In Memory of our Beloved Friends

Jake Ponstingle


     Jake , CGC, TDI
    "Scoodle"
     4/27/06 - 5/20/08
     ...a great little friend and a little big brother

Monday, July 31, 2006

I've always been a neatnik (to the point of obsession sometimes). Everything in its place and a place for everything.

I bought my first house after my divorce and it was a real source of pride for me. I scrimped and saved to get new carpet throughout the 3 level townhouse. Then I met Bob.

Bob worked on me for months to get a Great Dane since he'd had one years before. He convinced me that they don't shed because he knew this would be a deal breaker for me (he's a big fibber :o) Before I knew it we had bought Zeus at 5 months, adopted Athena when she was 1 year old from MAGDRL and bought Mollie at 8 weeks from a pet store, all within 3 months time. We now had 3 puppies in our house!

Zeus had a fondness for eating couches and remotes. Mollie peed and pooped everywhere (and still does) and Athena was a follower, whatever Zeus ate, she ate. Hair was flying everything, the house was constantly a mess, there was huge food and water bowls to be washed daily. Hairy blankets that needed to be washed weekly, chew toys that were disgusting to pickup and put in a basket in the basement. The messes were never ending.

We bought new furniture for our living room just before Zeus started making a turn for the worse. The dogs were not allowed on the furniture upstairs. They weren't allowed to go where the bedrooms are (Mollie likes to pee on my sons rug). I spent all weekends cleaning the house from top to bottom and mumbling to myself, dogs don't shed, yeah right. Then Zeus had to be PTS 2 weeks ago. My whole attitude changed when I got home. I saw his hair on the couch because he had rubbed up against it just before we left to go the vet.

I looked everywhere for Athena the other day, I couldn't find her. Athena knows she's not allowed on the new couch upstairs. I walked right by it several times and didn't bother to look because I didn't imagine she'd be on it. I heard something thumping, it was her tail. I said to her in my best stern voice and my arms crossed, "I know Athena is not on my couch". She just thumped her tail louder, rolled over and stuck her front paw up in the air in her best Playboy pose. Right then and there I thought, I can replace this couch or anything in this house but I can't replace our animals.

Mollie and Athena can roam free and can go anywhere they want in the house. As for my van, we bought a Honda Odyssey just so Zeus could walk into the van without hurting his hind legs. He loved to stand between the seats and look out the window. I used to clean it out every weekend after taking the dogs for a run at the park or the M&G, noq I don't care. It's a car.

Thanks to the person who invented Febreeze!

Linda and Bob Albers
Volunteers - Mid Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League
http://www.magdrl.org/

Thursday, July 27, 2006 7:51 PM

It is with the heaviest and saddest of hearts that I let you know that my Boo-Bear, Bagheera crossed over the Rainbow Bridge today at the age of 10.

This was a decision that I have struggled with and put off since the end of June, even at the vet's recommendation. After watching him decline the past 2 weeks, with problems urinating that included peeing blood and blood clots, problems eating and walking, his inability to find a comfortable place to lay his sweet head, I had to help him through.

When I decided to make the commitment to adopt through MAGDRL in June 2000, it was after 8 Dane-less months of volunteering at M&G's. Once Debby & Buster approved me, I started my search. After almost 2 months of driving to DC, VA and NJ, I found the Dane of my life in PA. He was (in my mind) suppose to be a fawn with cropped ears. Instead, he was black with natural ears and couldn't be more perfect in my eyes. He had been bounced around prior to coming to MAGDRL and I was his 4th home in a month.

Not long after the stories started rolling out about Bagheera's quests that centered around his unconditional love for food. This included the time he opened the cabinets filled with baking supplies and dined on: 4 cake mixes, a brownie mix, 5 lbs of sugar, 10 lbs of flour, a can of Crisco, 4 containers of strawberry, vanilla and chocolate flavored icing. This later earned him the name "Big Butt".

We were a pair, Boo & I, traveling every where in a little Mazda MX6, from WV to NYC to Florida. He could make that little car really rock side to side when I pulled into a drive through (especially McDonald's and Krispy Kreme). He became the "Norm" of the local ice cream stand every summer and was the star of his basic obedience class, at the Coventry School. That is where he learned the famous "Bang, you're dead" trick that eventually landed us (Along with Buster & Aunt Debby) on National TV (Good Morning America) and some cushy accommodations at the Millennium Hotel in NYC's Time Square that included doggie room service.

Bagheera helped me through 2 months of blown out back, by assisting me from a chair to stand. He kept me walking and moving after surgery, as I did with him after he bloated at age 7. He eased me through a broken heart, aided in grieving the loss of close family members and even helped to select my future husband, by passing a HUGE approval of Chip, who he loved as dearly as Chip loved him.

He was a good Dane representative for MAGDRL, and earned the title from Lissa & Eileen as the Senior Dane Ambassador. He was doing M&G's up until the spring of 06.

When Chip & I were house shopping in St. Thomas last year, we only looked at ones with air conditioning and one level, for Boo's comfort. We had already started the ball rolling regarding his transportation to the islands. We worked on details of how to have him involved in the wedding as well. Sadly, I will now be leaving without him, taking only loving memories deep within my heart.

I have never, ever faced a more difficult decision in my life and the pain I feel, I can't put into words. I still don't know if I did the right thing. I question it at every turn. All I can say is it was peaceful. If ever a human could have an animal soulmate, Bagheera was mine.

God Bless Christina Kallay for being by our sides during this difficult time. She has been an AMAZING support system for me. She was there to help Boo over the bridge and then she helped me home.

May my Boo-Bear be in heaven enjoying many treats, long car rides with the window down and a cool breeze in his face and a continuous "happy-hinnie".

In honor of Bagheera, and with a broken heart, I wanted to let you know.
Lisa Lightner

Sunday, July 23, 2006 9:56 AM

Dear God, today my Great Dane (Bohner- Puppas) died. He had just turned 12 years old. I know he's in heaven with you God because I believe that all dogs go to heaven.

Let me tell you something about my puppas. He was just like one of my own kids. Puppas loved me unconditional and was always there for me, helping me get through a lot of tradijes in my life, (including 9-11). He had a heart of gold, and was a peace-loving dog and would do anything for me. Anytime anyone raised their voice in my house Puppas let them know it was unacceptable (in his own special way).

I would do anything for this special dog. I feel like part of me went with him. I'm writing to you because I want you to take as good of care of him as I did here on earth. I know he'll be waiting for me. Thank you dear God for letting me have Puppas this long. I realize Great Danes don't live that long and it was a blessing that I had him this long. I shall miss him deeply and I will say a prayer for him everynight. I know he knew I loved him and that's reallly all they need in this lifetime is love.

I've been dreading this moment, my Vet told me his days were numbered and that I should consider myself lucky to have him this long. I don't know if there are any doggie prayers - I will say the "Our Father" for him now. He looked so peaceful when he died.

I need to say another prayer for a very special lady "Laura" that I had to call at 5:30 am this Saturday morning. I don't even know Laura's last name, except that she is a Great Dane Rescuer, but she got out of her bed and came over to help my sister and I get Puppas out of my house. It is not easy moving a dog this size, especially when I have a torn ligment and my sister has a bad back. Laura came over very promptly and helped us get him out of my house into her van and got him the the emergency hospital - which I am very glad that we have now.

I don't know if we realize how important our pets are to us. I for one, am very appreciative for this special guy who will always hold a place in my heart. He was not just a dog he was a member of my family. I remember his last day very well on this earth, because it was his birthday, so he did get special attention that day. Not too many danes live this long.

Boney's last 2 years of his life I fed him the Golden Seal Food, which I found that the Germans fed their danes and they lived to be 14-15 years old. Did I forget to tell you my guy could talk too. He could say Ma very clearly..and I knew everything that he wanted. He would wait for me every night at my door when I came home from work.

One more important thing in his life. When he was 2 and we just moved up here, we had a really bad snow storm. My fence wasn't in yet, so I had him on a cable outside. He broke the cable and ran away. He had disapearred for about 10 days. I had put ads in every where in this development and no one could find him. I prayed every night, (put the light on him)...and neighbors at the end of the development found him and brought him back to me. I have never seen a dog cry before but I did when he saw me. I am serious he had a big tear in his eye. I loved looking into his eyes. I found such an inner peace. Puppas should have been a therapy dog because he was great for me.

Please help my broken heart heal for this big lovable dog of mine.

Nancy's Thank-You Letter in the Pocono Record

The Family Behind Me                                                                                    Raising a puppy for the Seeing Eye
Former Fosters - Special Mentions                                                              Current Foster (See who is at our house now)
In Memory - Our Pets Gone but not Forgotten                                           Premier Products (Collars, Gentle Leaders, etc.)
Rescuers' Tales
The Page of Tears
Jewel and the Gems of Rescue

Pocono Guiding Pups
Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League