From a very dear FRIEND:
Hello Alphahowl,
Where do I begin? I am crying sooo hard after reading your pages. I feel your pain. Ilost my Sheppie suddenly when she was 7. One night she was just dead on the sidewalk. I assessed her from head to tail and felt no broken bones. She had lost her bladder contents. I still dream of running and being with her and I'm sooo bummed out when I wake up and it's not real. She was my best friend through some very, very tough times in my life and there is an emptiness that cannot be filled. I thank God that she didn't suffer but I've never understood why she had to go so soon. My Dad got my son another dog the next year (somehow the parakeet "Tweety" didn't quite replace Shep;) That dog's name is Bridgette. She is Sheltie & Pomeranian mix & people swear she's a little red fox. Sheppie's been gone 15 years now and Bridge is 14. I always loved her but had my hands full being a single mom & taking care of an aging and broken hearted father. I couldn't risk the hurt that might come by letting Bridgie into my heart. I regret & hate myself for that. I couldn't get out of bed much and Bridgette came and snuggled me and our hearts melded. We bonded and I can't stand to be away from her now. She is so precious! I wish I could have loved her all this time M heart was enduring all it could from all that had happened. Bridgette was EXTREMELY hyper until about 4 years ago she BEGAN to slow down. She's only 28 pounds but she can still pull me around the block! Last week we almost lost her. My son & I were in the computer room and my Dad was talking to us in the doorway. I saw Bridge at the top of the stairs doing her prance to get a pat from my Dad when she was gone in a flash! I screamed her name and ran down the stairs. She had fallen 5 stairs on her neck and her head was twisted the wrong way, eyes open, legs rigid, no breathing. I am in EMT (Emergency Medical Tech.) school and have been in search & rescue for years. It all just came naturally: I slid my arm behind her head,then neck, then back and slid her body around on the step. I'm screaming her name. I closed her mouth and gave her two puffs of air in her nose. I gave her a sternal rub and said "Come on breathe for me, Bridge!!!" and she did. Little wisps of air and then she moaned from deep inside her as she corrected her own neck. I had thought her neck was broken for sure! I picked her up and told my son to get the keys. Within 3 minutes of her tumble we were on the Vet's table. I got in back and kept telling her, "I love you Bridge. Mommy's girl!" I wasn't sure what really caused the fall. I was so shocked and so distraught. I thought it might be her heart or a stroke. Her vital signs and organs were great as usual and she was coming out of her stupor. They had me put her on the floor and she seemed disoriented until I called out, "Mommy's girl" and she walked slowly to me. As the hours went by she got better & better. She went to sleep between my son and me. I didn't hear her stir until she was off the bed and tried to jump into her favorite chair. Her front legs had no strength although her back legs had pushed for the jump. She fell with a thud and laid there crying softly to me. I ran over and yelled to Chad to turn on the light and get my kit. I petted her and softly reassured her. I recorded her vitals which all seemed good except her heart beat had an arythmic cadence to it. Our Vet had given the phone # to the 24hr clinic. We called and they said that we could bring her in but her breathing was the key. She was breathing very normally with her mouth closed even. Shock would have her panting. I felt ok with that but they would't comment on the heart rhythm. She got back in bed with us with her leash tied to my arm so I would wake up when she needed to go out. She was already leaping over me and heading back-first to the floor when I awoke and caught her mid-air. She arched her back and neck in a ridged contortion and let out a scream that brought Chad to his feet (and NOTHING wakes him up!) Back on the phone with the DVM who was about 8 miles away in a bad area. She calmed down so she and I camped out on the floor for 3 nights to come. We went to her Vet's at 9am and he gave her cortisone pills. They helped but she should have been drinking alot of water and she didn't want to. She usually drinks alot. I was worried about her bowels: afraid of dehydration. I walked her every 3 hours, even during the night to keep her limber. Ice packs 1st 72 hours, moist heat after that. I had to trick her into drinking water. While she lay on the floor I would drip water from a straw on her paws and back leg and she would lick it off. She still had trouble with her movement and so about day 6 I called the Vet to ask if I should give her a Glycerin suppository like a baby. They wanted 2 spoons of mineral oil. I did that. She had never had bowel problems before. Even when she goes to get shaved (warm climate here) I tell them not to express her glands. She functions just fine. I give her light massage and tuck her into the sleeping bag with me for the nights have turned chilly and she's still a little stiff. I love her soooo much. My heart was just breaking as I saw her down the stairway. I write this because I want people to not hesitate to do what they can for animals in need. Nine years ago Bridgette got too ancy while I was picking-over some chicken for her and gobbled out of the wrong hand. She got the chicken bone stuck in her throat and ran around the room in panic unable to breath. I didn't think twice about it then either. I just grabbed her and performed the Heimlich manuever on her. It took two pumps but I got it right the 2nd time and that bone went flying. I wish you could see her right now. She's asleep with her feet in the air and her infamous little pink tongue tip stuck out. I thank God that he didn't take her last week. I take it more of a sign telling me that I'm heading in the right direction with my schooling. I know I would have been a good Vet but my life didn't go that way either and I have a hard time with grief. I would have been a nurse but I'm better off as an elementary school teacher where I plan to teach all children to have love and respect for nature. Most do not learn it in the home. My classroom will have many animals. My major was Zoology. Well, I know this is alot to read but I feel a common bond with you. I wanted to share this with you. Something on a funny note: my son, the sound-sleeping boy is unaffected by alarm clocks,phones, buzzers etc...However, beepers drive Bridgette crazy. So she became the alarm clock. No matter where in the house or yard she is, I just call my son's beeper and she will get up on the bed and dig him out of the covers until he wakes up. Incidentally, my beeper rings differently and if it's mine that goes off she comes and tells me and lets him sleep. I told you she was smart, but then again, you already knew that. Keep smiling and doing good work for our beloved friends. I am sorry that you have had such sorrow! My heart sank when I read that Bay was only 2 years 7 months. You are a very brave and blessed woman. I know it doesn't always seem like it but I really feel sorry for those who never knew the soulmate of the canine. They are the ones that are truely at a loss! "You can't have too many friends!" Good, true and loyal ones are just hard to come by. Perhaps because we look for them in the wrong animal:humans. Many have tried to break me of it along with my spirit: needless to say, they aren't around anymore. I know that I can trust you. I have a special sense about somethings, you have it too. Thank you for your wonderfulness that you bring to this world. Bless you.

AUTHOR: RhoneMeuss

Dear Jennifer,
I enjoyed your home page so much that I copied it for a neighbor. I learned so much, and appreciate the time you must have spent on it.
I am still not totally clear what to do about Bindhi and other dogs, he doesnt bite them, or growl. He just pesters them, and if they are male and submissive he mounts, or female,and submissive or aggressive, but an aggressive male he will wrestle,and play tag with. He doesnt return even aggressive growling and or nips. just sort of ignores them.
He is doing better with kids, in fact he never bites. But he prefers the company of other dogs to me, and tries to be alpha to them.
I sure hope Mercy continues to improve. Sounds like shes gonna be fine.

Hi Jennifer,
You have a great page! The world would be so much better if all people
showed even half the love and care for their pets that you do. I am so
sorry about your loss, Sometimes but not always we are fortunate to have
that special bond with a pet. We have 3 shepherds and although I dearly
love all 3, my Phantom is my buddy. He's the one that waits at the
window for me and sleeps at my feet and comes with me almost everywhere
I go. And while it is extremely difficult to say goodbye to any of the
pets we have lost it is even more devastating when that pet has shared
this bond with you. I understand.

Doctor's Mercy is your guardian angel sent from Mother Nature to you. You will heal each other. She is so lucky to have you. God, Jennifer, I wish that I could just give you a big hug. Here, I'm sending you one as you read this. She even brought you out of the house. You are not crazy. I know this. People who say this just are not blessed with our gifts from Nature. We are the voicelink to this ignorant world for the creatures. We do what we can and reach who we can. You do write well. That is so you can be the voice of the animals. Even then many do not listen.
I know you don't know me ,yet, and you can't trust everybody on here. But neither of us has anything to lose by being there for one another. Trust in friendship will come. I do not trust too many people. I always say that they are the most dangerous wild animal on this planet. I'll take my chances in the forest! I know that we will have a nice, long friendship. Most people are not REAL enough to be a friend. It seems like everytime I trust someone to be a friend I find out differently. Especially with women. But true friendship, be it between people or people and the creatures, is blessed and hard to come by.
I'm not the kind of person who judges. I do not like to be judged. I am not one to turn my back on a friend. I go the distance and more. So, my point is: I don't judge my friends or walk away."

A friend is someone we turn to
When our spirits need a lift,
A friend is someone we treasure
For our friendship is a gift,
A friend is someone who fills our lives
With beauty, joy, and grace
And makes the world we live in
A better and happier place.

MEMORIALS
**********************************************************************************************

Our Dearly Beloved Pets

Baroness Von Ruebhausen aka Nikki came to us at 5 weeks of age, we played and trained to get ready for the shows, at the tender age of 3mo she took Best In Match at our local puppy match and the winning never ended we have a wall of fame on her. over 40 blue ribbons, and Best of Breeds and on one April day our dreams of making her a Champion were shattered her hip x-ray turned up bad she had dysplasia, so doing the responsible thing she was spayed, but actually she turned out to be a great "surrogate mommy" the puppies we brought home, she taught them manners & respect. Now at the tender age of 3 she is gone. Her heart gave out as well as her hips, and I think my heart went with her. I was not ready to loose her. Her last "baby" Samantha is just completly lost and is very depressed. I will never forget our Ms Nikki she holds a very special place in our heart. There will never be another. But now she is with God and our beloved Felix (sheltie who raised her) and they both sit at the Rainbows Bridge waiting for us. God Bless you my baby girl. Fly with the Angles.

Nikki
April 26, 1994
Nov. 15, 1997

Jennifer thank you. Pat GSD
Felix..... Our Fuzzy Face came to us after a 4years of just being "a dog" in a back yard. He was very afraid of men but after a year of gaining trust he was the best, Felix loved everyone and wasn't afraid anymore, he accepted all the critters we brought his way, the funniest was the Ferrett. But then we got into the Shepherds and he helped me raise each and everyone, but on one December morn fuzzy face was sick after a trip to the vets we discovered he had tumors, we knew it was time. We gathered the family for one last goodbye and on Dec 18th he was with God at the Rainbows Bridge.. God Bless you and watch over you Felix. Born Feb.8th 1984 Passed away Dec.18th 1996.

Rest In Peace My Friend

You and yours are in my prayers. I feel that my son Bay is waiting in the field to welcome newcomers to Rainbow Bridge. We all have so many questions, but fear to ask. At the end, God will give you all the answers, but he will show you all the blessings you never asked for. All we have to do is ask, but He will show us in His own way, and will provide everything we need. Walk with God and talk with God, He is always there. Remember God's Promise:

{{**~~**~~**~~****~~**~~**~~**}}
God's Promise
God didn't promise days without pain,
laughter without sorrow
or sun without rain,
But God did promise
strength for the day,
comfort for the tears,
and a light for the way.
And for all who believe
in His Kingdom above,
He answwers their faith
with everlasting love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

********************************************************************************

My Child Bud
by KPoll81705

Hi Jennifer
Every time I come to your pages more of my grief comes out. Heaven knows I did all I could to keep my beloved Bud with me. It still hurts so bad, but I know that my beloved vet and I made the right decision to end his pain. Now, I have a new friend in my life, and I hope and pray on a daily basis that I can take as good care of my Moose puppy, as I did with Bud. Bud got me through more troubles and heartbreak than I care to think about. He was my child, I can't have kids, so he became my only son. The talks that he and I had, the walks that we shared, and the tears he licked from me are some of the best memories I have. So I too, have felt the pain of a terrible loss. But, I know he's playing up in heaven, snitching bones out of my grandmother's purse and playing with grandpa from next door. They are taking good care of my Bud dog till I can do the job again. God does know how much I miss that boy..........

I guess that if you feel that my letter should be included in your pages; I am deeply honored...... Bud was my best friend and even now typing this to you brings tears to my eyes. I miss my baby. It doesn't matter either if you leave my name on there, those that know me will know it's me and the others i don't and can't worry about. please hug your snowy white rescue baby for me and tell her Aunt Kathe does love her and wants her to get better. I think about you 2 often throughout my day. Thank you friend, for your confidence in me and my feelings for Bud. It does help to lessen my pain.
Thanks again, Kpoll81705

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