IN LOVING MEMORY
This page is dedicated to the memory of the Rescue Pugs who have since gone over the Rainbow Bridge.
The Power of the Dog
[Rudyard Kipling]
[Rudyard Kipling]
There is sorrow enough in the natural way, From men and women to fill our day, But when we are certain of sorrow in store, Why do we always arrange for more? Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware, Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
Buy a pup and your money will buy, Love unflinching that cannot lie, Perfect passion and worship fed, By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head. Nevertheless it is hardly fair, To risk your heart for a dog to tear.
When the fourteen years that nature permits, Are closing in asthma or tumour or fits, And the vets unspoken prescription runs, To lethal chambers and loaded guns, Then you will find – but it’s your own affair, But….. you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.
When the body that lived at your single will, With its whimper of welcome is stilled (how still), When the spirit that answered your every mood, Is gone, - wherever it goes, - for good, You will discover how much you care
And will give your heart to a dog to tear!
You’ve sorrow enough in the natural way, When it comes to burying Christian clay, Our loves are not given, but only lent, At compound interest, cent for cent. Though it is not always the case, I believe that the longer we keep ’em the more we do grieve. For when debts are payable, right or wrong, A short-time loan is as bad as a long. So why in Heaven (before we are there) Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?
"YumYum"
YumYum unfortunately past away in December 2002
5 February 2005 - Bailey unfortunately passed away in her sleep at the end of January 2005
"Benson"
January 2006 - Benson passed away peacefully in his Mums arms after a little battle with cancer.
"Sweet dreams little man."
"Simon"
It is with such sadness to report that Simon passed away in his sleep on 30 April 2006. Age 11
"Rest in peace Si"
"Missy"
Buy a pup and your money will buy, Love unflinching that cannot lie, Perfect passion and worship fed, By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head. Nevertheless it is hardly fair, To risk your heart for a dog to tear.
When the fourteen years that nature permits, Are closing in asthma or tumour or fits, And the vets unspoken prescription runs, To lethal chambers and loaded guns, Then you will find – but it’s your own affair, But….. you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.
When the body that lived at your single will, With its whimper of welcome is stilled (how still), When the spirit that answered your every mood, Is gone, - wherever it goes, - for good, You will discover how much you care
And will give your heart to a dog to tear!
You’ve sorrow enough in the natural way, When it comes to burying Christian clay, Our loves are not given, but only lent, At compound interest, cent for cent. Though it is not always the case, I believe that the longer we keep ’em the more we do grieve. For when debts are payable, right or wrong, A short-time loan is as bad as a long. So why in Heaven (before we are there) Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?
"YumYum"
YumYum unfortunately past away in December 2002
"Bailey"
5 February 2005 - Bailey unfortunately passed away in her sleep at the end of January 2005
"Benson"
January 2006 - Benson passed away peacefully in his Mums arms after a little battle with cancer.
"Sweet dreams little man."
"Simon"
It is with such sadness to report that Simon passed away in his sleep on 30 April 2006. Age 11
"Rest in peace Si"
"Missy"
This is little Missy, a Pug who was abandoned and unclaimed earlier in the year (2007). She was nearly blind and had bladder problems. Merle cared for her during her short stay of just a couple of months, until a more serious health problem lead to the sad decision to set Missy free. We don't know who bred her, or owned and abandoned her, but she was given the best of love and care during her last couple of months. Now a wee Angel resting in the sun in God's garden.
"Lace"
2007 - Lovely Lace was given sleep and now is reunited with her late owner at the Rainbow Bridge
"Buddy"
06/11/97 - 11/03/2008
Buddy came to us in April 2000 after
he was hit by a car & taken to a vet clinic. The clinic contacted fellow Pug
owner and rescue helper, Graham, to ask for assistance in identifying the
dog. Graham couldn't help, but immediately said that he would accept
responsibilty for Buddy's care. Buddy had a fractured pelvis, broken jaw &
damaged eye. After surgery he was released to Graham and had months of rehab to
learn to walk again. Meanwhile we had found out some of his history, and
not all of it was good. His breeder had removed him from his first home
when he was found tied up, starved & flea ridden. Buddy was born with a
neurological disorder, - he walked like a drunk! He was in his 3rd home, where
he was used to wandering the streets, until the day he took on a car.
In mid 2004 Buddy had surgery for a
mast cell tumour. His prognosis was given at 5 to 27 months with the surgery
& subsequent chemotherapy. Buddy came through all that & outlived the
time estimated.
In the later part of 2007 Graham's
circumstances changed and so Buddy came to live with the Gordon Pug clan. He
fitted in well, continued to guard his food bowl with a vengeance, but was a
happy & relaxed boy. A real little honey to have around, though he took no
nonsense from any of the other Pugs.
At the beginning of March (2008)
Buddy started to appear unwell & unhappy. Whilst he was still devouring his
food, it wasn't with the same gusto & he was less interested in protecting
his bowl. He was losing weight to a frightening degree. On consultation with the
vet it was felt that there were things happening within his body that we may not
have been able to fix. Given his past history & his age, I made the sad
decision to set him free, to let him go with dignity & not put him through
any more discomfort. Our farewell was bittersweet. Buddy had never been a dog
who liked to be cuddled, but I picked him up to hold him while we waited for the
vet to return. He completely relaxed, snuggled into my arms, then lifted his
head & licked my chin, - a thank you, or a goodbye, or maybe both? He
remained like that in my arms as his soul departed for the Rainbow Bridge. Now
running like the wind, something that he was never able to do in
life, though very much missed by Graham & myself.
Sweet dreams little man.
"Boris & Tessa"
Boris, aged approx 16 1/2 - 17 years and his 'wife' Tessa, aged 14 1/2 years.
Helped to the Rainbow Bridge together on 11th August 2008.
Along with their daughter Suzie, Boris & Tessa came to me nearly 4 years ago. They were all in poor condition, but Boris especially was in a bad way.
Lack of proper care had seen a tooth infection eat away a part of his jaw bone. He was very thin and had chronic arthritis in elbows, hips & knees. The vet felt that I may only have him for about 6 months, but we defied the odds by over 3 years!
Both so different - Boris with his huge personality (never any flies on that kid, arthritis or not), and Tessa with her soft and gentle soul, the mother to all.
Boris demanded his rights and expected his due. Tessa showed 100% quiet devotion to him & I both. They really were little partners. Tessa would wait at the door until I carried Boris over the step before she would come in too, never mind if it was pouring with rain. Neither would hop into bed at night unless the other was there as well.
It's hard to put into words just what these two darling old Pugs gave me, and it has been an honour to give them the care, comfort and love that they so deserved in their twilight years.
Absolutely heartbreaking to let them go, but the last gift of love I could give them when it was needed.
See you at the Rainbow Bridge my darlings.
Brenda
"Hobo"
20 September 2008
From his owners.
"Hobo came to us on Stewart Island 7 years ago from Brenda, Pug Rescue. We have had Pugs for 36 years and loved them all, but Hobo was special, in fact you could say he was perfect. He was so well behaved you could take him anywhere, loved the car and loved the brother cats he lived with.
Life without him is unbearable but we can look back on so many happy times.
We think he must of been about 12. His eyesight was almost gone and his hearing had been gone for a while and life suddenly wasn't much fun anymore.
Thanks Pug Rescue for the happy years we had."
"Bruno"
Bruno was given sleep on the 18 December 2008.
Aged approx 16 years, he was another of my "special" Pugs.
Came from an animal control facility in July 2005, he only had one eye and was deaf. Being a typical Pug, he made up for his disability with personality and lived a normal life.
Bruno was a real gentleman, his manners always perfect. A real honey to live with during the time he shared with me.
He never did have very good vision in his one eye and what he did have gradually disappeared over the 3 years.
During the last couple of months his general health also declined and being deaf/blind he was clearly struggling to manage, with little quality of life left. Though it brought pain for me, I gave him the last gift of love, - the gift of freedom.
Now waiting at the Rainbow Bridge with those who have gone before.
Sleep easy, sweet man.
Brenda
"Ebony"
"River"
"Flossie"
Sweet dreams little man.
"Boris & Tessa"
Boris, aged approx 16 1/2 - 17 years and his 'wife' Tessa, aged 14 1/2 years.
Helped to the Rainbow Bridge together on 11th August 2008.
Along with their daughter Suzie, Boris & Tessa came to me nearly 4 years ago. They were all in poor condition, but Boris especially was in a bad way.
Lack of proper care had seen a tooth infection eat away a part of his jaw bone. He was very thin and had chronic arthritis in elbows, hips & knees. The vet felt that I may only have him for about 6 months, but we defied the odds by over 3 years!
Both so different - Boris with his huge personality (never any flies on that kid, arthritis or not), and Tessa with her soft and gentle soul, the mother to all.
Boris demanded his rights and expected his due. Tessa showed 100% quiet devotion to him & I both. They really were little partners. Tessa would wait at the door until I carried Boris over the step before she would come in too, never mind if it was pouring with rain. Neither would hop into bed at night unless the other was there as well.
It's hard to put into words just what these two darling old Pugs gave me, and it has been an honour to give them the care, comfort and love that they so deserved in their twilight years.
Absolutely heartbreaking to let them go, but the last gift of love I could give them when it was needed.
See you at the Rainbow Bridge my darlings.
Brenda
"Hobo"
20 September 2008
From his owners.
"Hobo came to us on Stewart Island 7 years ago from Brenda, Pug Rescue. We have had Pugs for 36 years and loved them all, but Hobo was special, in fact you could say he was perfect. He was so well behaved you could take him anywhere, loved the car and loved the brother cats he lived with.
Life without him is unbearable but we can look back on so many happy times.
We think he must of been about 12. His eyesight was almost gone and his hearing had been gone for a while and life suddenly wasn't much fun anymore.
Thanks Pug Rescue for the happy years we had."
"Bruno"
Bruno was given sleep on the 18 December 2008.
Aged approx 16 years, he was another of my "special" Pugs.
Came from an animal control facility in July 2005, he only had one eye and was deaf. Being a typical Pug, he made up for his disability with personality and lived a normal life.
Bruno was a real gentleman, his manners always perfect. A real honey to live with during the time he shared with me.
He never did have very good vision in his one eye and what he did have gradually disappeared over the 3 years.
During the last couple of months his general health also declined and being deaf/blind he was clearly struggling to manage, with little quality of life left. Though it brought pain for me, I gave him the last gift of love, - the gift of freedom.
Now waiting at the Rainbow Bridge with those who have gone before.
Sleep easy, sweet man.
Brenda
"Ebony"
"River"
"Flossie"
