The day I saw Hope was the start of a beautiful love story full of adventure and healing. She fit in the palm of my hand. She was so fluffy I could hardly tell where her legs and eyes were. I was not in a good place in my life and was struggling to find meaning to continue. My sweet little dog showed me what it was to find joy in life and be brave when you feel so small. Hope always had a voice and she would whisper on my darkest days, “try one more time.” Like the famous quote. I lost my little dog a year after the sudden loss of my dad. I battled to find hope in life after my dad, even more so when I lost Hope a week after a cancer diagnosis. How much heartbreak can a person endure? I battle every day to find hope in this life but I feel her telling me “you are brave, strong, and loving try one more time.” Although I cannot see her or touch her, she remains my “Hope.”
Author submitted tributes to good dogs
The world’s Miss Lulu. Everyone one loved my Lulu Girl. I call her my soft dog because she was the most gentle girl ever. My Grandson adored her. She was so good with him from the time he was born until we unexpectedly lost her to Congestive Heart Failure. Broke my heart. I miss her so much.
My soul mate, the love of my life. Frankie Boy got me through some of the hardest times of my life. I lost h toa rare Cancer in 2015. I will never be the same person. I miss him every single day. My Frank.
I first met Newman when he came into the vet hospital where I worked. He was supposed to be euthanized. He was only a year old. I fell in love with his big beautiful brown eyes and convinced his owner to surrender him to me. I provided him with medical care and lots of love. He was my loving and devoted companion for 14 years 3 months! He even became my service dog. He was my special angel who crossed the rainbow bridge June 1, 2022. I love and miss him every day! 💕😘🐾🐾🌈
– Sharon Tutino
Milo and Joy are two amazing Poms who I was blessed with when they were about 6 and 8, respectively. Somehow, people had let them go. Milo was turned into the Pinellas County animal shelter right around the time that I started looking for a pup companion. An angel on earth named Judy made me aware of him. I went to see him and took him home that evening. Nine months later that same angel asked me to foster the unnamed Joy. This little 4 lb girl was found in the streets with a bad leg. A compassionate vet performed surgery that helped her. On day two of fostering her, I asked if I could adopt her and did. For 10 1/2 years these babies enhanced my life in ways I could not have imagined. They are my heart, soul and joy. Without them, I am missing a part of me. I weep for them daily. I talk to them daily. I write to them daily. In our home, I am surrounded by their images and things. They are by far the hardest losses I’ve experienced. The blessing is that they are pain free and happy in heaven with Jesus. And I will join them when it is my time. Thank You God.
I haven’t been able to write a tribute about Mia. We had so much heartbreak in 1 month. My Shotgun crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 11/11/2021, then our Mia 12/15/2021.
My son bought Mia from a homeless guy living out of a truck in June 2010. Mia knew my son saved her and bonded with him immediately. She was probably 4-5 weeks old. She was a tiny girl, but grew into our “dancing girl”. She had the most wiggling butt you’ve ever seen. She would hear your voice and her whole butt started moving!
We had gates in our kitchen and she would put her paws on them and dance! She was so smart. She knew how to open the gates. We had her fixed. The only person she ever hated or shown aggression to was the vet who fixed her. We had to start bringing her to another vet.
Mia was the guardian of the house. Every night she would check each room out and confirm everyone was safely in bed. Then we would sleep in my son’s bed. She was such a smart good girl, but suffered from anxiety. The vet suggested we get her a dominant friend, so we got her Shotgun. After he got home from recovering from Parvo, the mother instinct took over with Mia. She was in charge of Shotgun. She corrected him and taught him manners. He was a better boy because of her. She had a job to do and did it well. They became inseparable. Mia was always the picture of health, and was ready for Shotgun to come home and heal after each surgery. She was the ever present mother of Shotgun and our household.
She loved parties and people coming over. She usually gravitated to one person, and stayed with them. She didn’t flit from one person to the next like Shotgun. She preferred to blend in and stay with one person. She almost seemed like she preferred to be in the background, not the center of attention.
When we were moving across country Mia did not like the adventure as much as her companion. She was a sport about it, slept in the beds in the hotel rooms, but didn’t like traveling in the RV. Surprisingly her anxiety disappeared.
Mia developed a small lump in her throat. We raced her to vet. They tested it and it wasn’t cancer. They told us no need to do surgery. Shotgun had surgery on his leg, therapy, then cancer and was going up to the University. Mia had to ride the 55 miles with him – she would not stay home with him gone. She would howl and cry the first time she was left home with my husband.
Her lump grew and we brought her back to vet. Not cancer but surgery now recommended to remove. Shotgun is home euthanized for cancer. Mia hides in bedroom. After we lost Shotgun, Mia had surgery on her throat. Surgery is successful, but they didn’t remove all the non cancerous tumor. I often wonder if we should have insisted on surgery when we first saw the lump? Was I so relieved at first it wasn’t cancer, and she didn’t need surgery. Maybe I didn’t question it enough?
I think with the cancer diagnosis on Shotgun, when we got Mia’s diagnosis there was such a sigh of relief. Then they said they didn’t recommend surgery, I was grateful she wouldn’t be traumatized like with her spaying. Would another vet have done surgery sooner? I’ll never know.
With in weeks she was healing fine, but missing Shotgun. Mia went from me to my husband like she was saying good bye. Then she went to my son for kisses, laid down on her bed in his room and died. The vet said her heart was broken, she couldn’t go on without Shotgun.
Our Mia died quietly like she lived. She never wanted to create a fuss.
In September of 2010 I had just graduated college with my degree in veterinay technology and I was in the process of taking all my exams to get licensed. At the time I was also working at the emergency vet clinic. This sweet beautiful 8 month old Australian shepherd was already there in a cage when I arrived for my shift. I feel instantly in love her. She was brought in because she had been hit by a car and had a broken femur on her back left leg. Her owners at the time couldn’t pay to fix her or amputate and were going to put her down. I didn’t even hesitate to see if they would sign her over to me. They agreed and that night we amputated her leg. She stayed at the clinic for a day or so and then came home to my apartment. I was only 21.
My oldest niece was born that October and when my sister in law when back to work I watched her during the day. Jazzmine and my niece were the perfect duo. Jazz let her as she grew too pull on her, sit on her back like a horse (until she was too big lol), and they would wrestle over Jazzmine’s toys.
I was fortunate that my grandpa would watch her while I worked over the next 12 years. She had many adventures. Two to three walks a day. Played with the neighborhood kids. Had a set weekly visit to a couple that my grandpa knew. And sometimes, once in a blue moon, he’d take her to a church picnic.
We had our adventures on the weekends every once in awhile too. Petsmart, street fairs, lots of car rides. She was my constant companion.
In August of 2021 I got engaged and being a little older we both decided that we weren’t going to have a wedding party. However, Jazzmine would be my dog (maid) of honor. It was perfect. We had some engagement pictures taken with her. And set a wedding date for March 13, 2022.
A week before the wedding we had noticed Jazz was acting off. Having trouble pooping. Not wanting to eat. Would only eat if you took her food to her but she still acted as happy as ever in the mornings. On Saturday March 5, 2022 i woke up and Jazz was not feeling good at all. She went outside and just strained to poop but couldn’t. Came back in the house and vomited. Didn’t want any food. And a couple hours later started panting. She then stopped walking. And if touched wrong when picked up would yelp. We decided we needed to take her to the emergency clinic.
When we got there the vet I used to work with (nearly 10 years ago now) was working and saw us. By this point Jazz was grunting in pain and constant panting. We did an xray and found a huge tumor above her colon pinching it to where she couldn’t poop. With the advice of the doctor and how fast her symptoms progressed that day I made the hardest decision ever and let her go.
People when they hear Jazzmine’s story of how I got her always say I saved her but in reality she saved me countless times. She was my angel in disguise.
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I still can’t believe my boy is gone. He has touched every part of our lives.
He was adopted 10/2011. He was rescued from a horrible situation. He was starved and covered in bite marks at probably 8 weeks old.
So..he goes to an adoption event. He is the only calm puppy/dog sitting in a crate. Our eyes met and well…I fell in love. I asked to see him. He melted into me as I held him. I promised him a forever home.
We drive him home and he is so still and calm. I am amazed.
Once home a couple hours, he is deathly ill. He is vomiting everywhere. I race him to the emergency vet hospital. They tell me he has Parvo, I need to euthanize him. I can’t. They tell me they can only keep over night, he must be picked up in morning. I ask for recommendations for vets.
I start calling vets everywhere. None want a Parvo case. I finally found one that will help. They will only do out patient. We try it, doesn’t work..back to Emergency Vet for the night.
Luckily I called the rescue. They recommend a vet. That vet saved my boy’s life. He was there 17 days in isolation. We visited every day. Finally we get a call he has made the turn for recovery.. he is ravishingly his food.
He was like a whirlwind with his zest for life. He loved everyone and everything. He was always happy and wagging his tail. He wanted to be next to you and always touching.
My son’s dog Mia took over the job as mother. Shotgun followed her around like her shadow. She corrected him like he was her pup. They had a bond for life.
He had a rough time 5 surgeries in two years and immunity issues. Nothing got him down he loved the vets, he actually acted like he knew they were helping him. Our main vet said he need to be a “Breed Ambassador “ he was such a good boy.
He was always happy. Always wagging his tail. He did zoomies – which Mia did not like! He played, and loved everyone. He loved to eat!
He loved his comfort. He wanted pillows, soft comforters, chairs and sofas to lay on. He would jump on the bed and slowly work his way up to head on pillow and body under covers.
Shotgun loved Christmas. He wore all his little outfits like a fashion model. One Christmas I got Shotgun and Mia beautiful red and white velvet scrunchy collars. Mia chewed hers off, and proceeded to chew Shotgun’s off. He just stood there and let her!
We had probably 6 healthy non medical emergency years with Shotgun.
We decided to sell our house and move cross country. What an adventure. We rented a Motorhome and travels with two dogs – Shotgun and Mia. They got to stay at Marriotts and were perfectly behaved.
Once we got to her new temporary home, his medical issues with his leg started up. We brought him to the University hospital for surgery. He had therapy every week.
There was only one time he didn’t want to go to the hospital. The day he was getting another ultra sound. I didn’t think he was healing right, something was wrong. He just didn’t want to go that day. The first time in his 10 years he had to be convinced to go to vet.
I got the heart wrenching news he had horrible aggressive cancer. I did everything possible to ease his pain and slow down the progression.
I gave him one more Christmas. Shotgun loved Christmas and getting presents. So Halloween night I decorated for Christmas.
He loved car rides. We gave him multiple rides with the roof down, sun shining and breeze blowing through his fur.
He laid out in the sun, on his dog bed. He went for walks.
I want you to know I loved him with my whole heart. He gave me so much joy, laughter and love in the 10 years were were together. He was the center of our home, and was loved from the tip of his tail to the top of his sweet head. I will forever be grateful to the rescue for saving him.
In saving him, they helped save many other dogs. Because of Shotgun I got into rescue. I helped raise funds, pay medical bills, find adopters, and fosters for rescues. I was involved for 10 years.
On 11/11/3021 with a shattered heart I had to let my perfect boy go. He crossed the Rainbow Bridge in our arms.
He will hold a huge spot in my heart forever. He was my boy. Love you sweet boy, fly with Angels.
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The cancer was swift. Three days felt like three hundred. On his last day, he tried to stay with us, please us, even trying to wag his tail. I can see it in his eyes though. “Let me go, it’s okay.” HE is trying to comfort ME.
In the early morning sunshine, birds sing. Boomer’s breathing goes from a struggling huffing to a gentle, slower place, gradually getting softer, until nothing. His eyes are open and I peer into those beautiful amber pools and see my reflection, blurry, watery. I lift his warm soft ear and tell him he is a good boy. He hears me, right? That’s what the nurse told me when my father was dying. “Tell him what you need him to know. He will hear you.” I struggle to say, “Good boy, Boomer. We love you so much.”
Silence, no heaving chest, no panting. He is still. We are devastated. He is gone and we are here, humbled to watch his earthly presence vanish and awash in sadness at the passing of this wonderful dog.
She came to us at 18 months of age. At the time, she had not developed into her full essence—inexperience on a leash and fearful of car rides. We were only supposed to have her for a time until the previous owners got their home built. I think I knew then that sending her away was never in the cards and she was home from the time she put one paw on our property.
If she could speak human talk, she would tell you about all the hikes she took, mountains she traversed, and states she had traveled to. As she aged, she appreciated long naps on the couch and the occasional dish of vanilla ice cream. Her human mom drug her and dad to as many creeks and waterfalls as time permitted. Our perpetual sidekick in life—she was our shadow through all of life’s journeys. Days after we closed on a home to move to the beach and start a business there, she passed away suddenly of an apparent heart attack. Right before it happened, she took a long romp around the yard at still break-neck speed for an old girl. I know we will smile again at the memories we had with her, but everything looks a little less vivid with her gone. Our baby girl, Pearl.
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