In Loving Memory

We said goodbye to our sweet Buddy last Monday. His happy self to the end, he crossed the rainbow bridge quietly and painlessly out in our garden surrounded by the comfort of his family, his favourite pea plants, and snuffing the remnants of his cheeseburger because he could never stand to let a single food molecule go to waste.

He enjoyed camping, picking carrots, peas and raspberries unassisted from the garden, and hanging out on the couch. He tolerated hiking but loved the nap in the car afterwards. He would chase a ball no more than three times before declaring himself done and leaving you to go retrieve it for him on the fourth throw. He had the best show pony prance I’ve ever seen on a four legged animal that was always heralded by someone happily yelling about it every time we left the house on a walk.

The loss is deep. Like all great dogs there was never going to be enough time with him, but it was the best time in the world.

Our Gus was truly one of a kind soul, our big gentle giant with the softest heart. At 160 pounds, he still insisted on couch cuddles, sleeping in bed with us, and being in the middle of every hug. He adored his stuffie friends, proudly carrying them to the top of the stairs to wait for our return whenever we left. He was our velcro boy, always by our side through life’s hardest moments, loving us beyond measure. Gus was our everything, and he took a huge piece of our hearts with him. Forever wouldn’t have been enough. We will love you forever baby boy 🪽❤️

Zuma was the love of my life. She brought me joy every day. We met when she was just 4 days old.
If I threw a stick into the bush she would come out with something totally different.
Zuma had to carry it all the way home and leave it in her special spot of all her collectables.
My heart is empty and broken into a million pieces. She was loved by many but mostly by me.
I will never forget as she was passing the hummingbird that landed beside us, and when her heart stopped beating the humming bird flew away.
RIP my sweet girl I love you…. your mama.

“Jasper: You were the dog that almost wasn’t – surrendered at an early age, neglected, slated for termination. It’s no wonder you were so anxious and fearful when we met you. We literally drove through a tornado to rescue you, and that is actually an apt metaphor for all that was to come. You were the loudest dog with the biggest, scariest, big-boy voice, but you were also loving and loyal, with such a big heart. And you were so, so smart; you could chart a course, map a location, or triangulate a position with ease. There are so many more things we wanted to share with you, but at 14 1/2, you felt you’d done enough, and we agree; you deserve your rest. Goodbye sweet Jazzy – we miss you today, and will for every single day to come.”

Thank you, Dr. Vanessa, Zoe, and the team.
Last night was quite sleepless for us and Moo’s warm morning purr greeting wanting her breakfast, now missing, has left us quite tearful.
Unfortunately, something was terribly wrong with her health and peacefully sending her on over the rainbow was really our last kindness
She was a very beautiful girl.
Her quirky moments and kind nudges will live with us for the rest of our days.
Again, thank you for your warmth, God Bless.

Beloved Choco was a gentle and sweet soul, but he could be wonderfully sassy too, he always made us laugh and smile and was truly a good kitty. We know he is in a much better place now where he is very happy. We miss you Choco! I love you forever!

My sweet boy Rex. You were a special boy, our first dog. You have been with us since the beginning of the life that we have built. So many firsts, and you were there for it all. We will cherish the memories we made with you by our side all these years. We are deeply missing the weight of your presence in our lives. We love you so much!

Zeusse was sweet, spirited, athletic and agile, needy and fun. She could communicate to us her needs and desires. She loved her walks, swims, playing in the snow and snuggling on the couch. She just wanted to be with us all the time and we loved her more than life itself.

Shiloh was loyal, courageous, funny, and a master food thief. He was loved dearly by myself for 15 years, and my daughter for 6. Forever in our hearts Shiloh.

Gentle, smart, funny, feisty – a wonderful roommate, and the softest, sweetest companion imaginable. Thanks, Pip, for enriching our lives these 18 years. You’re in our hearts forever.

Chewy was a quiet, loving and silly girl. She made us smile every single day.
She made passers bye smile, especially when sporting her favorite pair of pajamas.
She truly brightened everyone’s day.
You will be missed, but never forgotten.

“Penny was our family’s small – but mighty – rock. A steadfast presence in the center of life’s whirlwind. Lying in the sun by the front door: a reminder to slow down (and let sleeping dogs lie). Chasing a huge deer off our porch late at night: a message that size doesn’t matter and that there is nothing to be afraid of on the darkest winter night. Penny was a sidekick who delivered joy to offices, shops, road trips, summer patios, and airports from Victoria to Cancun. Penny has left us with cherished memories that will remain in our hearts forever.”

Beloved family member. Nutmeg will be deeply missed by all those whose lives she touched.

The ad read “the friendliest cat in the world” and he certainly was. We couldn’t have asked for a more loving, cuddly kitty. Rest in peace dear Fred. Thank you 🙏 for the beautiful memories. We will miss you.😢 and will carry you forever in our hearts. 💕 Thank you Dr. Vanessa for making Fred’s transition so peaceful.

A big, little cat

With a great deal of sadness, we said goodbye to our third member of the household on Saturday. LC/Elsie was a little cat with a huge personality. We were honoured to be her “humans”.

Many of the residents, in our small coastal neighborhood, knew -and enjoyed – our little cat. She reveled in the relatively safe environment that was offered here. A tracking device on her collar helped with location. She lived the best of lives. Indoors. Outdoors. She would often come with us on walks but enjoyed her private adventures as well. A brave little soul. Nothing seemed to phase her. Every day included something fun!

Lap time was a necessary element on a daily basis and LC ensured we both had equal opportunity. She insisted we slow down and give her the attention she required. We like to think it was good for us as well.

A huge thank you to “Resting Paws” – Dr Vanessa and Ashleigh – for the wonderful care you gave to our beloved companion. Her final journey was so peaceful, gentle and dignified. She fell asleep on my lap, and in my arms, listening to the gentle breeze and twittering of birds. It was a beautiful end-of-journey.

Very grateful for this unique service. Yes… “she was just a cat” but to us she was so much more.

She was such a loving dog that was so friendly with everyone and was such a sweetheart with my children. Myself and the children will miss her very much.

Twix came into our lives unexpectedly when we were running errands one weekend and caught a glimpse through a window of a tiny, yet long white puppy with little grey ears and a button nose. She was afraid of her own reflection, and when we asked to see her, she came over to chew on our shoelaces. The next thing we knew, we were welcoming her into our home and hearts. From the first sleepless night of wailing and thinking “what have we done”, to moving between British Columbia and Manitoba a couple times, Twix was our loyal family member, cherished friend, and vigilant protector. She loved chasing sunbeams, parading around with her prized toys, barking at everything and anything, and mostly burrowing with great satisfaction into a collection of blankets, steeping quietly, and letting out a muffled “bouf” every now and then.

Sweetie chiweenie, our home will never be the same without your ears flapping day and night, and hearing your little feet tap dancing on the floors. Thank you for teaching us responsibility, and for your unconditional love over the last 14 years. Rest easy, and may you always have a fresh warm blanket and bowl of treats in reach by the fire as you warm your belly. We miss you dearly, love you, and will always remember our wonderful times together as a family with big smiles on our hearts.

Oreo came into my life when I was feeling isolated in a new part of the country. He was the first pet I ever had on my own, and I was super nervous about it. I needn’t have worried though; he never bit, scratched, or hissed, and he was constantly either sleeping with me on my shoulder at bedtime or snoozing in my lap at my computer desk even when there was perch set up for him in a big spot of sunlight on the porch.

It’s not going to be the same without you now, buddy. The bedroom door is always open in case you want to pay a visit, and I’ll leave the perch in that spot of sun for you.

“Leo was my best friend for almost 13 years. He was my greatest teacher and helped me to grow into a better person. We tackled fear and anxiety together along with patience, tolerance, forgiveness and joy- lots of missteps along the way, but always together. We never gave up on each other. Our daily walks totaled thousands of kilometers over mountains and streams and fields. I’m so sad that his mobility gave out long before his heart and zest for life. He was my first dog. My heart is broken. I hope we find each other again. Thank you to Dr Vanessa and MJ who made it just a little easier to let go with their sensitivity and care.”

Scout lived for 14.5 yrs and brought so many laughs to all. He was smart, loyal, had a stunning coat that smelled like peppermint and was so incredibly weird. His joys included walks, meeting other dogs, eating kids toys and giving us the side eye. His quirks included the fear of umbrellas, bees, and the sound of hiccups. He also had to sing along to Raffi’s Five Little Ducks and Happy Birthday. He left an imprint on all our hearts especially the two littlest ones in our family. Rest well Scout you are so missed.