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This Section Is Dedicated
To Our Beloved
SUGAR BEAR,
PEPPERMINT PATTI,
MANDI ROSE
AND
MISS MUFFI MC MURPHY
High in the courts of heaven today
A little Dog Angel waits.
With the other angels she will not play,
Instead she sits alone at the gates.
"I know my mistress will come," says she,
"And when she comes, she will look for me."
The other angels pass her by
As they hurry toward the throne,
And she watches them with wistful eye
As she sits at the gates alone.
"I know if I just wait patiently,
My mistress will come for me."
Her mistress, down on earth below,
Sits quietly in her chair.
She forgets sometimes and whispers low
To the dog who is not there.
The little Dog Angel cocks her ears
It's her mistresses' voice she hears.
Then when at last her mistress waits
Outside in the
dark and cold
For the hand of death to open the door
That leads to those
courts of gold,
She will hear a sound through the gathering dark
Her little Dog Angel's bark.
SUGAR BEAR
| Sugar and Grandson Scott |
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| She loved everyone ... especially all the grand children |
Sugar Bear was born on October 16, 1993.
She went to Rainbow Bridge on November 12, 2003.
Sugar Bear was a "puppymill" girl. She had many
physical problems which had to be corrected by multiple surgeries. In spite of all her traumas and pain, she lived
a full and happy life. She was surrounded by those who loved her, human and canine alike. Sugar Bear was
a gentle, loving and kind Maltese. Her soul was reflected in her expressive eyes. She was a "comforter"
and always wanted to be near you. She could calm you with her presence. In the end Sugar Bear fought
with all her heart and soul to survive ... when everything was against that possibility. She was a very brave
and courageous Maltese. Her love was strongest in her final days and continues to live within all of us today.
She left an enormous hole in our hearts and in our lives that will never be filled. We miss her so.
Sugar will remain with us ... forever .
We will see you again one day sweet Sug.......
PEPPERMINT PATTI
Peppermint Patti was a beautiful Australian Silky
Terrier. She too was a "Puppymill" girl. Before she was even a year old, she had surgery on a necrotic
hip. She bounced back from the operation
like it was nothing at all!
Pepper was a comedian ... always full of fun
and full of life. She loved all the grand children and grew up with them. Never once did she growl or attempt
to bite them. Even when they were a little rough with her she never seemed to mind. She was a tough little
monkey! Pepper loved the grand-children's games and enjoyed playing and eating with them.
Her most memorable attribute was her devotion to any
new puppy or dog that came to live in our home. She would make it her mission to welcome the newbie and protect
it. Until she was absolutely sure the new one was "safe" she was their body guard. "Safe" to her meant, she had
to be sure all the other dogs in the house were not going to harm the new one in any way. Pepper would place
herself between the new addition and the other dogs. It was exhausting work for her but she took it very seriously
and never let up. She was like a protective mother...always hovering around the new arrival. Then, when she
knew it was safe, she would back off and let the others join in the play. As a testament to her, she continued
her job until the very end. She made it her final mission in life to make sure the last addition
was welcomed and safe.
Pepper had many issues at the end of her life but always
adjusted to each and every thing that came her way. Nothing ever seemed to get her down ... she was tough, positive
and brave little one. Peppermint was almost totally deaf, could barely see and arthritis was crippling her to the
point she could barely walk. She never seemed to be in any pain however. She started loosing her hair, her
body looked emaciated due to the fact she was loosing muscle tone, there were lumps all over her and she seemed
totally out of it most of the time. However, there were other times she would appear to come out of her cloud
and know what was happening around her. As mentioned, a week before she died, she welcomed a new puppy in
her old familar way. Then when her job was done she went down hill quickly. One morning she appeared to
have had a stroke and could barely stand. Her hind quarters totally gave out on her. She passed away that day
at the age of 16. She was a pure joy and we will miss her always. Peppermint and Sugar are both now
waiting at the bridge.
| Peppermint with Grandson Scott |
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| She loved the grandchildren's games and company. |
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| Peppermint loved the outdoors. |
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MANDI ROSE
We got our beloved Maltese, Mandi Rose from
a local Marine Veterinarian at 8 weeks of age. Mandi along with our Australian Terrier, Muffi Mc Murphy were by
far the smartest dogs in our household past and present. Mandi had an attitude, she knew she was superior from
the time she came to live with us. She thought she was a human NOT a dog! Always a "quick study" in
all things she never forgot anything. She was a "drama queen" for certain. She also had certain
"rituals" throughout the day. Mandi Rose was most definitely a very organized Maltese!
When Mandi was a puppy and my husband,
Doug was still working, she was "my girl" but that only lasted until he retired. She then instantly became
"his girl"... totally and completely! She was obsessed with Doug and that obsession grew over time. Mandi
was "Doug's Princess" and he lovingly called her "Pin-cess". The two of them were inseparable ... where he
was in the house, so was she. If she wasn't near him she would pitch a fit, this is when her "drama queen"
persona would surface. She would begin howling, wimpering and whining until someone gave in and let her go
to where he was ... then she was at peace with the world. Mandi would choose Doug over anything
and everything else in life ... even food! Her love, obsession and loyalty to him were constant and boundless.
She only came to me when she was ill or needed something.
During the times, Doug was in the
hospital, she would not leave her post at the window where she would sit watching and waiting for him to come home.
Her total disappointment at seeing me return home without him was so obvious. Her vigil lasted all day
and into the night for as long as he was gone. She would grieve his not being home to the point we were concerned because
she would hardly eat anything. Mandi would finally give in at bedtime and leave her post but
only as long as she could sleep on his side of the bed.
Mandi Rose loved to retrieve and would
do so for hours. She was more or less a loner with the other canines in the family ...they were dogs you see.
Oh she liked their company but they were simply not on her intelligence level and she would remind them
of that from time to time. Mandi dearly loved being bathed and groomed. However, the main reason
she loved it so much was because of what happened afterward. When she was finished, smelling so wonderful, snow
white and beautiful with her new bow proudly on her top knot ... Doug would tell her she was "so pretty." Her
favorite word became " so pretty." If he was remiss and did not tell her she was pretty, she
was extremely disappointed and would not rest till he did.
At the age of twelve, Mandi was diagnosed
for the first time with a severe heart murmur and she subsequently went into congestive heart failure. She knew
she was ill and would come to me automatically twice a day for her medications ... she was very co-operative
throughout her illness. Within 4 months of her diagnosis she left us to go to Rainbow Bridge and join Peppermint
and Sugar. Mandi surely did not want to leave us. For two days and two nights she could not lie down
because she could not breathe in that position. Though totally exhausted, she fought to stay awake and on her feet near
us.
We will always remember and miss this
dear, sweet girl. She was such a large part of all our lives.
*************************
We would like to extend our
deepest thanks and appreciation to all of the doctors and staff at the University of Florida Vet. Hospital and Clinic.
They were always professional, extremely kind and gentle, very understanding and most thoughtful. We
took all the girls there for consultations, care and treatment. They became attached to many of the doctors and staff.
We could never have asked for better care for our beloved girls.
All three girls were
extremely brave and
co-operative while at the
University of Florida. We were very proud of them.
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MISS MUFFI MC MURPHY
| Muffi with grandson Scott |
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| Muffi had unending patience and love for the grandchildren. |
Miss Mc Murphy was the very first dog
I ever owned. She was also the first dog Doug and I owned together after we were married.
Muffi was a beautiful Australian Terrier. She was a puppymill girl
... we bought her from a pet shop before we knew better. However, she was the most adorable puppy.
We fell in love and bonded with each other immediately. She became my constant shadow and companion.
Muff was afraid of nothing. More than once, she caused our hearts to
stop with her antics and "hard headedness." She acurately followed her breed's description and was a fierce
snake and rodent (squirrels too, unfortunately) killer. She would literally tear any snake in two
by grabing it between her sharp and powerful teeth, whipping it around and slamming it to the ground.
She was a dedicated "protector"... always with me while gardening and working in the yard.
Muffi loved other dogs and cats. She adored the grandkids, their games,
their food and their attention. She could keep up with them till they wore out ... her energy knew no bounds.
She was gentle with them, kind and loving ... forgiving any accidental pain they may have caused her.
Muffi had many keen senses that we were never able to figure
out. She always knew when Doug was coming home and would sit by the door 20 to 25 minutes before he would pull
up in the driveway. Her ability to know when a pizza was coming was another puzzle but she would sit by the door
waiting for it to arrive.
Retrieving and tricks were her strong suit. You could teach Muffi
anything and she would remember it always. Our girl was extremely smart and she could also read your
mind. If you cried or were upset, she was immediately by your side comforting you. If you were mad at
her and gave her a stern look or spoke in an angry tone, she would look ashamed and crushed. There are no words
to express how special she was.
Miss Mc Murphy assisted in all things and was a hard worker. On cleaning
days she was totally exhausted by the end of the day from following me around. Laundry days were special because
she could dive between the clothes and play. Weekends were filled with swimming in the pool and running around the yard
with the grand-kids or going to the lake. Cooking in the kitchen was a favorite of course. She would keep the
floors sparkling clean and was a willing "taste tester."
There was no dog more faithful, loyal, loving, kind, compassionate
or one that was a better companion.
Muffi died of esophageal cancer at the age of 12. She gave us our
great love of canines and their wonderful spirit. She will be remembered always and one day we will all be together
again.
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