In Loving Memory

Lyla was a gentle soul who was a member of our family for many years. Although we didn’t know her age, we had the privilege of living with Lyla for almost 13 years. She was a constant companion to our children, and a mother-figure to our dog Oliver. We will always be grateful for the time we had with Lyla, and miss her tremendously. We are broken-hearted, but take comfort in knowing she enjoyed a long and happy life. It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

From Elijah (7), her dearest boy – I really really liked snuggling you. I really miss you. I love you.

From Mom, her savior & Dad, her pack leader – Rylee was deemed anxious, leash aggressive, should live with no dogs, no children and our home was her seventh by the time she was 4. The odds were not in her favor. She bonded to our other dog immediately, and later down the road while we were nervous she would eat the baby, I am pretty sure she thought he was hers.

Rylee was a universal blood donor and saved 6 lives in her 15 years. Highlights include; when she stole a neighbors moose antler and brought it home, ate another’s chicken, lost an argument with a raccoon, made the feather duvet snow in the summer, could gas out an entire floor of the house, and had a giant distaste for Golden Retrievers. She would adventure out of her contained yard for 12-14 hours, but always came home to snuggle, eat and sleep.

She loved with her whole heart, eventhough it took some time to win it over completely. I will miss my little spoon in bed, and my mobile slippers in the fall. There are dogs, and then there are soulmates. She really squeezed into the soul, and left behind a surprising menagerie of life lessons and memories. There is no death without life, and we were so lucky that most of her entire life was spent with us.

Rylee, nicknamed “Birdie” will now forever be basking in the sunshine and watching the birds.

She was a fairly timid little creature but had plenty of cattitude that helped her make her wishes known! We met her in an animal shelter in Whitehorse many years ago, and she’s been a wry observer and constant participant in family life ever since. She will be fondly remembered.

I adopted Dolly from a rescue outside of Edmonton when I was 25. I didn’t quite know what I was in for – both in terms of extreme exercise, but also in terms of extreme devotion. I can’t even count the kms we’ve hiked, walked, or ran together. Or the evenings she made me feel comforted. I just had to glance her way and she knew if I was asking her to go for a walk, get a treat, or come up on the couch. She was smart, intuitive, and got me out of bed on days when it seemed like an impossible feat. I can’t imagine what I’ll do without her but I’m so glad we had the time together that we did. Hope that you find some ocean shores to run along and some snow drifts to bounce through, my sweet girl.

Coconut came into our lives about 19 years ago. She was the only black kitten nestled among many little bodies of white fur and stripes. It was my tenth birthday and the second we picked her up she started purring as loudly as an engine, my Mom and I immediately knew that she was the one. I think she chose us just as much as we chose her. Over the years, Coconut grew beautiful and plump and loved socializing with her fellow female-kind. She was the kind of cat who showed great concern if you were ever crying and would spend the whole day in bed with you if you were sick. Getting chased around and giving my Mom and I a good scare, or at least trying to, gave her much delight. I’ll miss giving her kisses on the head the most.

Thank you for years of playing, friendship, cuddles, laughs, purring, comfort and so much more. You were the best friend I ever had and I’m going to miss you every day. We went in for a cat and wound up with the whole package. Easy travels wherever you are, my friend, I hope we can meet again someday.🐾🖤

Hanna aka Moopy came to us in her senior years because of a death in our family. It was not an easy transition for all of us. And still, as the months passed, trust grew, and we learned how to be a new family together. We knew nothing about poodles and Moopy was a patient/persistent/stubborn/smart teacher…. I’ve never known such a gentle-mouthed dog! Fleet-footed, like the Huntress, she was also The Destroyer of Sticks, Hater of Scooters and Widdershins Around Tables. We loved her very much. There is a big hole in our life. When a door swings a little open my heart gives a lurch– will her spongy nose poke inside? I am comforted by the fact that her death was so easy and kind. She left life gorging on liver treats which she couldn’t eat when she was with us because of chronic digestive issues. She was so happy…. We were in the backyard in the shade of the trees. Birds were chirping. Her best toys were nearby.
I picture her spirit trotting lightly ahead, like she would do when I took her off the leash at the bottom of the driveway. That spring in her step. Her tail held high, that easy pace, so swift and graceful. Sometimes she would stop and glance back to see if I was coming. Then, reassured, she’d trot up over the rise and disappear.

Baxter,
You truly were my little gentleman, my unicorn dog, and now my sweet angel.
You took a big piece of my heart with you when you left, and left behind your perfect paw prints on my heart.
Rest easy my sweet, handsome boy 💔

Rest in peace beloved black beauty; your adventurous spirit will forever be cherished and deeply missed.

“Charlie (aka Chicken Nugget, Chicken Noodle, Legrande Orange, Char Char and Chew Chew)
We will miss your silent meows, head boops, little love bites and your desire for constant attention. Your silliness made us laugh and smile every single day. You were also our “sweet baby sweetness” and you loved big. We were blessed to have you in our lives. Love you furever.”

Felix was a gentle giant who loved food, forehead kisses, and his family. He (along with his alleged son, Wallaby) found his forever home with me, and a permanent place in my heart, in early 2021.

Felix was a furry friend to Wallaby; the boys were a team. They played together, cuddled together, begged for my (off limits!) food together, and woke me up every morning together. Felix was a faithful companion to me, too. He stayed close while I worked from home — curled up on the couch behind me, basking on the floor in rays of sunlight, lounging in his window hammock, or sprawled right across my desk. Whenever I went to the bathroom, he guarded the door. He often joined me on my mat for Pilates classes. At night, he slept soundly at my feet. And conveniently, he had the magic ability to teleport right behind me in an instant upon hearing the fridge door open.

Felix contracted FIV before I adopted him, though it never interfered with his quality of life. This year, however, his health declined, and after various tests, my vet and I learned that he had heart disease. With medication, we were hopeful that his health would improve, but after he suddenly took a turn for the worse, my vet discovered a large mass (cancer) in his abdomen. Given his poor condition, I did not want to put Felix through any more pain just to try to keep him alive for my sake. I made the decision that was best for him.

I am so grateful to Pacific Cat Clinic for taking excellent care of my beloved boy and for advocating for his comfort; to Resting Paws, for easing Felix’s pain and giving him the peaceful goodbye that he deserved, in the familiarity of his own home; and to both veterinary practices, for their compassion and care every step of the way.

Goodbye, Felix. Wallaby and I will love you forever.