Cuty I miss you. With each day that goes by. I love you and I will forever and always ♥/ Kimberly Rose Hancock PS: You will always be my buddy and my “Moo Moo” ☺

It has been 5 weeks since I lost my beloved Mollie.  While time has dulled the acute pain of losing her, there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of and miss her. Mollie was my ”sweet girl”, my first Golden, my friend. Her 13th birthday just passed on March 5th and I am reminded of all the birthdays, holidays and just ordinary days that we shared. I wish I had just one more day to share with her, to talk to her, pet her soft face and see her smile.

Mollie came to our family at 8 weeks of age and she grew up with our daughter. She was a member of our family and lived with us for almost 13 years. When we brought her home I remember that she cried, almost howled, the whole way home-so sad to be separated from her mother and her litter mates. For the first week or so, every time we fed her she would gobble down her food-almost inhaling it-until she realized that no one else was going to eat it. 

When Mollie was about 6 months old she developed bright red rectal bleeding each time she went to the bathroom.  I took her to several vets, completing several courses of antibiotics and evaluations of multiple stool samples. We were getting ready to do a colonoscopy when a new vet did an exam and removed a piece of mulch from her rectum. She never had the bleeding again and we replaced all the mulch at our house with river rock.

Mollie and I attended basic obedience classes when she was about a year old. She did great and even won the graduation ping pong ball relay race. True to her Golden roots she was affectionate and eager to please. Easy to train and gentle.  She was patient and an excellent listener.   During difficult times she was such a comfort to me.  I miss talking to her most of all.  I often find myself teary eyed at the most unexpected times when a thought, or a memory pops into my mind.  So many times I wish I had more time with her, but in all honesty, another lifetime with her would not be enough.

Anne, and everyone at Bowser Minich were so kind to us at such a difficult time. I cannot thank them enough for every thing they did. Anne’s genuine concern for my grief was so touching and such a comfort. I take comfort in my memories and will always hold my sweet girl in my heart.

Where do you start when talking about big Dave? Lets start from 8 weeks old…

From the first time he talked to me after waking up from a nap laying in a baby car seat on the porch of the farm house where he was born, there was a connection.

The first few years were interesting to say the least… He was kind of, well lets just say, a monster.  In the best sense of the word.  He was known to eat window sills, books, leather jackets, mattresses and even a box of vivarin… yeah, that was a fun night! 

But just look how cute that little terror was!

Now fast forward to his adult life… Now the description of big Dave gets more complex.  What a guy he was.  120lbs of gentle giant.  One very cool, laid back, confident guy.  Always knew he was number two male in the pack and definitely confident he was alpha male dog.  Being the gentle giant he was, he never felt the need to push his position.  So many times dogs half Dave’s size would come along and try to tell him they were boss… I’ll never forget seeing Dave standing in the back yard with a miniature doberman hanging by its teeth from his neck… Big Dave just looked at me and said, I don’t want to hurt him, can you get this kid away from me?  :)  That was his M.O.  He just had that confident, gentle, laid back attitude that those of you that knew Dave, loved about him.

By the time Dave reached his golden years, his human sister Lilly arrived on the scene.  By this point in time Dave was completely set in his ways and had the run of the house.  You would expect some conflict when introducing such an element…  But not for Dave.  Patience of a saint.

Dave’s sister Kelly was his constant companion for 13 years. Kelly and Dave are together again after just a short time apart.

My name is Ben.  I’m Dave’s dad.  We shared a unique bond.  We had the same birthday, and everything about us was similar.  So similar in fact that it was very common for people to call us both by the other’s name.  I would always answer to “Dave” as if it were a compliment.  His loyalty and companionship is deeply missed.  I really appreciate Bowserminichpet.com and Anne for for their support in this loss.

Traveler was my very best Friend, I saved him from death, by adopting him from The West Virginia race track.  We spent 11great years together.  I’ve  owned and  lived with dogs  all my life.  Traveler was never a  Dog, he always thought he was a Person.  He was my heart, my soul and my right leg, he never once left my right side.  I miss him so much!!!! I can’t look at his pictures without crying.  Traveler even had my personality, we were so much alike.  I have Travelers ashes and when I die, his ashes will be mixed with mine and we will be together forever.  We had a packed that we would go at the same time, but my baby couldn’t wait any longer.  If anyone reading this would like to own one of the greatest pets ever, than please look into adopting a greyhound, you will find the best friend and most loving dog in the world.  I know that I will never find another Traveler again, so I will not search I’ll just go on with all the memories of my very Best Friend.

Until we meet again

I Love You, Baby

Our little Murry died suddenly and very unexpecting and at such a young age on November 20, 2008. Murry was a fun loving, energetic westie and he was full of life. He’d watch tv and every time an animal would come on he would attack the tv. We live in the country and Murry loved to run around our big yard with our other two westies. He was a GREAT dog!! We didn’t feel right about burying him in the ground and my husband remembered about Bowser Minich Pet Crematorium. We took him their that day only after hours of it happening and Annie was so supportive and understanding. Although we still mourn the loss of Murry and miss him everyday, it was comforting to have him taken care of at the crematorium.

My grandmother died on my birthday 3 years ago at the age of 93.  I was her only granddaughter and we were very close, so it was only natural that when she passed away I would give her cat, Taffy a home.  Taffy and she were never apart.  She sat on my Grandma’s lap for hours.  When Taffy moved in with me she was not quite so spoiled - she had to share her life with 2 other cats and 2 dogs.  Taffy died peacefully in her sleep on September 2, 2008.  We immediately called Anne Minich to have her cremated.  Ann was so kind and compassionate when we brought Taffy to her. 

 My daughter and I picked up her ashes the next day and went straight to the cemetery and buried her ashes at Grandma’s headstone.  It was not a sad time - it felt so right that they were finally together again after all these years.

Other pets of mine that I would like to remember here are Snowball (my first pet at 5 years of age), Sadie (who died at the age of 14), Orphy (who was abandoned tied to a dog box when the family moved), EZ (my second favorite cat), and even my bull Samson.  (My favorite cat, Queenie, is still living at the age of 21!)

I look foward to seeing all those who have gone ahead of me at the Rainbow Bridge!

Thank you again, Anne, for your kindness and compassion.

The Charlie Douglas Dog Park is in honor of a very special pet that will always have a very special place in my heart as well as my family’s.  Charlie Douglas was brought into my life at a very young age and we spent ten years together.  He was the most relaxed yet loving dog.  He loved our pool and would constantly be jumping on the rafts just to get some swim time in with us.  He was a miniature poodle with a couple extra pounds on him, but we loved him all the same.  Even when he got sick,, Charlie never let his spirits drop.  He always loved you, he always wanted to kiss you and he always listened to you.  He knew when anyone from the family was sick and would stay by their side just to be there for them.  He connected with my entire family and that is why we could never forget him.  On behalf of the Minich family, we would like to dedicate this dog park to Charlie Douglas.  It is our hope and belief that many other loyal and unforgettable dogs will play in this dog park and will enjoy it just as much as we know Charlie Douglas would have.  Rest in peace.