age it hurts. Knowing Laurel, she is here on the side of me watching. She would not go to sleep at night until I finished my work and once she saw me leave my office, then and only then would she come to sleep...with me of course. Again, much thanks.

Dear Kelly, thank you. She was with me 24/7. Work, play, always there. When I got her, I was concerned with regard on how she'd be with special needs children, and I promised my neighbour's 10 year old to come with us. I saw the interaction between the two of them, and that was the deciding factor. I just got so used to her being there, and as she got sicker, she still wanted to attend classes for protection. I had concerns about her heart and other issues, but I figured if she did die at a class, she at least would have died doing what she loved best. All of us have been there, but we keep going back again. I probably will always do that. I have my male that I adore now. Could not stand him when I got him, as the trainers put too much defense on him, I could not even touch his toys or ball. With a little tweaking, he is just so amazing. I always tell him how much I love him, so many times per day. My female, 7 months, is a lot like Laurel, just a different colour, but has many of her traits. I only have her around 5 weeks and she is quite persistent and dominant. I don't feel a bond yet with her, but she does my thinking for me.
I don't know if she will be a heart dog, as I'm training her for my husband actually, but she is sweet...just different. Having my male just diagnosed with possible Cushings and his heart condition, is making it hard. We all sat around tonight thinking about my boy Nikko but we'll see. I hope the vets can fix him. The rest of the bloods are not in yet so I just don't know, the waiting is killing me, as its way too much stuff for me to take in in 2011...I keep praying...its all I can do. I had said on January 1st of the start of the year, that I hoped this year would be better...its actually been one of the worse ones I've had honestly.
I am happy to know you too have your heart dog, Caterina. Everyone should definitely experience that. I'm sorry though, that her mom Aera, passed away suddenly. No matter how, it of course won't bring her back, its the memories that we have that we can cherish. Dog hugs from Nikko and Stela to you and Caterina. Hope she gets to sleep with you at night the way my dogs do. Probably not a good habit, but they are warm and we enjoy our dogs, as you do yours. Not only are they warm, but at least our dogs don't complain when our hair is messy in the morning or if we have pillow lines Thank you once again for your note, its very much appreciated.