in memoriam of our "lost jewels"

In Memory Of Lady Bug

This month we honor the memory of "Lady" of Austin, Texas.

Ladybug left us in December 2007 at the age of 12 years. During her life on earth, she was part of our family from day one and will remain in our hearts forever.

Ladybug never met a ball or water hose she didn’t deem as hers to play with. She was happy to carry the hose around in her mouth and water the yard for you. Just don’t ask her to step in the pool or get her feet wet she would have none of that.

Ladybug was a take-charge kind of gal. She was quick to remind Christy it was bedtime and if movement didn’t start quick enough towards the bed the verbal “now” talking began. Ladybug was always close by to act as protector and ensure she wasn’t left out of anything partially if a cookie might be coming her way.

Ladybug lost more of her sight at age 10, but never slowed down. The picture of her was taking just a few months before she passed, wiggling on the floor like she was a pup.

Ladybug will remain in our hearts.

~Robin and Christy Hudgins, Austin, Texas

In Memory Of Ridgey

Ridgette was such a lovely dog. She was rescued by my roommate, Kim who was horse back riding in the woods near Dallas. Throughout her ride, Kim noticed a dog that was following her from a distance. When Kim finished, she saw that this dog had jumped in the back of her pick up truck.. Needless to say, the dog came home with Kim and because Kim traveled Monday through Friday as a consultant, the dog soon became mine. We named the dog Ridgette (but called her Ridgey) because she was part Rhodesian Ridgeback and had a very thick ridge of coarse orange hair all the way up her spine. She looked part Ridgback, part Chow and part Australian Healer.

Ridgey had obviously been mistreated something horrible. Every time we extended our hand to pet her she cowered. Each time anyone came over to our house and stepped into the living room, Ridgey immediately ran, with her tail tucked under, into a bedroom and hid.

It took a full year before Ridgey stopped hiding when people came over. Shortly thereafter, I moved to Austin. Ridgey was muscular and when we would jog along the river at an old farm (turned park), she would chase deer and looked like something out of Africa. Her muscles rippled and she pounded the ground looking like a lion.

Ridgey was the smartest dog I’ve ever owned. She was also extremely protective – and once even let a friend, who was rough housing with me, know that she didn’t like it. She understood when a situation was dangerous and would become incredibly engaged, looking at me in the eye for clues and body language.

One winter 7 years after inheriting Ridgey, my husband (who had since by this time come to love Ridgey as much as I) noticed a slight limp. Ridgey had bone cancer. The vet wanted to amputate her leg above the thigh. We believed Ridgey to be about 12 years old by this time. We would have gladly spent the money for the operation if it would have ensured her another 3 or 4 years of high quality life. But we felt that it would have been selfish to put her through such an extreme operation at her already quite old age. Consequently we had a vet come to our home and euthanize her. It was so incredibly painful but I knew in my heart this was best for her. The vet who came to our house reinforced our decision saying that she had to euthanize so many pets that have been through an amputation and, in the end, the cancer returns only to buy them a year or two of poor quality life.

For a full week after Ridgey’s death, my husband and I could hear Ridgey breathing in our room at night – right where she usually slept. It was the strangest thing – we would lie there and say to each other – do you hear her breathing? Am I imagining that? We felt she wasn’t ready to leave us – just as we weren’t ready for her to go. We will always remember and love our Ridgey.

~Desiree and Brad Johson, Austin, Texas

In Memory of Peaches

We rescued Peaches from a family that could no longer take care of him when he was about 5 years old. Peaches lived to be 16 years old and he was beautiful and kind, extraordinarily loving.

He lived with my husband and me, my son, and our two other dogs, Maggie and Bogie. Bogie and Peaches were the best of pals. Bogies job was to assist Peaches in keeping his eyes and ears clean and free of debris. Despite the difference in their sizes, they loved playing with one another. I think Bogie was Peaches’ favorite "toy." Our dog Maggie put up with Peaches existence – afterall in her mind, it was “her” domain.

Peaches lived a good life - but he became ill and I had to end his suffering in July 2007. It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do but the humane thing to do.

We miss him and will remember him always. He is missed by all who knew him.

~Michele, Robert and M.J., Corona, California

Would you like to share your story?
Please Email Us