Abby

She catches the scent
and slips into another world.
One no longer hers and mine,
but a simpler place
where all colors condense
to black and white,
where nothing exists
but the pure conflation
of dog and deer.

Abby freezes―
her body an unshot arrow―
crouches so low she could lock eyes
with a tumblebug,
then a redgold flash hurtles
through brambles, zigzags
across the long grass,
weightless
but for the certainty
that she could outrun time.

The deer levitates over the fence
and Abby ambles back
into another dimension―
a whisker away, yet far
from the lost quiver
of the wild―
back to where I, too, live.

-Lucy Aron

The Harley Fund

Harley was our beautiful, sometimes silly, ever faithful Westie. He lived a long and very happy life, and loved every living being he ever met. He could disarm an unfriendly foe with kisses and a wag of his tail, and brought joy to friends and family with a delicate lick on the nose and a winning look that brought even the most determined "non-animal" person to their knees. He was loved by all that knew him. Harley was wise and gentle and had the most generous spirit. We want to honor his spirit with this fund and hope that other precious pets can be helped, and touched by Harley the way so many were throughout his wonderful life.

 

This is my Honey.

I rescued her as a kitten, from an abusive home. She was the best kitty I had ever known. She taught me "kitty language," we actually had our own conversations. I knew all of her sounds and she understood me too. She slept with me, woke me up in the morning, played with the family so much, liked meeting new people who came over. She was a character. She would go outside and bring us tiny flowers she had picked and lay them in front of us. She was amazing and very special. I took extra special care of her, but somehow she became ill suddenly. She passed away Dec. 22, 2007 at 8:15 p.m. I held her and sang to her my song I made up for her. I had her for 12 1/2 years, but it was not long enough! Having to let her go and losing her was probably the worst thing I have ever experienced in my life; she was like family; she was my baby. She is missed every day by our family and still loved very much. That is why I donated as a memorial to her. If I can help another pet owner from losing their beloved pet, I will.
-Ashleigh Lauren




Honey Cat belonging to Ashleigh Lauren

To my best friend Otto—your companionship, your morning kisses, the wiggle of your tail as you greeted me, your nose in the rear to push me down the hall, your graceful jog along the river, the way you ran with head held high and legs outstretched as you chased a squirrel, the tilt of your head when trying to understand me, and your unconditional love will all be missed. So sorry you had to leave so soon. Your girlfriends Lucy, Rose, and Lilly miss you and so does your buddy Jack.

In memory of my three angels in heaven—I am so proud of you and I miss you! Skibo, Sheba, and Snowflake, from Ms. Linda Segura.


Skibo, I miss you!


And Snowflake.


Kissy Face

My Sweet Baby Girl Kissy Face went to heaven on Nov. 18, 2008 at 11:50 p.m. She is playing with Skibo, Sheba, Snowflake and Fat Boy and waiting for me. I miss them all and love them so much!  From Ms. Linda Segura.

Teddie is one of the best dogs ever—and one of the most beautiful and loving. She is missed every minute, and will be forever.

This is Baxter, owned by Lars and Kimberlee Thorson. He is a lovely beagle, and missed by both his family and Buddy the Poodle.



Buddy and his friend Baxter—we miss you Baxter! From Kimberlee and Lars Thorson.

Raffaella and Burghley—owned by Anne and Malcolm McHenry. We will miss Raffaella forever.

Chiwi is missed very much by Val, Keesa, and her family.

Bogy is very much missed by Jo Wardle and family.

An Affliction of Foresight

cloudy eyes more smudge
than impediment
the rocking horse gait
a quirky concession to the years
now we sit on the sand
and watch
the waves

yesterday you were a dolphin
today, the cool hug of the water
somewhere between dreaming
and memory
your legs creaky, irascible
from the hurt and muddle
yet opening, somehow,
to the noble freedom
of no-effort

and later, if for a twinkling,
front paws out, rump up,
tail a reed in a gale
married to the moment
as I wish I could be
oblivious
to the misty nearness
of tomorrow

-Lucy Aron

Kaira is the beloved dog belonging to Janet and James Woods, and they miss her very much.

Pearl’s Feral In A Flash

We said good-bye to our precious Pearl this morning. She had been unwell for the past five months following a surgery to remove a growth from her hard palate. Even after consulting over a half a dozen vets and specialists, we didn’t get a true diagnosis until just a few weeks ago. Pearl was in good spirits most of this time but, in the end, the oral cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) moved quickly and it was time to let her go.

Eleven years and one month ago I picked out Pearl at the East Valley Shelter (which at the time was euthanizing 75% of the dogs entering their premises). She was about 18 months old then and the only information on her shelter card read “stray” and “thin”. I paid a pittance for her but she eventually became my “pearl of great price.” Two weeks after springing her from the shelter, while camping in the desert with us, she suddenly sat bolt upright staring at the moon. She shared eight or nine more spring camping trips to the desert with John and me, and as many Thanksgiving trips to the cabin in the mountains. The day she finished her ASCA-CD, I called it a miracle. There were very active gopher holes just behind the group stay area. While the judge was timing us, I could see Pearl’s ears twitching as she sat listening to gopher talk. I held my breath and she held her stays. We took the liberty of altering her CD certificate by adding a ribbon to it that says “With Gophers Present.” Pearl has deeply enriched our lives with sweet and true companionship everyday.
She will be missed terribly by her buddy, Bailey and us.

Gabrielle de Benedictis & John Caswell

Mickey is the cherished companion of Genie Huff and family, and he is loved and missed every day.

Pugsly worked diligently as a Customer Care Representative at An Internet Store, the host of ThePetFund.com website. He will be missed by all his friends and family.