Dog: Sasha – Fremont, OH (Border Collie Mix) – (1997 – 02/15/2010)

My beloved dog  Sasha (Border Collie Mix) had a small lump at the end of last summer. By November, the vet said it is by far the worst cancer he had ever seen in a dog.

The cancer was not only under the skin but it started to ulcerate badly. It was hard to deal with because the wound would have an oder no matter how much we cleaned it.

But I kept my head up and stayed strong for her. December came and she was scheduled for surgery. They said the surgery was successful, and her ulcers were gone, I it was looking up for the best.

The beginning of January was good. By the mid January, Sasha began having a lot of accidents, and her ulcers started opening.

I felt so bad for her I could tell she was in pain. We took my girl to the vet for her last appointment. I can still remember the blood dripping as we lifted her onto the table.

The doctor was telling us he’s never seen a cancer so bad. As I began to cry, I knew what he was going to say.

A week later, we tried to give her a good week by giving her treats and letting her get some fresh air.

My mother decided we couldn’t let her suffer anymore. As I spent the last few hours with her, I took her paw prints with ink and sat with her.

I said goodbye … I knew she didn’t want to leave me.

My mom and brother went because I just couldn’t bear it. It was done. My mom came home and just held me.

I remember the 1st day I got her on my birthday. Sasha was about 4 when we adopted her in 2001. The Humane Society said they found her roaming in a field. Her original name was Two Socks because of her two front feet.

I never felt so close to a animal before. She was my everything.

When she was scared of a thunderstorm she would run to me and sleep in my bed no matter how big she was. I didn’t care. I remember how much she loved being outside, whether its playing with snow, or out playing in the water in the summer.

Sasha will live in my heart forever. It’s been about 6 months and it still seems like she just left yesterday.

I miss you girly.

Dog: Tracy – Weston, FL (03/17/1996 – 05/29/2010)

When we first got our dog Tracy, we tried to put her in the car. Sometime during the process, she escaped and ran down the block. So my dad chased her. Years later, we got three puppies and I became centered around them. I regret that deeply.

But one horrible night, May 29, 2010 to be exact, we were going bowling. And of course, the dogs had to be walked before we could leave. When we got the leashes on the puppies, we couldn’t find her to put her leash on her.

We began to get uneasy when we couldn’t find her. We frantically searched for her and came back empty handed.

I then looked in the bathroom in my parents’ bedroom, then under their bed. I opened the curtains to their sliding door and watched in horror as my dad pulled her lifeless body from the backyard pool.

There was 5 seconds of silence in our house, then there was 7 hours of screaming and crying. She was dead.

The vet said that she suffered a heart attack and fell in, so there was a chance that she died before she fell in, and didn’t drown.

She was cremated and her urn is on it’s way to our house. She was a great dog and had a great life.

She will be missed forever and never forgotten. Before she passed away, she had been suffering from arthritis.

Now she is in a better place and is suffering no more.

Tracy, we all love you and miss you.

Thank you so much for giving us the best 14 years of our lives. Goodbye my baby girl.

Until we meet again … my friend.

Dog: Merlin (Bassett /Cocker Spaniel) – Calgary, Alberta, Canada (07/1992 – 06/27/2010)

Sometime in 1992 (possibly 1993 since it is hard to remember so far back) a funny looking puppy was born into the world.

Merlin (Bassett /Cocker Spaniel mix) came from a litter of 13 puppies and he was black with long soft ears.  He had the body shape of a Bassett hound and the hair of a Cocker Spaniel and would trip over his long ears as a puppy.

But alas he was no ordinary dog due to magical candy stealing powers and he was soon named Merlin.

Candies would magically disappear from the candy dish and his human “brother” Chad was often blamed.

At 9 years of age Merlin moved to Calgary with his old “dad” Rick and new “mom” Val.

He traveled everywhere with his family including Alaska in 2002 and recently to Anaheim California in 2008.

He loved to cross country ski with Rick and Val and would run ahead to Rick and then back to Val with his snoopy dog ears flying straight outward at 90 degrees from his body.

Merlin even tried the hot tub at his Aunty Chrisy’s in Kamloops.

In later years his most favorite spot in the yard was the pond which eventually became named Merlin’s pond.

At 3:30 pm June 27, 2010 at the tender age of almost 18 years, our beloved Merlin was taken by the angels to heaven.

He was met there by all of his friends both animal and human including Griz, Ed, Grandpas Oliver and Steve and even Ron Manz who loved Merlin because he was such a gentleman.

We will all miss Merlin and our hearts are heavy with grief.

We take immense solace in the fact that he did not suffer, and passed over in our loving arms.

He will be happy in the ever after by Merlin’s pond, where he will faithfully guard his back yard from those darn squirrels.

Dog: Tammy (Border Collie) – Devon England (1993 – 12/2009)

For the past 16 years, Tammy you brought happiness to our lives. Tammy was always trying to please, giving your love so freely.

Now you are gone but we will never forget you. Tammy, sleep well my “Bubsy”.

Love Mum & Dad xxxxxxx

Dog: Lucy – Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (09/1991 – 10/15/2009)

Lucy, a Collie/Alsatian/Sheltie mix, was our adored dog for 18 years and gave us so much.

She was everything you could wish for in a dog: intelligent, energetic & agile, fun, loving and loveable, sensitive, and polite.

She was simply beautiful. We were so lucky and privileged to have her in our lives for such a long time.

Thanks for everything, Lu. You’ll always be in our hearts.

Dog: Bridget (Border Collie) – Liverpool, England (02/1993 – 07/2009)

Bridget was a much loved member of the family and as you can see from this picture, very camera shy!

She looked like a puppy right up until her death but unfortunately old age finally caught up with her and she couldn’t walk properly towards the end of her life.

As a puppy, her nickname was Bridget the Midget and because she was the runt of the litter and hard of hearing, she was very loyal and clingy and never left our side.

Her best friend was another border collie called Eva who died last year.

R.I.P Bridget whose chief love in life was eating — including bananas having eaten a whole bunch when she was just a few weeks old!