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Tributes
This is a special section of our site to remember and honor our loved - but lost - animal companions. Members and Friends of Animal Advocates of Howard County are invited to submit photos and tributes of their special animal friends who have passed away.
Grief is probably the most confusing, frustrating and emotional thing that a person can experience. It is even more so for a pet owner. Society in general does not give bereaved pet owners "permission" to grieve openly. Consequently, individuals often feel isolated and alone. For those of us who loved and lost a companion animal the pain is deep and lasting.
In Loving Memory of Samaya
In 1998 I adopted two
cats from the Howard County Animal Control and Adoption Facility-a
large, part Maine Coon, 14-month male named Roman and a beautiful little
2-year-old domestic short hair named Samaya. Roman and Samaya shared
my life, I was married in 2001 and my wife Christina and I thought of
Roman and Samaya as our children. In 2008 we welcomed a daughter into
our lives and Roman and Samaya adjusted to this new and radical change.
Samaya
was always a sweet and loving (on her terms of course) cat. She would
sleep with us at night and wake us up (too early) in the morning. She
loved attention and would cozy up to friend, family, and stranger
alike. She was always a joy.
We recently learned that Samaya had
cancer, it was aggressive, and it was advanced. After a mercifully
short illness, Samaya passed away early Sunday, April 25, 2010. We did
what we would to treat her, but when it became clear that she could not
be cured we took care to ensure her comfort.
I had been out of
town during the final days of her life, and via updates from my wife I
was very much afraid that I would not have an opportunity to say my
goodbyes to Samaya. I returned home Saturday evening and Christina and I
spent the evening with Samaya. As we sat and held her she meowed, she
purred, and she died knowing how much we loved her.
I remain
convinced that Samaya waited until I returned from my travels so that I
could have those final hours with her-she was just that sweet.
She
brought so much joy to our lives for 12 years that we were blessed with
her. We want others to have the same opportunity. We would also ask
that people be encouraged to adopt adult cats. I came to animal control
that day in 1998 intent on adopting two kittens. Then I saw Roman and
Samaya, both had been in the facility many weeks. I realized then that
kittens will always find a good home, but people seem to be reluctant to
adopt adult cats. Please share my assurance with everyone that adult
cats will bring every bit as much joy and companionship and they truly
need someone to take them home and welcome them into a family.
Sincerely, Todd
and Christina
A Tribute to Champ
I
wanted to let you know that Champ went over The Bridge on Saturday
night. The Vet came to the house and Joe and I were with him. As
always, he was a brave boy and went peacefully…
His story is one
for the books – I guess there are others but I can’t imagine that there
are many dogs who overcame what he did – abuse, living on a chain,
ending up with a dog rescue that wrote him off and threw him into a
kennel that did nothing but feed him, and then adopted him into a bad
home. Finally he ended up in another rescue with folks that really
tried to erase all the bad memories, and he eventually came to live
with us.
After he came here, I really believe he had a great
life, not just a mediocre one as so many animals do. We had to make a
major leap in our minds, and at our house, to take him in. It wasn’t
an easy undertaking, but once we decided to bring him home, we never
looked back – we both feel so fortunate to have made the decision –
it’s a great feeling when you can actually say “we can” versus “we
can’t”. He had a wonderful home – including a fenced in yard (never
even thought of a fence until he came along) where he felt safe and was
loved… and yup, he loved us too… I only wish that more humans could make this leap…
He
battled cancer and while going through chemo got Lyme disease. Then
was bitten by a copperhead which he just threw off, and then finally
falls and tears his ACL and still, he did his best to come back from
all of that….he really was a Champ… in every sense of the word.
Ruth & Joe
Tribute to Charlie...
Charlie was a very special dog who recently left this world at the grand old age of 18. He was the first, and most beloved dog of his family, who fosters dogs for Animal Advocates. He was adopted from a shelter when he was 3 years old, and spent those early years teaching his human toddlers all about the joys of canines, as you can see in his video. As Charlie got older, more dogs joined the family, and he showed them the ropes. Most recently, in his senior years, he played an especially important role in helping to socialize puppies for our organization. He performed this duty up until the week he died! Charlie loved puppies and was gentle and patient with them, building their confidence and making meeting Big Dogs a positive experience.
We aren't sure how we will manage without Charlie, but our hope is that one day, all dogs will get to live a full life in a permanent home, and be as appreciated as he was. In celebration of Charlie's life, please watch this moving tribute to him with your sound turned the whole way up!
Sophia Serelis died at home on Saturday, March
28, 2009. We were privileged to have her as a member of our family
for more than 16 years - she was adopted from Howard
County Animal Control on February 18, 1993. I had accidentally
wandered into the quarantine area and there she was - a gorgeous, long haired
silver tabby with a hint of Persian - and an attitude of huffiness that never
left her.
Her passion
was carrying dog toys in her mouth (some bigger than she was) and meowing
very loudly as she wandered around with them.Sometimes, her intent was to bring the
item to me or Bill - other times, she just wandered around with the toy in her
mouth meowing as she struggled to walk with it dangling between her front
legs. She would carry rope bones, stuffed toys, slippers, socks, small
pillows – often down the stairs, meowing as she thumped the item down each of
the 14 stairs.
Sophia’s
favorite person in the world was her dad – she loved sleeping on his chest,
especially as he dozed off while watching late night TV. In her youth
she would bite his nose to wake him up in the
morning. She
especially loved the dogs of the house – and only tolerated (or chased away) the
other cats. She was especially close to
our lab mix Cayce, and showed him affection by licking his head.Cayce would whine and do an army crawl
after her - begging her to give him her special attention – she mostly
complied, but sometimes she just bit him and trotted away.
She often stood by the window
next to our front door waiting for the dogs to return from a walk… almost as if
she were worried about them.Sometimes she would be at that same window watching me drive off to work
– and I always stopped, rolled down the window, and waved goodbye to
her. Many times she would be at that same window as I drove down the
driveway, as if she knew I was coming home.
She was the
alpha pet of the house and she let everyone know she was the boss.She was also the tiniest of all our
recent pets, weighing in at around 7 lbs.She had a beautiful long coat, but hated to be combed or groomed in any
way.She knew her name and would
come trotting like a silver fox when called.
In her long
life, she called 4 dogs her friends – Cosmos and Cayce, and more recently -
Molly and Mario.Her original kitty
buddies were Lucy, Nino, and Zackary – only Zackary remains with us.Affectionate Lucy was the only cat that
ever tried to groom grouchy Sophia.Sophia’s newest feline companions – Nellie, Jake, and Charlotte were
tolerated. Jake stayed close
to her over the past few months, and he would curl up next to her or lay
down a foot or so from where she was resting to keep her company.In her final days, he was insistent on
being near her and I think his presence gave her
comfort.
One of my
last fond memories is of Sophia walking down the hallway with my father this
past Christmas.Dad was plodding
along to get a bit of exercise, and Sophia kept pace with him, walking beside
him, back and forth, back and forth.Two old souls taking a final stroll together.
Sophia hung
onto life with incredible tenacity.... she did not "go gently into the
night". She was very strong-willed and a real presence - her absence
leaves a huge void in our lives. We will miss
her always..... gone, but never ever forgotten.
-Joanne and Bill
Thoughts of Zoe D. Beagle 1/1995 to 8/2008
Zoe was a rescue from a research lab and was 7 months old when I got her. I was told she had never been experimented on but I always said I think they took her brain, as she was not the sharpest of mind. She was wall-eyed and bowlegged and dumb! What more could a mother want! I loved her right from the start.
Zoe and I have aged together, rather ungracefully most of the time. Although the vet tech told me once that she never thought of a beagle and grace in the same sentence anyhow. We were the perfect fit though — couch potatoes who loved to eat. We aged together, grayed together, slept together, lounged together and got fat together. There is a void now and she will be missed.
In loving memory of Teddy P.
Thank you, dear Lord, for opening your gates and calling St. Francis to escort Teddy, our beloved companion, across the Rainbow Bridge.
Please assign him to a place of honor, for he was a faithful servant and always did his best to please us.
Bless the hands that sent him to you, for they did so with love and compassion, freeing him from pain and suffering.
Grant me the strength not to dwell on my loss. Help me remember the details of his life with the love he showed me. And grant me the courage to honor him by sharing those memories with others.
Let him remember us as well and let him know that I will always love him.
And when it's my time to pass over into Your paradise, please allow him to accompany those who will bring me home.
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of his companionship and for the time we had together. Amen. Adapted from a poem by Brandy Duckworth, 1998 We named him Lord Jim because of his regal stature. We affectionately called him Jimmy, a sweet loving orange tabby that won our hearts.
He came into our lives fourteen years ago as we were still grieving the death of our fifteen year old cat, Princess. Our daughter-in-law got him from a friend who got him from her parents. Her father did not like cats and kicked this one whenever he came near. This made Jimmy very leary of men. However, with patience, he became a wonderful companion to my husband who won Jimmy's love and affection.
Jimmy had a very peculiar purr. The vet said it came from a heart murmur and didn't expect too long a life span for our boy. But Jimmy fooled him and us. Jimmy's purr was loud and could be heard in the next room when he really got going. He would wake us up with his purr when he jumped in our bed at night. He was so affectionate.
One habit he had that really made us laugh was his way of intimidating our dogs, two eighty pound monsters. Jimmy would sit in the doorway of the room that the dogs were in and dare them to get by him. I would hear our Buster whine and find him unwilling to get past Jimmy. What a character Jimmy was.
We called him our "roof rabbit" because he would use the roof, two stories high to get into the house. He was an indoor/outdoor cat and used the door to get out and then in the middle of the night we would hear him purring and batting at the window to get our attention. This was our bedroom window. Jimmy would go on the roof in any weather. We hated to open the door when it was cold outside.
I was always a dog person and not too fond of cats. However, ever since my marriage 44 years ago, my husband, the cat lover had a cat. I soon changed my mind about cats when Jimmy entered our lives. What a wonderful companion he was. We will truly miss him. ~Sharon One of our very special pets has left us, in the best way possible. Here’s a Tribute to Will, and to his family, Sue and Paul.
It’s been almost a year and a half since Will became part of our family. Over that time, he gradually improved to the point where he could start "living" a bit, enjoying his environment and his animal companions. He even began playing, and that was cause for a celebration on everyone’s part.
However, over the last few months, he has begun deteriorating. Paul and I are amazed that he has lived as long as he has, especially given that his kidneys were in such bad shape in March 2006. I think, I hope, we have done everything we can for him. He has had all the food he can eat (especially Fancy Feast grilled salmon, his favorite), all the water he needs, all the peaceful sleeping places any cat could want, and a wonderful companion in Paul, to whom he became very attached. I say this not to brag about what we have done, because it truly took little effort on our part. But more to say this is the best we could do, and sometimes that has to be enough. He is very weak now and very, very thin. He is struggling to get to some of his favorite places; the desk where we have our computer, the kitchen counter (yep, we never did this before with our cats in the past!) where he could always find his salmon. I've asked him to tell us when he is ready to go.
Over the past few days, Will went further downhill. And he let us know. Will is in heaven now. He got cheated in life. I hope cat heaven is very good to him.
Those of us with Animal Advocates think the term “cheated” isn’t really right. Yes, Will died before he got to be an old man. But he left this world with people who loved him, and that’s more than so many cats can hope for.
Will left a legacy with regard to the story of his life before he came to us. To see Will’s whole story, please click here .
The following poem is dedicated in the memories of Teddy and Champ, two beloved dogs who were adopted from the shelter, both of whom passed away last week (2.10.07)
Written by Eve Lowery
Beautiful Lucy Beautiful, gorgeous, sweet, loving, gentle Lucy died on 4 Sept 2006. Lucy came from the Howard Co shelter - she was adopted in Jan 1992. She picked me - stuck her paw out of the cage and was very, very vocal about the fact that she wanted O-U-T.
Lucy was Italian - eating was one of her favorite activities - 3:30 was her time to start announcing that she was hungry - 3:30am and 3:30pm, like clockwork. She supervised the preparation of the various vitamins and supplements at every meal, and she was adept at stealing bites of cat food as it was being dished out. She ate with gusto - to the left of the kitchen sink - every day for 14 years. That spot on the counter will always be "hers".
Although Lucy did ordinary cat things that endeared her to us - using her scratching post, sleeping in the sun, chirping at birds, rubbing her head on chairs, playing with her jingle toy - but she was anything but ordinary. She enjoyed grooming the other cats - feisty Nino, grumpy Sophia, and shy Zack: all got their share of head lickings from her over the years. She was a true nursemaid who willingly provided comfort to other creatures in need. She slept by both of my dogs, Cosmos and Cayce, during their dying days, when she could have been anywhere else in the house.
Lucy was a Pets on Wheels cat for several years in her youth - she was very, very calm and just melted into any lap - not too many cats have such a temperment. She became a special friend to one senior admirer, Elisabeth - a fellow New Englander and a real "cat lady" in her hey-day. Lucy visited with Elisabeth weekly for several years - first at Harmony Hall assisted living, then at the Lorien nursing home. Her friendship followed Elisabeth's physical decline and ultimate death.
I like to believe that Lucy is with her buddies Cosmos, Cayce, and Nino....and that she has once again found her friend Elisabeth's lap to cuddle in. She had a wonderful, happy life and this gentle and loving soul was one of my best friends. I miss her every day.
~Joanne
Our beloved Cayce (pictured on the top left) died on Monday, 22 May - he was14+ years old. We were privileged to have him as a member of our family for 12 years. He was a healthy, happy, energetic dog - quick to wag his tail and nuzzle an unoccupied hand for a head rub. He especially loved his "cookies" and would shamelessly beg for them whenever he could get your attention. He craved affection and physical contact, and was a real "momma's boy".
Thanks to homeopathy and his support group of holistic providers, we have been fortunate that Cayce had few health problems throughout his life. He died at home in the conservatory where he spent his first night with us - with his mom and dad at his side, and with his kitty buddies (Lucy, Sophia, Zack) nearby.
Cayce was adopted in 1994 from the Howard County Shelter a few weeks after I attended a vigil on pet overpopulation there; the vigil was sponsored by Animal Advocates. I was looking for a "sign" that we should adopt a second dog (Cosmos - pictured on the top right) had been our first and only dog up to then) - and I received it at this event. A paper chain of hundreds of "links" containing the name of an animal that had been euthanized at the shelter that year was made, and vigil participants were asked to carry a part of the chain as it was fully expanded. I happened to grab a link in the paper chain that contained the name PENNY - which was the name that Cosmos came into the shelter with. Brenda Purvis, the Shelter Administrator at the time, was instrumental in helping me decide on Cayce - she assured me he was cat friendly, was full grown, and encouraged me to bring Cosmos by for an acquaintance visit. Cayce was named after the famous psychic, Edgar Cayce. Cosmos (1991 - 2005) was our first poochie. She was a gentle, loving soul with a brave, calm spirit. She died just last September. She was adopted from the Howard County Shelter in 1992 and spent 13.5 of her 14 years with us. She loved to sleep on her back with her legs straight up - and she was friendly to everyone... always wagging her flowing tail and giving kisses to anyone who came close enough. We recently learned she was a border collie mix.
Cosmos and Cayce were life-long best buddies and did everything together. I will forever miss these two dogs standing at the window by the front door "waving" good-bye as I drove off to work - and then joyously greeting me upon my return as if I had been gone for weeks. Our Sunday walks in Schooley Mill Park were among their happiest times. ~ Joanne
A TRIBUTE TO VAGABOND
My heart is truly broken, My soul in grief sadly cries. I have lost a great companion- Vagabond has died.
My joy has been taken, A devoted glow gone out. I have years of memories So many I can't count.
Heaven has gained my treasure, He's gone to his celestial home. He'll walk in the fields up yonder, One earth he'll ne'er more roam.
His pain has forever passed, His life is happy and free. I sit and fondly remember The time he spent with me.
I pray I'll meet him someday When my breath is silent and still. I have loved you so much, Darling, And, Vaggie, I always will.
Viola Mae
The first moment I laid eyes on Hobo was when Keith and I were sitting on the deck having dinner. When I heard a very quiet meow. I looked over and saw the tiniest black cat who had apparently been outside for quite sometime and obviously was not enjoying his experience. I went over to him and right away he came to me and started rubbing all over me. My husband automatically said , "don't you even think about it" (obviously knowing me very well.) I remember being so surprised that a cat that just had been through so much could be so loving. Even after feeding him, it was the kindness and human touch he truly seeked not just the food. Well a few days later after a well placed call to Ann. You could say Hobo was my link to Animal Advocates. We took Hobo to the vet and brought him inside to live with us. I have had cats in my life but none that have or will ever touch me the way he did. I will forever remember the "quirky" little things he did and all the happiness he brought to our lives. Yes, I say our lives. Hobo immediately began working on Keith. Before long Keith was putty in his paw. He slept on Keith's side of the bed, squeaked when he came through the door and would come set on his lap while he was working in his office. He had successfully won "the dog" person in the house over in less than two weeks. Of course he already had the rest of won over from day one. If I can take the time to remember some of his best qualities they would be the fact that he always was looking for love, to be petted or scratched. He would raise his little butt in the air when you would pet him just the right way. Even though his past experience with people had probably been anything but loving he was willing to keep trying. He was a loyal, sweet, gentle and loving cat and he will be missed more than words can say. But he will never be forgotten. He changed our lives forever. Hobo I hope you find someone who can scratch just right until I can be there to do it myself. Rest in peace my beautiful boy.
In Loving Memory of Mable
"Not only did this dog enrich the lives of Kim and Brent Miller, the loving family who provided her the "forever home" she so deserved, but she touched the heart of every volunteer and worker at the Howard County Animal Shelter. No one who ever came in contact with Mabel dog will ever forget her. She lives on in our hearts."
Tribute to Mable (aka "Rottie Girl") She fit into our home like a glove! She welcomed the new name we gave her as if it was all she had ever known. She let me know the time, ie: time to be fed, time to walk, time to go to bed, time to wake up, time to get a bath, and time for love. She never let her devotion to us fail or falter in any way. After she lost her brother, she stepped up to take his place and filled his shoes quite honorably. She never left our sides and always had to be in the middle of whatever we did. The first night we adopted her...she crawled into my husband's lap to give him wet kisses. She did this simply to thank him for her new forever home. We were her forever home. Mable passed away on 9/26/02, at her home. Before she died, she managed to let us know how much she loved us once again as she did the day we brought her home...she give us one more wet kiss. There is now quiet within our home that lets us know in a solemn manner that she is gone but will never be forgotten. The nearly two years she spent with us turned our lives so upside down that we will never be able to forget her. She was, is, and will always be our "big girl" Mable and we will love her forever. ~Her mommy and daddy (Kim and Brent Miller)
In Loving Memory of Cara Cara, my pretty girl, my heart aches for you. I can hardly believe you are gone. When I close my eyes, I can still feel your soft fur and gentle nose against my cheek. I miss your sprightly gait, your white-tipped tail, and your brave spirit. You were - and always will be - more than just a dog to me. My beautiful Caragirl, my Caradog, rest in heavenly peace forever. ~Linda, Brian and Jason Spar
In Loving Memory of Maggie and Gulliver
Just My Dog He's just my dog. He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds, my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out to sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being-by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him-I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me. When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me-whenever, wherever-in case I need him. And I expect I will, as I always have. He's just my dog. (poem by Gene Hill) ~ Ann, Paul, Jesse and Aron Selnick
In Loving Memory of Jasper
Jasper was a 12 1â„2 year old tricolor Smooth Collie Mix (with a hint of a foxhound!) who died on March 4, 2002. He was an unique, loving and distinguished dog in our eyes. Among the many aspects of Jasper we will remember here are a few:
His lithe, elegant and graceful body with white front legs and so many markings they were of continual interest.
His ability to sail effortlessly over logs, to bound up and down hills like a deer and to take off running in an instant.
Jasper loved to sleep on one of our beds at night---diagonally! He would lie down with his head towards the top right corner of the bed and then stretch so the paws of his hind legs would touch the bottom left corner of the bed. Needless to say, this was a tight fit for us, but we wouldn't have traded his company for anything-not even the ability to stretch in our own beds!
For a dog who spent half of his life in L.A., he was amazingly a cold weather animal. He LOVED the snow and never wanted to stop the play.
He definitely had a collie "herding" nature. If I fell asleep watching TV he would be there gently nudging my hand to urge me to go to bed. What a dog!
Most telling was Jasper's gentle, sweet, spirited, intelligent, curious and loving nature which will not be forgotten. He is dearly missed by us. ~Diana Watson and Susan Herrera
In Loving Memory of Scooby
My Sweet Boy Scooby was a 12 year old miniature poodle. I adopted him when he was ten, and it was the best thing I've ever done. My sister Teddey loves dogs, and I've never been an animal person, so when my sister's friend called and said Animal Advocates was looking for a home for this poodle, we all thought Teddey should take him. She was concerned because she already had four dogs, so on a whim, I told her I would come and see this little guy too. Well, when they brought him into the visiting room, he jumped straight onto my lap and put his head on my shoulder. Of course, I took him home right away! He was so sweet and loving. He was fairly old when I adopted him, but still had plenty of energy. He was a perfect first dog for me, since he was already house-broken, and even followed voice commands. When I first saw him, he was skinny and a little scared. I think he had a rough life, and it was gratifying to see him respond so well to all the love and attention I gave him. Scooby liked to go hiking in the woods and walking around the neighborhood, greeting all the other dogs. His favorite things were cuddling on the couch and chasing his shih-tzu cousin around outside. Even though we only had a short time together, he changed my life forever, by teaching me how to love and care for another living thing. ~Courtney Odum-Duncan
In Loving Memory of Duck
IN MEMORY OF "DUCK" WALLACE-SMITH Duck was named after the town of Duck, North Carolina where she was abandoned then rescued by her parents who were vacationing there. The name turned out to be quite fitting as her meow sounded more like a "quack". Duck was responsible for training her Dad, Kenon, who had never had cats, to respond in a timely fashion to her many very loud demands-- for food ("I will starve to death if I am not fed NOW") , for petting ("pet me only a couple of times and nowhere except my head and shoulders NOW") and for play ("get out my fishing pole NOW"). When her people lost all their sense and good judgement and added dogs (ugh) to the family, Duck was forced to expand her teaching role. Canines Tucker and Scooby learned it is not appropriate to eat out of the litter box, terribly impolite to interfere with laptime, and pointless to expect a positive response to that ridiculous thing called a play bow. Although all this education she was thrust into performing was quite tiresome, often tedious, and always beneath her station, it did eventually pay off. She and the dogs reached an understanding after the dogs learned the rules. Duck and the dogs curled up together to share a patch of sunshine on the window seat, and her friend and brother Tucker mourned for months after she died. Perhaps Duck's greatest achievement was converting her Dad into at least the "semi-cat-person" category. Kenon fondly remembers his first cat as being "cool"; she won his heart when she proved herself to be a hockey fan. They spent many hours watching hockey on TV together-- he watched the game, and was doubly entertained as Duck chased the players while they chased the puck. Her legend lives on; anytime one of their current cats misbehaves, Kenon and Laurie still begin their correction, out of habit, by yelling "Duck No!" We know she's up there (or down there?!) witnessing this with a big cat grin. ~Laurie Wallace and Kenon Smith
In Loving Memory of Sonya
~The Dowell Family: Mr. Dorian and Rev. Lainie Dowell
In Loving Memory of Sir Al of Bundy aka "Al"
Oct 1993-April 2004 When we brought Al home he was all ears and attitude. His spunk and personality will never be duplicated and with his passing he has left a void in our heart and home. He would play with his tennis ball for hour upon hour and now that he is over the Rainbow Bridge is free once again to play. His paralyzed legs made him unhappy and sad. He wanted to fetch so bad and would sit in front of his toy box and bark. The day we had to say good bye was indeed the darkest day in our family. He is back home where he belongs and still guards the front door as he always did. Al's spirit and memory will forever be etched into our hearts and never never forgotten. ~ Until we meet again little Bun Bun, mommy daddy and Misty miss you.
