We Remember Our Beloved Dobermans
In Loving Memory
~The Greatest Gift~
I always knew this time would come,
From the very instant our eyes first met.
How I loved you then! How I love you now!
I made a promise then and I keep that promise now . . ..
You will not suffer from a pain that will not heal;
You will not know the loss of a life remembered, now gone.
It is for me alone to make this decision,
The price for the bright joy and pure laughter
You brought me during the time we shared.
I am the only one who can decide when it is time.
When my hope dies, and my fears ride high,
Just when I need you most, I must let you go.
It is for you alone to tell me when you are ready.
For without your guidance, I will not know
When to lay my grief, my guilt, my anger,
My sorrow and my selfish heart aside
And give you this last gift, this greatest gift.
Your eyes will speak to mine, and I will know.
The pain of this moment is excruciating.
Tears stream down my face in a river of sorrow,
And my heart drowns in a pool of grief.
For you have spoken, and I have listened,
And unlike other decisions I have made.
This one brings no relief . . . no comfort . . . no peace.
For if there's one thing you've taught me,
If there's only one thing I've learned. . . .
Unconditional love has a condition after all,
I must be willing to let you go, when you speak to me
I must be willing to help you go, if you cannot go alone.
And I must accept my pain so you can be free of yours.
Go easily now, go quickly now,
Do not linger here, it is time for you to leave.
Go find your strength, go find your youth.
Go find the ones who've gone before you.
You are free to leave me now, free to let your spirit soar
Rest easy now, your pain will soon be gone.
I pray I will find comfort in my memories . . .
In the dark and lonely days ahead.
I cannot say I will not miss you,
I cannot say I will not cry.
For only my tears can heal my broken heart.
But, I promise you this: as long as I live,
You will live, alive in my mind, forever in my heart.
So I give you this last gift, all I have left to give,
And this will be my greatest gift . . . sending you away.
It is the measure of my unconditional love . . .
For only the greatest love can say,
"Good-bye, go find the bridge, we'll meet again,
Loving you has been the greatest gift of all."
By Karla M. Bertram, 11/23/96
ADAM
I have some very
sad news to tell you. Adam passed away this morning. He had surgery this
past Monday to remove a blockage in his intestines. He came home Tuesday
tired but in good spirits. He was eating the canned food the Vet sent home
with us. But by Thursday he wasn't eating the canned food. We called the Vet
and they suggested chicken soup, cheese whiz, tuna, and or Frost Paws. He
ate some chicken soup but by Friday night he would not anything. He was
still drinking water and didn't seem in big trouble. He would go for walks
and bark at squirrels. Called the Vet Saturday morning and they suggested
chicken broth. He drank some of that but by Saturday night didn't want that
either. Afterward he layed down for about an hour. I tried to get him up to
go to the bathroom and he couldn't stand. We rushed him to the emergency
room. As they were bringing him in he stopped breathing. They tried CPR for
five minutes but could not save him.
Kris and I are
heartbroken. He was such a good boy. Really starting to come into his own.
Lucy has been looking for him today. As much as she would hate to admit it,
she misses him already too. For the short time he was here we know he was
happy. Kris and I would like to thank you for giving us the chance to adopt
Adam. I don't know what else to say. Take care.
Mark and Kris
Buddy
Faithful friend of Kathy and Harry Lindamood passed away recently. Kathy and
Harry have lost 2 best friends this month ( Shawn) and now Buddy. Last year
it was Twister . Lets keep them in our thoughts as they have agreed to
“foster” for us and have taken in little Angel to socialize. They do have
another senior named Brutus who is very ill. Buddy… I am sure is running and
playing with Twister and Shawn at the rainbow bridge at this very moment….I
can feel it. He will also be buried at Fallen Timber Dog Cemetery next to
his 4 legged friends. Dear Friend, You will always be in our hearts and
memories.
Bailey
Nancy,
Just wanted to let you know I put Bailey down today. We had decided to do it
tonight after work, but this morning before I left for work she was shaking
(body & head) and I decided to stay home, Bob said he had already said his
goodbye's so if I was ok with taking her myself, I could, so she passed
peacefully in my arms holding her on the floor at the vets office. Even the
vet noticed she had lost more weight since he had seen her the night of
3/28/08. So she didn't suffer long and went downhill quick. Buca laid in
front of us and had his paw on her neck and once I got up from the floor he
laid beside her and licked her face and mouth to say his goodbye. She
deserved a much longer life than the 3 short years she lived and 4/2/08 was
3 yrs that we had her. It's going to be rough for all of us. She's at peace
now.
PATIN
I
don’t know the first 11 ½ years of Patins Story but at 11 ½ years young he
was turned into the pound. Apparently one of the workers at the pound saw
that he was such a handsome proud, noble man. He was a black Doberman, so
muscular and stately for his age. Well the pound worker took him home but
his wife said “NO, 5 dogs are too many” (why can’t I find a man like that)??
So off to the DPR of PA and Nancy Dodson, who has earned her angel wings
over and over again by rescuing many, many Doberdogs. She sent out an e-mail
saying “Here we go again” and “I only wish mine would live this long”!
Stating the beginning of what I know of Patins story. Patins original name
was Satan, but thank God Nancy changed it to Patin. He was no Satan, there
wasn’t a mean bone in his body!
I took him to get a bath and to visit my Mom and Dad at the nursing home one
day. This is when I found out what an awesome therapy dog he was. He would
walk right up to people slumped over and sleeping in their wheel chairs and
stick his nose under there hands and flop their hands on his head to pet
him. At first some of the people were quite startled to wake up and find a
big black Doberman head on there lap and there hands on his head. But it
didn’t take them long to realize that he was just lookin' for love. He
didn’t walk by anyone without saying hello and demanding a pet. I had to
leave him alone with my Dad and I wish so bad I got a picture of it. I came
back and my Dad had his leash in his hand, sitting in the wheel chair and
Patin was sitting beside him with that proud Doberman look like “don’t worry
Mom I’m watching over him” I believe I fell even deeper in love with him
that day. I had planned on taking him back and getting some pictures. I
guess with a 13 year old Doberman, you had better get right at things you
plan on doing with him.
Patin was with me for over 2 years. He was very healthy, unbelievably
healthy for a Dobie of his age. Other than his eye site, due to cataracts
and his hearing. For the last month I noticed his rear hips were getting a
little arthritic and I started worrying. About a month ago he had an
accident in the house, which he never did, and the vet thought that he might
have a slight kidney infection, so we gave him antibiotics and he seemed
fine. Until last Saturday February 9, 08, I gave him his breakfast and his
pill, and vitamin and he gobbled them right down. I noticed when he went to
stand on the bed he didn’t really make it up the whole way up. I figured it
would just take him awhile to get up and he was a little stiff from just
getting up. Then I went to the barn to feed the rest of the critters. When I
got back I went to give him his treats, he didn’t want them. Now normally he
would take half of your arm along with his treats so I knew something was
up. So I called the vet and got an appointment in an hour and a-half.
Meanwhile he had thrown up. I didn’t know this at the time so I need to pass
this on to everyone. The vet I took him too did not have the correct blood
test to test for Kidney failure. They need to be able to check for what the
white blood cell count is. It was a country vet who doesn’t have the most
modern test’s, now I know this at poor Patins expense. I did not know this
at the time or I would have taken him to a different vet. He told me that he
thought he had a bad kidney infection. We gave him water subcutaneously and
2 different antibiotics and pills to take home. That night he started
drinking some water and I took him outside through out the night. The next
day he ate a little bit. I was so relived I thought he was going to get
better. But then he took a turn for the worse. He got sick and had
convulsions through Sunday night. Monday morning I called 3 different vets
and that is when I found out that he should have had a test for white blood
cell count that would have told me in the beginning that he was in Kidney
failure and he would not have had to suffer that terrible, terrible night
that will haunt me for the rest of my life. So if you even suspect that your
dog has a kidney infection, or if he/she got into any Anti-freeze, make sure
to ask the vet if they can test the white blood cell count. That morning we
assisted Patin on his journey to heaven. I have had two Dobermans previous
to Patin and Dylan and they were both Awesome Dogs. Last night Dylan was
laying on his pillows and he just kept groaning and breathing weird, I got
really scared. I went to him and hugged him, he was crying a dog’s version
of crying he just kept moaning. He was crying because he missed Patin, so I
held him and cried with him. Patin loved me with all his heart and he proved
it every time he saw me. I will never regret giving him a home for the last
years of his life. I always wondered what the rest of his story was, I wish
he could have told me. I believe someone else loved him, he acted like he
was someone’s buddy. I hope his buddy isn’t the one who took him to the
pound. I don’t know how anyone could have done that to such a noble, proud,
handsome loving, awesome Gentleman! I am so thankful to Nancy and that guy
at the pound for giving me the chance to have him for awhile. I will miss
him, until I am able to meet him at that rainbow bridge along with all my
other babies.
BOSWELL
This is so hard to write, yesterday my heart was ripped from my chest. I
lost my beloved Baby B. Recently his quality of life rapidly diminished. I
had to end his suffering. I told him that I'll take him to stop the
suffering and he licked my nose. I know it was the right thing to do.
Boswell loved to visit the local Post Office where dog biscuits are never in
short supply. Once we were there and a lady that was afraid of dogs was
hiding from him. Everyone that knew Bos told this lady that Boswell is the
most kind and gentle dog. By the time we were leaving she was patting him on
the back. Actually, all that B cared about was the fact that shortly there
would be Milk-Bones flying at him from behind the counter.
It still amazes me how quickly you can bond with something. We loved each
other as if we have known each other our entire lives.
Last night I slept in bed for the first time in two years and thought that I
heard him call me twice. For those of you that weren't aware, Boswell wanted
me at his side the entire time that I was home. We slept on the couch or
floor together under the same afghan always with my arm around him. He did
allow me a shower and an occasional check of my email but time limits were
strictly enforced.
I knew I loved him even before our eyes met. Nancy from Doberman rescue sent
out an email asking for a foster home for him. I knew at that moment that I
needed to take him in. It is as if this was written for me and Boswell! He
truly was my greatest gift....
Michele
Article reprinted from the Doberman Dispatch, with special permission of
Doberman Pinscher Rescue PA.
STAR
Star was a young female rescued from West Virginia.
Concerned neighbors took her in when her owners moved and did not take this
girl. Transported to Pittsburgh by another concerned citizen Star came to
Doberman Pinscher rescue of Pa. As I email this through tearful eyes Star is
now somewhere up there waiting at the Rainbow bridge . So very
heartbreaking. So the next time you see a twinkle in the night sky think of
her, and remember her as I will "a Star trying to shine through a
difficult dark past.
MY CANDY GIRL
Candy was adopted in September 2004 by Jim and Terry after being abandoned
in Butler County, PA. We loved this girl and we miss her very much. She was
learning to trust and love again when cancer cut our time short. She was my
constant companion and missed me when ever I traveled on business trips. She
would carry my shoes around to keep me close even when I was not home. We
hope to one day be reunited again in the hereafter. Hoping she is resting in
peace until that day.
Jim
Tommarello
BELOVED JAKE
Jakie,
We love you and miss you.
No one can replace the uniqueness of your personality. Pictures hung can
only show us what you looked like but the feeling in our hearts is what you
truly were. The best!!
I know you will be waiting at the golden gate, but until then my beloved
Jake be happy and be healthy until we see you again.
Love Mom, Dad, Sis and Chris. Gram and Pappy too.
Shawn
Shawn passed away in his owners arms at home a couple days ago, he
will be buried next to Twister. They have only had him since July or so
Goodbye Shawn, we loved you.
LOSS OF TWISTER
Most of us at one time or another has lost a beloved pet and companion. Well
this story is being told so you know you are not alone . Twister was a young
4 1/2 year old black male Doberman with Addison's disease. Some of you might
remember his story in a past Doberman Dispatch. His loss was sudden and
heartbreaking. His death was not due to his Addison's disease but to
LYMPHOMA. One day Twister was running and playing the next day he was
lethargic. Taken to the vet within two days of his decline the outlook was
grim and Twister passed on to the Rainbow Bridge to wait for all his loved
ones. Cathy, Harry and his four legged pals Buddy and Brutus....even that
pesky cat will miss him. I too will miss him dearly . It was Saturday June
23rd when I went to say my last goodbye, but this was a different kind of
goodbye I had never done before. It was a pet funeral. Twister was in a room
at The Fallen Timber animal shelter in a doggy coffin with his head on his
pillow covered in his blanket just like he was sleeping. His favorite toys
were around him and as I stood there I could not help remembering the tough
past this dog had when I got him and how he grew into such a loving sweet
boy. I looked at Cathy and Harry and saw the sorrow in their hearts and eyes
but I also saw the closure and acceptance on their faces. There was a box of
Kleenex on a table that came to good use and we all said our goodbyes and
left the room. We were met again outside in the cemetery to put Twister in
the ground where his marker would soon be with his name and the date of
death on it. I wondered what the date of birth would be since that was
unknown to us , but couldn't find the words to ask....Roses where put on the
coffin and Twister was covered with ground then more Roses.....That was a
very sad day for me and I can still see Twister laying there "asleep" but it
was also a day to say goodbye and remember the past ( both good and bad )
that helped me through it. So again.... Goodbye Twister and know that you
were loved and will always be remembered . You will be missed.
Home | Available Dobermans | Photo Gallery | Events | Wish List | How You Can Help | In Memory
This site was last updated
07/24/08
