Memories

This Page is dedicated to the ones that will always be in our hearts, and we shall never forget.

What'sNew

Vote for our Site
In the
Top Golden Retriever Sites

CurrentNews

RecentEvents

We Will Never Forget!!!!!!

This text will be replaced by the flash music player.

The Journey
When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a
journey. A journey that will bring you more love and
devotion than you have ever known, yet will also test
your strength and courage. If you allow, the journey
will teach you many things, about life, about yourself,
and most of all, about love. You will come away changed
forever, for one soul cannot touch another without
leaving its mark.

Along the way, you will learn much about savoring
life's simple pleasures -- jumping in leaves, snoozing
in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the
satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears. If
you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to
truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf, or
log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be
overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled,
pondered, and noted as being full of valuable
information.

Your pace may be slower, except when heading home to
the food dish, but you will become a better naturalist,
having been taught by an expert in the
field. Too many times we hike on automatic pilot,
our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy
the journey. We miss the details: the colorful
mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the
old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig.

Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole
new world. We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick
over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all
around. And we learn what any dog knows that nature has
created a marvelously complex world that is full of
surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring
ever changing wonders, each day an essence all its own.

Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned
to the world around you. You will find yourself
watching: summer insects collecting on a screen;
how bizarre they are; how many kinds there are or
noting the flick and flash of fireflies through the
dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance
of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It
does not matter that there is no objective in this; the
point is in the doing, in not letting life's most
important details slip by.

You will find yourself doing silly things that your
pet-less friends might not understand: spending thirty
minutes in the grocery aisle looking for the cat food
brand your feline must have, buying dog birthday
treats, or driving around the block an extra time
because your pet enjoys the ride. You will roll in the
snow, wrestle with chewy toys, bounce little rubber
balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the
house trailing your bathrobe tie with a cat in hot
pursuit, all in the name of love.

Your house will become muddier and hairier. You
will wear less dark clothing and buy more lint rollers.
You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and
feel the need to explain that an old plastic shopping
bag dorns your living room rug because your cat loves
the crinkly sound. You will learn the true measure of
love. The steadfast, undying kind that says, "It
doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how life
treats us as long as we are together."

Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any
living soul can give another. You will not find it
often among the human race. And you will learn
humility. The look in my dog's eyes often made me
feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw
not some flawed human who could be cross and
stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful
companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed
them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and
so chose to love me anyway.

If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey
is done, you will be not just a better person, but the
person your pet always knew you to be. The one they
were proud to call beloved friend.

I must caution you that this journey is not without
pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of
loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your
dear animal companion will follow a trail you cannot
yet go down. And you will have to find the strength and
love to let them go.

A pet's time on earth is far too short, especially
for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just
for a while, and during these brief years they are
generous enough to give us all their love, every inch
of their spirit and heart, until one day there is
nothing left. The cat that only yesterday was a kitten
is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun.
The young pup of boundless energy now wakes up stiff
and lame, the muzzle gone to gray.

Deep down we somehow always knew that this journey
would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they
would be broken. But give them we must for it is all
they ask in return. When the time comes, and the
road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one
final gift and let them run on ahead, young and
whole once more. "God speed, good friend," we say,
until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross
again.

~unknown~

Click on he pictures in enlarge

Bungalow Bill (George)

Left us on May 1 1993

Age 6 years

My first love with the Golden Retriever, as you can tell he made a big impact in my life...One of the loves of my life

Shedatear for Edith

Left us Jan 12 2001

Age 3 years

Edith you were the basset that never ever ran out of things to say, you would talk to me in a way that I would know exactly what you were saying....and yes..... I love you too...miss you my love.

Puppy(Itty Bitty)

Left us on Aug 12 1998

Age 3 Weeks

Peg'O My Heart (Peggy)

Jan 24 1996 - April 24 2004

Age 8 years

Sire - Chrys-Haefen Clancy's Hope

Dam- Tomiskaway's Flying High Jill

PEG O MY HEART……Peggy. Over the years, you have absolutely left us stunned, and in stark naked amazement, of what a superior animal you are that god has created. PEG O MY HEART……Peggy what you are to us and mean to us…can not properly be put in to words.

We owe you so much, you have meant so much to us. We will miss you dearly, and your “pack” will miss you more. You were truly an amazing leader, each and every member of the “pack” looked to you for guidance and respected your presence. Every time there was a “spat” between two dogs, you were there to break them up. Your quiet confidence was amazing, and the other dogs sensed it, as you would approach the scene they would almost automatically stop their little tiff. And the only thing you would do was provide you presence, and sometimes stand in between them. Never once getting aggressive yourself.

While out for our walks with the ten dogs, if several got too far away, or a little out of line all we had to say is Peggy go get them and back they would come.

A more attentive animal I have never seen as well. No matter where you were, all we needed to say is, “Peggy” and within seconds you would come bounding towards us in you smooth, powerful, and graceful gait. You were such an incredible athlete Peggy, running and jumping effortlessly. And did you love to run! In the house, a more controlled and quiet animal you could never find, but open the door and you would be transformed into the athlete you are.

In the house you provided us with comfort, and a sense of security we no longer have. While a more gentle and subdued dog you will never find, if a stranger came to the door they had better not be behaving aggressively or indifferent. We slept better because of you Peggy, thank you.

Peggy, it was sad to see what the demon cancer was doing to you. How it slowly took control of you, taking that wonderful athletic body away from you, while your brain still wanted you to “go” like you knew you could. But we will never forget the Peggy we knew and loved.

The strength and spirit you showed was with you to the very end. Although you had not come for walks with us and your pack for several weeks, on your last day of life you said yes I am coming for a walk and a swim…I knew it was your last swim.

Peggy….PEG O MY HEART… thank you doggy…and run doggie run!

Stella By Starlight (Stella)

April 09, 1993 - Aug 02, 2005

12 Years Old

Stella (Boo Boo Bear), you have gone to meet you old buddy Peggy. Buried as you were in life, side by side. I know the two of you are running and playing now just like you used to.

There are no thunderstorms now Boo Boo, you hated them so. Also as you guard your space and run after the neighbours dogs, now you might be able to catch them. Heh Heh, I always suspected you could have caught them any way but you always were a bit of a “fraidy dog”. You were a terrifying “red neck” though if something was several hundred yards away.

Saying that, every dog, or puppy that came to our property always went straight to you Boo Boo and took to you immediately. You would play for hours with new puppies treating them as your own, and as the puppies grew they would run straight to you for some rough housing and playing. You were of course still a puppy at heart never losing the puppy face.

Boo Boo you were never late for dinner either, I know it was your favorite time of day. I have never seen a dog eat the things you would eat. The sourest pickles, peppers, fruits, veggies, it didn’t matter. If it hit the floor it was gone.

Boo Boo you had the best hearing of any dog we have seen as well. If something was on the property at night, you knew and let us know as well. It was a comfort to have you as our early warning system Boo Boo, Thank you.

You loved to come for runs with the kennels dogs, it was sad to see you come less and less and then not at all as the nerves in your legs started to fail. But even though you could only come out half way to the back field all the dogs would come and visit and play with you. Even towards the end when you could barely walk 10 feet when the other dogs came to see you we could see the joy in your face when they came and jumped on you even though you had to be in pain.

Maybe Boo Boo where you are now you will get another crack at that groundhog that beat you up. Remember Boo Boo, bite and duck, bite and duck! NOT, bite and then ask what did you think of that! If you do, it might be a good idea to bring Peggy as a back up though!!

I will never forget that seen, where you bit the groundhog and then stood there so proud, until it said oh ya, well look what I can do! Peggy took care of it though!

Stella you were a real sweetheart in the house, and a real friend to us and to all the other doggies.

We will all miss you very much Stella By Starlight!........We will love you forever.......

Wayward Wind (Eddy)

Nov. 2, 2000 - Jan. 22, 2007

Eddy you are on your way to a place where you can once again......

Run, Play, and not feel pain ever again.

You came to me at a time where I needed a friend and boy did you ever

turn in to that. You followed me everywhere and your tail never stopped wagging.

Right to the very end, in all the pain you where in you would still wag your tail, every time I

walked into the vets. I know how hard it must of been for you to lose the use of your

back legs like that, you loved to go on our walks and play and bark with all the other bassets.

Eddy its not the same when someone comes to the door now. You were always the

first one there to meet anyone who would give you a pat, you always made people feel welcome in our house

You loved people and you loved to play with all the puppies that were here and you even loved to play with other dogs that would come to visit....... you loved life.......

Go Eddy, go run, play and be pain free .....you deserve it....I love you and I really miss you!!!

You will always be our Eddy Betty.........Good Bye My Sweetheart...

Tomiskaways Penny's from Heaven (Penny)

Penny has retired and is now living with a lovely family and one furry friend.

Thank you Rhys and Peter for giving Penny the family life she deserves.

And always love her as much as I do!

Shedatear for Ethel

Oct 8, 1994 - May 1, 2009

Oh Ethel...Were do I begin. You have been such a big part of my life for so many years.

From the moment we brought you home you taught us that, YES bassets are stubborn. You taught us that if we didn't have a cookie in our hand that you really didn't think that you should sit. Over all those years you made us laugh and you made us get a little upset with you. Like the time when I walked into the dinning room and there you were sitting on the middle of the table in the middle of all the good dishes and silver eating the chocolate center piece. You were sure the main conversation that Easter.

As the years went on you slowed down a bit but you always wanted to be part of the gang. When we were out walking you always made me laugh when I would look back at you and you had the look of ...WHY ARE WE DOING THIS.... but you always came. You sure loved the kennel gang. And the kennel gang always new that you were the boss. When you spoke they always listened.

Even in your last hours you had to walk down and say bye to the kennel gang. We watched you come back up to the house and we knew you were feeling very well. My how quick our life has changed. I will never forget all the things we went through together and how you always were right there when I needed to smile.

It seems so strange now not to hear you walking around the house. I will always miss you. You were my first basset and how special you were to all of us. You have touched so many people over the years.

I know you are in a place now where you don't have to walk with your limp and you are playing with Stella, Peggy, Edith, and Eddy. I am sure you have told them already that you are still the boss.

I Love You Ethel...

Tomiskaways Maggie May ( Maggie)

The one with the big smiles!

Thank you Janice for giving Maggie the family life she deserves.

And always love her as much as I do!

GoldenAsset's Judge Judy (Judy)

Thank you Claudine for giving Judy the family life she deserves.

And always love her as much as I do!