Blondie
Blondie was our foster for a year and a half, the last months of her long life. Despite her status as a senior and a refined elderly lady, she was spunky, spry and feisty. But above all she was loyal and devoted, mainly to me, her foster mom. During the eighteen months that she was with us, she only had two inquires from potential adopters. I was not so secretly happy that she continued to be passed over for younger dogs as that meant that she would have more time with us. Blondie’s energy belied her fourteen years of age. She never saw a squirrel that she didn’t want to chase, a kibble in one of our dogs’ dishes that she didn’t try to steal, or a space near or next to me on the couch, chair or bed that she didn’t want to jump up on to occupy before the others. She was my shadow that followed me wherever I went and lovingly gazed at me wherever I was and whatever I was doing. Blondie died July 31, 2017. The day before, she had unexpectedly suffered a seizure. Less than twenty-four hours after that episode, she was dead after suffering several more. As I held her in my arms as the second seizure overtook her, I knew that she was dying. I said my goodbyes to her, giving her one final kiss as I put her in the backseat of the car on her way to the vet. We know nothing about the first 13 years of her life, but know that the last eighteen months were filled with the love, comfort and attention that she deserved.

Jasmine
We adopted Jasmine (re-named to Jersey) from Midwest Animal Rescue in 2013, and fell in love with her immediately. She was quite the hound dog and loved our family just as much as we loved her. She always looked forward to her walks around the lake, going for a ride in the fishing boat, and snuggle time. She was a loyal lover and once she got to know you would nudge your hand when she wanted some pets. Jersey was diagnosed with protein loss nephropathy, Lyme disease with possible Lyme nephritis in August 2016. Jersey's disease was very progressive and we made the difficult decision to let Jersey to pass on to the Rainbow bridge in December 2016. We will always have a special place in our hearts for our Jersey girl and while our time with her was too short, we have the many adventures, laughs, and memories that will last us forever. We will always love and miss you hound dog.

Jewel
Sweet Jewel is now watching over us and waiting for her owners at the bridge.... Jewel changed our lives. I fell in love with her the first time I laid eyes on her and fought hard for months to be able to adopt her. She was wanted by other families as well, but I was lucky to be the one who got to spend the last few years of her life with her. She had a low grade cancer that we kept at bay for 2 years and 9 months. She was the most amazing soul. I will never regret out time with her. She actually saved my life one time. I had a GI bleed and couldn't make it up the stairs, but she heard me mumbling and barked till my husband woke up and found me. She will always, always be in our hearts. I am looking forward to meeting her at the bridge someday, and in the meantime. I know she is playing and free from all the mean pain. She deserves everything good. She was always so good to us.

TJ
I had never even considered fostering a dog before, but one of the kids came across an ad somewhere of a female needing foster. We were told she wasn't other dog friendly, but we have this other boy coming in and needs a foster. And so it began. We were told you were timid & skiddish, and not so sure how you would be with children, but I agreed. I was emailed a picture that broke my heart. You were chained inside a cage, and looked so scared, but I think what got me was your eyes. Even in that picture, your eyes spoke loud and clear that life had not been kind to you. The day we picked you up, you came right to the kids &I and played in the grass with them. You were so thin, no fur on your beautiful face, and those haunting eyes. Well, needless to say, our family fell in love with you, and couldn't bear to let you go. You were here to stay. You were home for good. As time went on, you acclimated to your new life. The fur grew back on your face, we got you healthy and you gained weight. It was so much fun watching you become more and more confident....in yourself and the world around you. Learning how to just be a dog, learning to play with toys, and I will never forget the first time you realized you had a voice. You let out the biggest bark ever, and then looked around as if to say "who did that?". I watched as slowly you trusted us more and more. Best of all, I watched as slowly the fear left your eyes, and light and love replaced it. I thought you would be with us for a long time to come, but that wasn't meant to be. The day we found out you were sick, it just didn't seem real. We had no choices. We made that appointment, and decided to love you even more up till that day came. We spent all that time taking pictures and just letting you know how loved you were. We were all there with you when you took your last breath, still telling you we loved you as you went. We always said the name TJ stood for Tigger Jumps, because you never stood still. Spend your time jumping your goofy self on the clouds. I know you have the biggest, fluffiest wings wings ever, and I know you know we loved you more than words, and miss you deeply. May you have an unending number of fences to jump over.

Rico
We adopted Rico about 5 years ago when he was roughly 2 years old. He was full of energy and chaos, he pulled on a leash, was a bit out of control and our kids absolutely loved him. They took one look in to those copper eyes and told us we had to pick him. So, we did. And what a great choice that was! Rico was the most wonderful pet our family has ever had. He was lovable, loyal, protective and a complete couch potato. He didn't fetch balls, he didn't hunt, he didn't have any tricks, but he loved to be wherever people were and was a constant presence at our feet at all times. He loved to lay in front of the fire, eat snow, greet us at the door, bark at the delivery men, pick up scraps from the kids, chase squirrels and deer, go on long walks at the park and more than ever he loved a long car ride. Rico left us all too soon. It was a sudden event and one that has been incredibly difficult to process. We only had him 5 short years and we had so much more fun to have with him. But, life threw us a curve ball. We will dearly miss our 'Big Fella' so very much and it hurts to know that we will not see him for some time. We know Rico will never be replaced as he truly was one of a kind. He was a very important part of our family and our house is empty without him. We hope you have found your friends up in Heaven, Rico and are jumping and playing and watching over us with Grandpa Jack. We hope you are sleeping on fluffy clouds and eating bad food and waiting for us to join you someday. We look forward to crossing that bridge with you, buddy. Until then, know you are loved and are always in our hearts. You were an incredible companion and our lives are forever changed because of you. Thank you for all the love you gave us. XOXO.