Nugget
Nugget came to Dr. Vanessa 17 years ago as an orphaned kitten who required bottle feedings around the clock. She grew into the purrfect companion who filled our lives with so much joy and warmth 😻She was the queen of drooling while purring, a sunbathing beauty with an odd, but adorable, obsession with bananas 🍌 She will be missed dearly 💔
Rest in peace sweet Nugget. You have surely left paw prints on the hearts of so many 🐾
Begley
This guy came into our lives on December 29, 2010…we had him for almost exactly 13 years. We will miss him so much. He was the best companion and fur brother to our daughter. He was a great walking partner to his dad. He was the best coworker for myself…he was by my side all day everyday for 13 years. He was the best photoshoot dog despite being all black and hard to light..he willingly wore costumes and always knew the exact spot to sit for the ‘dog’ in any family photo. He was a 70lb lap dog but always asked to get on the couch before jumping up. He survived cancer twice and gave us 13 amazing years. We are missing him so much already. We have so many wonderful memories. We are so grateful that he was able to be at home with us for his final moments. Thank you Dr. Vanessa.
Mystic
In loving memory of our sweet and special, Mystic, who brought so much joy and love to our lives. She passed peacefully while laying on my lap (her favourite place to be). I’m so grateful that I had 18 years with her sassy little attitude. Rest peacefully my sweet Mystic.
– Allison
Dakota
Dakota was with us for 18 wonderful years. We will miss her craziness, her talking and her cuddles.
She was very vocal and had the zoomies at night to make sure we were awake. She wouldn’t miss one occasion to watch us from her cat tree. Now we know she will keep watching over us from where she is.
Sadie
Our beautiful Sadie was a constant and loyal companion to all of us and we loved her so very much. We will miss her every day and cherish the beautiful memories that we shared together.
Kea
With heavy hearts, we say goodbye to our beloved dog, Kea (April 21, 2010 – December 31, 2024).
Kea was a comical source of joy and love from the very first moment we met her. As a puppy, she was the obedience class clown, always entertaining and getting into mischief. As she grew, she somehow became sweeter and sweeter every day. When we thought there was no way she could get any sweeter, she somehow could, and she did.
Kea had a passion for adventure and a playful energy. She loved swimming, fetching sticks from the water, jumping off docks, and would race to the top of any mountain we hiked wondering what was taking her parents so long to catch up.
Kea made friends wherever she went. She particularly won the hearts of a few special neighbours. One of Kea’s most treasured activities was trick-or-treating (multiple times per day) at our neighbors’ gates.
Her exuberant spirit filled our home with laughter and love, and we miss her dearly.
Pandora
Pandora loved swimming, treats, sun bathing and cuddling. She was a very special dog, we had the honour growing old with her. She is and will be missed deeply.
Molly
Sweet Molly, Forever loved and never forgotten.
Molly
“Our darling girl Molly passed away peacefully just shy of her 14th birthday, surrounded by her loved ones with the breeze in her face and the grass under her paws on our family farm. Molly was our “foster fail” who came into our lives when she was about a year old, and from the moment she arrived we knew she was never leaving. Molly was beloved by her family, as well as many who had never met her, but knew her through her Instagram @hyperintelligentmolly. Molly did numerous modelling contacts over the years, and her face can be found in print catalogues and on the sides of pet stores. Molly loved hiking and camping, taking flying leaps into the water, road trips, rolling in the snow and grass, Easter egg hunts, chasing the side-by-side on the farm, crunchy treats, and cuddles in bed in the morning. Molly summited mountains, flew in a plane, participated in multi day backpacking trips, canoeing, paddle boarding, snowshoeing, dock diving and even tried her paw at sheep herding. She was passionate about howling along to Lorde and growling at Kung fu movies. Molly is deeply missed by her mom & dad, grandpawrents & best dog friend Remy. We are so grateful to have had such a beautiful soul in our lives. “
Kastro
He was the sweetest little man out there. Definitely a bit of a hand whore when it came to the pets and he loved to climb people. He had such a distinct, lovable personality. He will be missed

Charlotte
My Sweet Charlotte, left us earthside on December 19 2024.
For the nine wonderful years I had with her, she brought unquantifiable joy, and unconditional love into my life.
She was the perfect example of a classic cat, Independent but loving, proper yet playful, respectful yet curious. Never one to be picked up she would contently sit by your side, leaning against you, sharing her warmth.
She ventured home with me to the Yukon through my years at university, lounged in her favourite corner at my parents house in the sun in Victoria, and loved sitting at the window in my Condo, watching the goings on beyond the glass. These places will never feel quite the same without her quiet presence, or her polite meow letting us know her food bowl might be empty. She had the softest fur, and if you were lucky, she would lean on your outstretched arm, nestling herself into you and providing rare kisses on your hand. In the weeks before she died, she must have known her time was coming to an end, as she slept like this with me for many days straight. I’m grateful for the memory of this, now that she has moved on.
She will be greatly missed by many people, including her cat sister Luna, who Charlotte tolerated with the utmost of patience.
Oscar
Oscar was such a lovely dog who was loved so much by all of us and we really miss our family member.
Lily
We were so lucky to have Lily in our lives for the past 11 and a half years and anyone who knows us knows what an irreplaceable part of our family she was. She wasn’t just a dog; she was a constant source of love and joy who touched our lives in ways we never thought possible. Everyone who met her instantly fell for her soft, sensitive soul.
From the moment we brought her home, she fit into our family perfectly, as though she was always meant to be with us. She had a calm, easygoing nature and was happy doing anything, as long as she was by our side—whether it was a walk, a hike, watching TV, or just napping. She always went with the flow.
Lily was incredibly smart, too. In her later years, she decided that carrying groceries was her special job, and she even made it onto CTV Vancouver Island News for her talents. She was truly one of a kind.
She had the best life and was loved beyond measure. Her absence will be felt deeply in so many little ways, like looking up to see her in the kitchen hoping for a treat, finding her at our feet while watching tv, or being greeted at the door by her happy wiggle and favorite toy.
Her memory will be everywhere, and the boundless joy and love she gave us will forever live in our hearts. We’ll miss her immensely and grieve her loss for a long time.
But we take comfort in knowing she is running free now, playing with all the dogs that came before her, chasing tennis balls, and bounding through endless ocean waves. (And eating all the pup cups she could ever hope for!)
Rest easy, sweet Lily. 

Tango
Writing this means he’s crossed over the Rainbow Bridge and it’s still hard to believe that he is gone. Tango is such a huge part on my son and my lives. He has grown up with my son. He was the first cat my son adopted to bring home and become part of our family. He was pure affection and love. I don’t even have the words for how much we miss you.
Millie
Millie is my soul dog, and although she is not physically with me, I feel she will always be here because there isn’t a part of my heart she hasn’t filled.
Millie has spent her whole life, from puppyhood to her senior years, by my side. She has witnessed the majority of my 20s and 30s.
Through life’s ups and downs, breakups and heartaches, Millie brought comfort and licked away any of my hurt.
Like an invisible leash attaching her to me, or maybe it was me to her. Anywhere I went, there was Millie.
She has lived abroad in Norway, spent months living out of a van, as we took a road trip through the States.
She was a social dog, quick to roll over for strangers. She was active too, no walk too long, no dog too big to play with.
Millie loved all things young, from children to puppies and even kittens.
Unlike most dachshunds, she was never food-driven. Her bowl remained full until I sat down to eat.
Millie is a beloved member of the family and was there for all holidays and big life events. She was there when my nieces were born and saw them become teenagers in high school. She shared a special bond with her grandmother, the only person Millie would be ok to spend the night with other than me.
There are no words to describe how deeply loved Millie is and how grateful I am to her.
She leaves behind only sweet or funny memories.
Jeffery
Jeffery was a sweet, kind, gentle incredibly smart little bundle of energy as a pup, always wanting to please anyone and everyone right to the very end. He loved people and loved them even more if they had a pat on the head or a treat. He is very missed by his human family and many friends.
Jesse
He was a gentle spirit with a kind soul, the sort of presence that softened the world just by being in it.
Suzy
Remembering a faithful friend who brought comfort, warmth, and love to all.
Oscar
We are heartbroken to lose our sweet Oscar, just a few months before his 13th birthday, who grew up with our kids, and spent the first 5 years of his life as the DOG (Director of Greetings) at my newly opened office. He leaves a huge hole in our hearts – as a good friend said, with great love comes big loss.
Oscar was a funny guy who gave serious side eye, loved to cuddle up watching tv, for naps, and at night, and loved a good car ride as well as the occasional ice cream cone.
We are glad he is at peace, and want to thank Resting Paws for their knowledge, care and compassion in his last week. He passed away peacefully in front of his fireplace after thoroughly enjoying 3 cheeseburgers, some fries and a Reese peanut butter cup. We hope you’re enjoying a cheeseburger for every meal on the other side, Oscarpants.
We miss you and will always love and remember you – Sarah, Trevor, Ethan, Nicole and Taylor. xo
Hugo
Hugo was an amazing dog that had empathy for everyone, and would curl up when you were feeling blue. His eyes were so kind, and offered a level of understanding that can’t be explained by words. He was an amazing dog, companion, and friend. He will be greatly missed by everyone that knew him.
Rex
Rex was an adventurer – he loved to hike, swim in the ocean, find big sticks, and take long road trips. He has travelled the height and breadth of North America, experiencing some of the most beautiful sights that exist.
Rex was a lover – he defended those who could not protect themselves, showed nothing but sweetness and kindness to everyone he met, and comforted those in distress.
Rex was the gentlest soul – he showed patience and brought peace and steadiness into a world that often lacks those things.
He was my Best Friend, my Copilot, and my rock.
He was loved. He is loved. Forever.
Maggie
Our beautiful Maggie was with us for 12 wonderful years. We adopted her as a three-year-old who had been dumped on a gulf island. She was rescued by RestQ Sanctuary after she was found begging for food for three days, at a house near the ferry terminal. No one on the island knew her, so she was sent to the SPCA on a larger island to try to find a home. They described her as such a nice cat – despite what she had been through – who deserved a home. Maggie chose me, when she saw me walk into that SPCA. It was one of the luckiest days of my life, as this beautiful little kitty displayed such a sweet, loving personality and resilience to the end of her days. Hissing or scratching at people was just never in her playbook.
For the first ten years that Maggie was with us, we lived on a large lakeside property on that gulf island. Maggie was queen of all she surveyed, both inside and out. She enjoyed her canine sister, Lucy, and together they had many adventures on the property. Maggie always tried to cuddle with the dog, but only succeeded in surreptitious touches when Lucy was asleep.
Both pets adapted well two years ago when we made the move to a more urban environment. Maggie became an inside cat and found many comfortable spots that she really enjoyed. Nothing better than a lap, from where unlimited head scritches could be had. After we lost Lucy a year ago, Maggie mourned along with us and really took charge of looking after us. Always chatty, sociable and affectionate, she took those personality traits to a new level. She provided so much love and comfort, and definitely knew when it was needed.
Maggie is missed beyond measure, and her unforgettable spirit will be with us always. Love you always, Mags 💕🐾
Neo
Your paw prints will stay on our hearts forever.
Marlo
During Marlo’s 9 years she brought such immense joy into our lives. She embodied her happiness with the classic boxer jellybean dance. Marlo was our first baby, which meant she got a couple years of dog focused adventures, but then she loved even more when the kids came along. She napped with our babies, played dress up with toddlers and then walked kids to and from school. She loved us all unwaveringly.
We will never feel like we had enough time with her. We learnt of her cancer two months before her passing. Being able to say goodbye in peace and at home was a gift we are so grateful to the Resting Paws team for. We keep Marlo close in our hearts.
Oliver
Oliver was a wild one – he loved hunting, exploring on our walks, and napping in the dirt… all while demanding that his heating pad be on at all times. I’m incredibly grateful that we found each other and shared 12 amazing years together. I will always carry him in my heart. Grief is just unexpressed love.
Dr. Nicola and Heather were amazing, and I’m incredibly grateful they were there during one of the hardest moments of my life. I don’t know how else to say it, but they’re absolute pros at what they do. Thank you.
Carter
My sweet, beautiful Carter, thank you for sharing your life with us and being a perfect fit to our family.
We feel so grateful and blessed to have been a part of your journey, filling our hearts with love and laughter.
You gave us strength during challenging times offering us so much joy with your loving energy.
Love you forever 💕
Loretta and Lauren
Thank you Dr Vanessa and Heather for being the angels that came to give Carter the most peaceful and beautiful end of life experience.
Talia
Talia was very sweet and gentle. I was very lucky to have her, even if it was only for the last three years of her life.
Rufus
I want to thank you Vanessa and your team for what was a truly transformational experience with Rufus Tuesday. He was so calm and his passing so peaceful. We all felt extremely supported and this made what could have been one of the worst days for us, a day we can remember as compassionate and comforting.
The candle and poem are sitting with photos of him and his collar tags on a remembrance alter. This has also made these last few days more meaningful.
Thank you again for your truly incredible hospice service. It was more than we could have hoped for.
Dexter
It is with the saddest hearts that we said goodbye to sweet Dexter. He was just shy of 17 years old and lived an amazingly full and wonderful life. With his unbelievably calm and cautious demeanor he openly welcomed our growing family over the years. He napped with brand new babies, patrolled high chairs for years waiting for castoffs, wore silly birthday hats, shared his dog beds with babies, toddlers, and teens, went camping, attended hockey tournaments all over the province, and loved his family with all his heart. He was always a lazy dog who preferred to lounge in the yard under a shady tree and would frequently quit on long hikes and simply lay down or start heading to the car, whether we were done or not. As we reflect back on the past 17 years, we see how much we’ve been through with our amazing boy by our sides. He will be missed more than words can convey. He brought us lifetimes worth of joy and showed us what unconditional love truly looks like. Till we meet again, we will miss him every day.
Anakin
Anakin was the best little kitty anyone could ever ask for. Anakin loved riding on his mom’s shoulders no matter what she was doing, or napping with his dad no matter what time of day it was. He loved kisses, cuddles, and cantaloupe. Anakin could make anything into a bed but his favourite was his banana bed. He made everyone happy. He was such a good boy. We love you so much Anakin. You will be greatly missed by your family and daycare kids. Forever in our hearts.
Sophie
To Dr. Vanessa, Zoe, and the entire Resting Paws team:
Thank you for the kindness and compassion on Sophie’s last day.
Here is a picture of Sophie at Elk Lake. Sophie loved walks, playing with other dogs and treats. She was a wonderful dog and we miss her so much.
Torino
My little darling, sweet pea – Reno.
You taught me so much during our short time together, including patience, slowing down, and seeing all the beauty in going slow—the little things that normally get missed at a faster pace.
You came into my life when I needed this lesson. You needed me, too, and that meant so much to me, so much more than I could have ever known when we first met. Being your guardian was an honor and brought me so much joy.
You were silly, sweet, and spicy! And oh – so brave. You had a true heart of gold – unafraid of stepping forward even when it was hard. Your confidence and unrelenting forgiveness of human weakness meant you were able to open your heart when you joined our family.
Dear Torino, thank you for your sweetness, you captured my heart so completely and in the days after you left us life feels dull and lacking. But I have hope, I know you are at peace now, and your strength and resilience give me comfort now as we face a future without your bright soul in our home. Time will go on but you will always remain in my heart, and I will be forever grateful for the time we had together. Rest in peace my little darling.
Love always – mama.
Lucy
“We now have Lucy-sized (read: very big!) holes in our hearts that will take some time to fill. She was absolutely adored and left paw prints on many of our souls. Lucy will be remembered by her impressive range of baritone vocal cords, affectionate purrs, and take no 💩 (from her German Shepherd sissy) attitude. Lucy defied many medical odds over the years and showed remarkable resilience while enjoying an abundant life! We’re sure she’s devouring an endless feast of lickable treats up above now that the pain has passed.
Lucy will be forever cherished via the thousands of photos we have on our phones, and of course the countless memories from our 13 years with her. Can’t believe we won’t be opening the patio door for you anymore. May you rest in peace, Little Lu. We love you so much.”
































