Trixie Downs
We had Trixie for over six years. Trixie has been the best thing for me. She's always there for me. When I'm sad, mad, or happy she'll be there.Trixie has been in three houses with us; my old house, my grandparent's and ours right now. About five months ago we found out about her cancer. I cried for an hour, scared she'll die. Then her cancer went into remission. We were happy! Then it struck. It was 100x worse. My dad ran with her and one day she stopped running. We all knew in our hearts she would not make it. But I was as positive as I could be. Then the night before she died, she couldn't move. She was weak. In the morning we took her to the vet. I could do 100 pages but... She died...That is the time line of Trixie Downs. ---- By Mason Downs, 11 years old

Six years ago Trixie picked us, by lying her head in my then 5 year old son's lap. Trixie died Monday, August 17th, 2009, leaving us the same way she picked us - her head in my son's lap. What an incredible dog! Six years ago we were looking for a small family dog, but Trixie taught us that "Big" dogs can have even more love to share than we could ever imagine. Trixie, you will be missed! ----- By Mason's dad, Bruce

Clifford
I keep a scrapbook of all the foster's I've had and all of them get a letter when they go to a new home. Unfortunately Clifford never got a new home, but he got a letter...

Dear Clifford, I knew you for almost a year and half and even though I always knew I was only your foster mom, I still considered you one of my own. I remember the week after you came home with us and you had the strange reaction to the heartworm. I had to go in to work and tell them I had to leave early because I thought we were going to have to put you down. I cried in front of not one, but two supervisors and figured they'd laugh me out of the office. Thankfully they didn't but I got stuck in traffic on the way to the vet's office and was late. Thankfully we knew what had happened and were able to take care of it.

You always greeted me when I came home. Always happy to bark and do the happy dance for me. You and Clyde are the only dogs I've ever seen wag in circles. You loved to have your chin scratched. Somehow you decided it was best if you could lay on your bed and eat your food. You wouldn't fetch a tennis ball to save your soul, but boy could you dance with it. All of those silly things you did taught me a few things.

If you're happy and you know it, make sure everyone else knows it too.
You're never too old to play.
There's nothing wrong with not acting your age.
Eat in bed! Even if you have to drag your own bowl there.
If you wait, someone good will happen.
I know that life with me wasn't always what I had hoped for you, but I hoped you enjoyed it.

Thank you for sharing it with me. I love you and miss you.
Love, Mom

Graham
Graham passed away. I have no words. We are so choked up.

We always said that Graham found us when we first saw him at Petco. He came into our lives and eased away the pain we had left over from losing Oliver six months prior. He was so humble, so loving, gentle and simply wonderful. He fit so well. Now we are broken, again. Less than a year just wasn't enough time. As I sit here and write this I can remember everything almost to detail, everything since the day we first saw him. All our walks and jogs (he helped me shed 50 pounds!), the one Christmas we had when he opened his gifts, the way he would howl when we asked him if he was happy (oh God, why didn't I take the time to get a video of that?) The first time I pretended to stalk him and he got scared and ran behind Catherine for protection, scared until he saw me laughing. It became a game after that, I would pretend to stalk him, he would stare, wide eyed, and then he'd jump at me and roll over so I could rub his belly. It's a game I won't be able to play anymore. Less than a year just wasn't enough...his life was short but the joy he brought us was infinite. I would have traded my life for his in a heartbeat. Thank you, for bringing us together.

On Memorial Day at around 8 pm there was a persistent grumble of thunder outside and Gina (our other dog) was sitting on the porch. This was a little unusual as Gina does not like the Thunder Man one bit. Catherine was looking at the clock and I could tell she was recalling the events of the past week. I walked out onto the porch and looked up and right outside our window was a rainbow. Graham was letting us know he was safe now, God allowed Graham to say another goodbye to us. We know he's by the Rainbow Bridge, playing with Oliver, Fat-Fat, Lister and all our other pets that we have loved and lost, waiting for us.