Dear Celeste,

I miss you everyday. I am so incredibly grateful you saved my life in the fire. I am so horribly sorry I could not do the same for you and for Bernie, Carmen, Annie, Max and Chanie Marie. I blame myself for the fire - although it was accidental I will always feel I should have prevented it. You were my canine soul mate. I think of you daily and miss the unique connection we shared. By now you would have passed due to age or illnesss. But we should have had many shared years together. I know you are waiting to return to me - and someday it will happen. Please welcome Lucy, Sherman and Bubba into yout heart. They too are solely missed. This will be the first year since 1997 that I haven't shared my birthday with Lucy (or Sherman). I will celebrate for all of the ones who have gone on without me - including Spirit, Chance and Jesus. Wishing you joy, and fun and happiness as you continue on your journey.

Love,

Your forever partner

Dear Celeste,

I miss you everyday. I am so incredibly grateful you saved my life in the fire. I am so horribly sorry I could not do the same for you and for Bernie, Carmen, Annie, Max and Chanie Marie. I blame myself for the fire - although it was accidental I will always feel I should have prevented it. You were my canine soul mate. I think of you daily and miss the unique connection we shared. By now you would have passed due to age or illnesss. But we should have had many shared years together. I know you are waiting to return to me - and someday it will happen. Please welcome Lucy, Sherman and Bubba into yout heart. They too are solely missed. This will be the first year since 1997 that I haven't shared my birthday with Lucy (or Sherman). I will celebrate for all of the ones who have gone on without me - including Spirit, Chance and Jesus. Wishing you joy, and fun and happiness as you continue on your journey.

Love,

Your forever partner

Dear Mingo,

Although it has been almost 10 months since you left me, it seems like it was only yesterday. My heart still breaks for you everyday. Me and Baby Girl was sitting at the top of the steps the other day and I noticed something that made me think of you and I said your name and Baby Girl sat and looked at me and turned her head when she heard your name.

God I miss you sooo much! Come warm weather I am going to go fix your grave back. I took in your lights and bird feeder for the winter. Hayden seen a picture of a dog that looked similar to you and he said, "aww look it's Mingy". That broke my heart. I know the boys drove you crazy, but they sure did love you, and miss you very much. Perry still talks about you all the time. He will say, "Mingy is up in Heaven watching us right now".

Daddy misses you alot! I hope you don't think I am trying to replace you, but I found a rescue dog and adopted him. Baby Girl was getting so lonely and I hated to leave her of a day because she would cry. His name is Poncho and he is... wild! Daddy is a little heartbroken because so far Poncho will not chase a ball or bring it back. He said "I need a dog that I can play ball with, like Mingo". Daddy is always thinking about you.

I was laying in bed the other night and thinking how I used to get on to you for licking the sheets or the pillows and making them wet, or every Christmas you and Baby Girl would keep drinking the tree water and snapping off the branches at the bottom of the tree. Gosh I would love to be able to lay down and see where you had been licking the bed or pillows again. I know that sounds funny, but it is true.

There are times when it is quiet in the house and I will hear the pitter patter of paws and no one will be there. I know that it is you letting me know that you are with us! I wish that I could see you again, and you would sit in my lap and lick me to death like you always did! Our house is not the same anymore without you in it. There will always be an empty spot, that no one will ever be able to fill. I miss you so much. I love you, and always will my precious Mingo!

Till we meet again one sweet day!

Missing You,

Mommy, Daddy, Perry, Hayden & Baby Girl

Dear Puck,

my dearest Punkin head, my little love muffin, my best friend, and the first love of my life-

I loved you from the very first day I saw you. You were this little ball of fluff that fit in my hand, and you crawled to the top of the scratching post and over on to my head. I knew you were the one for me, my perfect match. I never regretted that impulsive moment. We drove an hour home with you in a box, with that little black bow tied around your neck. How did you figure out the untieing process? I never understood that one. we rode home with you meowing in your tiny cat voice untill I found just the right radio station to calm your nerves.

You loved music. My mom is gettign rid of the grand piano. She tells me the only reason she kept it was because of you and your need for the vibrations, and the sound. She loved your stomping down the stairs when you stayed with her, your demands to play music for you. We talk all the time remembering how you would tare ass around the house, then zip up and over the music stand and inside to curl up when she played. We laugh histerically at the day when she thought she lost you, turned out you were sleeping happily on the sounding board of that piano.

I dug out all the old photos i had of you, and came across the picture of your head poping up through the coffee table in my parent's living room. The cat fishing fun...

I miss you terribly, and I feel so horribe that our time together got cut short. at the end you were always on my mind. I had no problem carrying you around like my little baby, loving you and peting you. I miss your purr and I miss your smell. I miss waking up next to you every morning. I need you just the same way you needed me. I guess that's why we were a good pair.

I don't understand what happened, and I never will. Why did you loose weight? Were you really upsett over the dog, or were you upsett with me? The dog will never replace you. NEVER. No one can take your place. I would still do anything to have you back. I wish we had been quicker in trying to figure things out, or that anything that was suggested had worked. I am so sorry that nothing did. I wish things had ended differently. I know you held on just for me. I know you stuck out what ever pain you were in for another pet, or another snuggle. I am glad in some ways that i was not there when you took your last breath. I wish i could have told you that I loved you again and gave you one more kiss though. I just wish I could have changed things. You were there for me through everything in life, and it feels like I let you down. I really do feel like i let you down. I didn't do enough, I wasn't there for you when you needed me the most. I am glad that you finished your life with a good meal and a long purr, I just wish it had been for me.

You will always be the love of my life, no matter where you are you will always be with me. Your memory will give me strenght, and comfort when I need it. the same way you did in your short life. 8 years seems like it was not nearly long enough.

I will see you on the other side my love. We will spend our eternity together.

Love,

Meagan

Dear Skye,

Hi pretty girl, hows it going? the last two weeks have been hard but Im doing okay. I have finally forgiven myself for letting you go. I knew that you forgave me right away but it took me a while to forgive myself. I love you sis, you are not with me anymore but will always be in my heart. You will always be my golden dog. I love you, Goodbye

Peace,

E.S.

Dear Alaska Sky,

It astounds me how many lives you touched when you were by my side. The folks at hospital send their love. Mom and Sandy wish that you were back with me again. The last few days have been long. They worry about me, but I assure them that you are with me still. You will be forever.

Remember this picture? It had poured the last three days, and you just wanted to get outside again. I let you out and ran some errands for just a little bit. When I got back, I looked outside and saw you romping in the mud. Oh gosh, you were covered from nose to tail tip. I couldn't be mad, because you looked so happy. You know me, always having a camera handy, I had to snap a couple of pictures. The first one I took, you looked like you were about to get in trouble. Yet, as the camera clicked you realized that you were on stage. You loved the attention of the camera, and I loved photographing you.

I brought a black and white shot into the group, and they fell in love instantly. You have that ability. The ability to captivate and hold hearts. Your love for kisses and everyone's lack of objection from taking them was inspiring. How did you do that so easily, love? I mean these were people who frowned on puppy kisses, and yet they would let you cover them. Like I said, you just have that ability.

I know as time passes the pain will get a little easier to deal with. It will not happen over night. I believe that I will carry this pain for a long time. On the other hand, I can feel your spirit with me still.I know you are next to me every moment and in my lap licking the tears from my face. I love you, my beautiful Alaska Sky. Let's go play in the mud again.

Also, Chance says he misses and loves you. He is lonely without his playmate.

Love,

Your Father and Friend, Dustin

Dear Alaska Sky,

The light escaped your eyes Saturday. The choice I made was not easy, and will pain me forever on. I know it was for the best. You were in tremendous pain, and the surgery would have continued the agony with the chance of survival minimal. I had never been through that process before, and I hope to never do it again. To see the life flee from your physical form was difficult, but I know you are not in pain anymore. The fact that your heart would not stop beating let me know that your love was fighting to stay with me. I appreciate that my love. You will always be with me.

Do you remember the car ride home from your birth mom’s house? I won’t forget it. You sat calmly in the passenger seat with your head toward me. The brindle spot on your right eye gave you the expression of curiosity. The excitement of travel was gleaming in your eyes, but it pained you to leave your mother. I fully understand that feeling. Yet, you, Chance and I had each other, and I believe that helped the transition.

Your ability to learn quickly was amazing, and I was not surprise to find that your quick learning would lead to a strong bond between us. You were always there when I need you. You were there when I needed someone to love on, or someone to whisper a secret to. When I would wake up in the night I knew I could roll over and hold you. That helped me fall back to sleep, forgetting the nightmare that just happened.

The summer was great. Between the walks in the subdivision and our swims in Stones River, we shared a lot of moments. I felt better after our excursions. Chance is a great dog, but he and I can’t share the experiences that you and I did. That strengthened our bond even more. Those swims were great. The fact that you would follow me out into the deep waters, and just hang on me, made me feel as strong as a god. That idea that you needed me was my strength. No matter where I went you would always follow.

When the vet called me Saturday I know that our time had come to an end. Sandy was there for support, and that meant so much to me. Unfortunately, the task was still going to happen. As we sat on the floor in that small room, I could feel your love. That love that told me to be strong, but I couldn’t stop crying. The sedative had taking affect and you lay peacefully next to me. When the vet came to give the final shot, I whispered something into your ear. I hope you will remember what I said. That was our last secret. When the lady injected the fatal shot in your IV, I had my hand on your neck and could feel every breath and heartbeat you took. Your breath gave out first, but your heart kept beating. I know that was your sign to me that your love for me would never die. The lady had to administer one more lethal injection, and your heart stopped. You had left your body, but had not left my heart.

I have had many companions in my life. Tonto, Rebel and Shasta to name a few, but losing you has caused me the most pain. I guess because I feel responsible for your death mostly, but I know you forgave me. That idea means a lot to me, baby.

I will continue to hold you in my heart for the rest of my life. Know that your love was not lost on this man. I am better for knowing your love. I don’t know if there is

anything past death, but if there is please wait for me. I want to go for another swim with you.

Missing You,

Your Father and Friend, Dustin

Dear Patches,

My dear Patches. It has been over a year now that you left us. A day doesn't go by that I don't think about you. Jack still talks about you all the time. He calls you our angel. It hasn't been the same with out you that's for sure. Buddy and Duchess got a new brother a few months ago, Sunny. He is a good boy and has become Duchess' new best friend. Maggie isn't doing very well, and she maybe joining you on the other side soon. It has gotten me thinking about the two of you together. She didn't like you at first but quickly the two of you would would become partners in crime. Maggie is a good dog and I pray for her everyday as I know it is going to be hard for all of us to say good bye to her. They two of you will be able to go off and explore together again soon. I miss you very much little girl. You were taken from me way to soon and I wasn't ready to let you go. Buddy is doing extremely well and Duchess is our star. Still when she sees another Boston Terrier she gets a little excited since she no longer has here little buddy and crate mate. I love you Patches! You will never be forgotten.

Love,

Mom

Dear Skye,

Hey there pretty girl. How's it going up in heaven?

I got thinking last night about are wagon. Do you remember it? Of course you do how could you forget. We had some great adventures with that wagon. Do you remember how I bought you a harness and then hooked you up to the wagon? We would parade around the camp with you pulling the wagon and Keyko proudly sitting in it. And sometimes we even gave the little kids at camp ''dog drawn wagon rides" those little kids just loved sitting in that wagon holding keyko in their lap as you happily pulled them around. Then there was the time when I filled up the wagon with little creatures that we found in the tidepools at the beach and we put on the ''zoo''. You were the lion-dog, being the golden colour you were.

We had a lot of good times with that wagon and I promise to take care of it forever

Love,

me

Dear Skye,

Hey there pretty girl. How's it going up in heaven?

I got thinking last night about are wagon. Do you remember it? Of course you do how could you forget. We had some great adventures with that wagon. Do you remember how I bought you a harness and then hooked you up to the wagon? We would parade around the camp with you pulling the wagon and Keyko proudly sitting in it. And sometimes we even gave the little kids at camp ''dog drawn wagon rides" those little kids just loved sitting in that wagon holding keyko in their lap as you happily pulled them around. Then there was the time when I filled up the wagon with little creatures that we found in the tidepools at the beach and we put on the ''zoo''. You were the lion-dog, being the golden colour you were.

We had a lot of good times with that wagon and I promise to take care of it forever

Love,

me