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Today i'd like to do a tribute to Baaluu.  This is for my husband Bobby (who could never do this) as well as for myself to give tribute to our "special kid".  Baaluu was yet another "Gift from God" in more ways than one (which is the inscription at his grave).  He was my husband, Bobby's dog first (& he still grieves so badly after 3-4 years).  Baaluu was born just after my deaf brother who raised me (Micky) had passed on from cancer. 
 
Bobby raised him from a baby & he responded to his sign language very well; he was so smart!  As well as beautiful, noble, strong & very gentle.  They loved each other so much!
 
Bobby's step mom had said since he was "defective" (deaf) he should be put to sleep which, as you can imagine, outraged us tremendously!   Just like my brother, BaaLuu was missing one of his senses; but not his "sense". 
 
When Bobby & i got together & he told me about his deafness & i instinctively leaned into his neck & spoke to him letting him feel the vibration of my voice (i remembered when i was very young putting speakers to a hardwood floor so my brother could "feel" the vibrations to learn to dance & what a difference that had made in his life) & Baaluu became soooo joyous!  He pranced & danced & hugged me!   
 
People who read this might think me strange, but the time i shared with Baaluu, i felt like i had my brother back in some way for awhile.  Baaluu was so relieved to have someone who spoke into his skin & instinctively seemed to understand him; he was always so happy with me & it was so symbiotic (sp?) & special.
 
We bonded so instantly that Bobby actually became jealous!   When we would come home from work, Baaluu would run to me & howl & talk to me ("You've been gone too long!") before he would Bobby who'd say - "You've stolen my dog!"....(& my Goof was so good about it all, just like he understood completely as always!....he totally accepted BaaLuu)!
 
[....unlike Bobby's other kid, Mushh - it took a very long time to integrate Mushh with Goof - Goof would not allow him anywhere on his turf & we had serious doubts that he ever would (it took many months!) - i even told Bobby @ one point that this wasn't going to work out because this was Goof's house & he'd been here a long time & he was not ever going to accept Mushh)....they finally worked things out]
 
But it was never an issue with Baaluu; he was always accepted as he was - a very special soul. 
 
When we'd sit down to relax after work & on weekends on the couch, BaaLuu would jump up & wrap himself around me literally; his body around my back & all paws in my lap (except @ night - Goof still slept cuddled up next to me - that's one thing he would not ever give up!). 
 
Even to this day, 3 years later, i still miss that cuddling with Baaluu.   We still cry for him.  We even saw his image in a photo we took of a rainbow; it looked like he was stepping right out of a cloud!   I saw his form immediately when Bobby showed me the photo, even down to the black nose!  Then i showed Bobby what i was crying about & he cried too. 
 
One thing about BaaLuu that i wished (at the time) the other kids would do, is he would not potty in his yard; he always went outside the fence line to do his "business" (we have 1-1/4 acres here in Dolan & we only fenced 1/2 of it in @ the time).  Renters next door would zoom into their yard without looking.  Baaluu never heard them coming of course.  (Needless to say, we now have the entire 1-1/4 acres fenced & we're grateful all the kids are inside even if they do their "business" too close to the house.)
 
He came into the house & stumbled.  When we looked into his beautiful blue eyes, there was blood behind them.  We called the vet 30 miles away & described his symptoms.  They told us since there was also blood in his drool, that the 30 mile trip would be hard on him without much chance of saving him, so we held him in our laps & cried as he made his passing.  He stubbornly fought to stay with Bobby & me through all the pain he must have felt, because he was so loyal & his heart felt our reluctance to let go & that's the kind of being he was - totally loyal & special & giving.
 
Baaluu - you will always, in all ways, have a special place in our hearts & souls & we will always in ALL ways miss YOU!
 
Note to Nicole:  We gratefully still have "Bony", "Mushh" & "Shette" (short for "Mushhette" - but Bobby's dad calls her "Moreshit" & Bobby & his friend affectionately call her "LB" for "Little Bitch" because she has attitude). 
 
In addition, about a month after Goof's passing, a friend brought an abused shepherd to us (he had broken legs from the kids @ his house throwing rocks @ him, he was totally emaciated <literally every bone in his body was sticking out!> with huge tapeworms, no shots, etc.)
 
- The last thing i wanted so close to Goof's passing was another dog, but i couldn't say no to this poor little sweet guy.  He now has all of his shots, fixed (like all our kids now), has doubled his size, is a very healthy bouncing playful happy kid & more than a handful!  Bobby named him "Charlie" after the shepherd in "All Dogs Go to Heaven"
 
.....with all of this as a blessing - we still miss Goof & Baaluu & always will.  They were both so unique & special that there is a huge emptiness where they were in our lives. 
 
But, i will always be grateful for the privilege of sharing the time with them that God allowed us.  I truly feel remiss & compassion for those people who never have an opportunity to experience such unconditional love & devotion!   How fortunate for us that we have!

Merry Christmas Baby,
All the rats have jingle bell collars. Yours is still in the closet. You were so proud when you'd go outside dancing around with yours on. I miss you more now and am sadder now than I was last June. I wish weiner dog kisses could make everything better. Bob wishes they would, too. He never was a "big dog" person, but he said you were the nicest big dog he had ever had the pleasure to be around. And he got to be your dad.

Did I tell you how much I miss you?

I am overcome with grief everytime I think of your gorgeous face...of your painful effort to get up and come stand next to me while I worked on the computer or watched tv. You would nuzzle me with your lips ever, ever, EVER so gently. It was a whisper of a touch. A giant of a dog reaching his head and touching me so lightly that only the little hairs on his chin and lips actually touching me. I miss you, Baby, so much....

Baby...I looked at a deaf puppy today. They think he's deaf. I know you would approve. He wouldnt have to listen to weiner dogs!

Grieve not,
nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk of me
as if I were beside you...
I loved you so --
'twas Heaven here with you.

I remember the day Baby came home, the first day. He was so shockingly
big, he could reach almost anything on the counter-- but he wouldn't dare.
Oh Baby, I'll never forget your giant gentle face, and how you would never
hurt a fly. You used to sleep with me in my queen sized bed and take up 75%
of it and I'd contort my body around yours just so wouldn't leave. There
will never be another dog like you, I'm going to miss you so much. I never
thought that the day would come where you'd be gone and tomorrow you're not
going to be here to stare at me with your huge gentle brown eyes. I
remember your most favorite toy in the entire world used to be my favorite
stuffed animal, the huge elephant I had named "Ele" You used to race
around the front and back yard like there was no tomorrow and you thought
no one could catch you. What I'm going to miss most now is taking you on
those long long walks when all I needed to do was think, because you were
always there for me. Baby I love you so much and I miss you already.

8 years

1997 - June 2, 2005

November 18, 2003
My beautiful Baby is going into kidney failure. If you can say a prayer for him, we would both appreciate it more than anything.

They are so fragile. They entrust us with their lives. We are in charge of their health, safety, and well-being. Baby is so precious to me. I hope that we can overcome this for a long time.

December 04, 2003
Baby had seemed to be doing so well. The vet put him on Prescription Diet K/D (Kidney Diet) and he has seemed better. I guess I was trying to ignore all the little signs. His breath is changing. He is losing weight. I didnt even really notice until Bob mentioned it yesterday. He has a big fatty tumor (benign) on his side and I was worried about how fast it was growing. How naive am I? It wasnt growing. He is just losing weight. The vet had told me we werent in trouble until he started losing weight. His water intake actually decreased but then increased drastically again last week. And then yesterday he had a huge pee accident for no reason. He was only inm the house for four hours. And it had that strange smell. I am scared to death to take him to the vet today. I am so afraid of what the blood work it going to tell me. I was up all night crying. Even if the news isnt as dire as I feel it's going to be, I know that my beautiful, gentle Baby is not going to be with me very much longer.

December 23, 2003
I took Baby for a second opinion. I just didnt feel my vet was doing enough. He was so certain that the beginnings of kidney and liver failure were Baby's fate, that he seemed to have a sort of tunnel vision. My husband's vet (where all the weiner dogs go...we have five...a lonnnnng story...hehehehe) did lots of testing. His diagnosis...TENTATIVELY...was a mild bladder infection. The bacteria were very hard to find in Baby's urine because it was so diluted. He drinks gallons of water. But Dr Eich found ONE or TWO rod shaped bacteria in the urine. We are now treating him with antibiotics....weaning him off the K/D diet and then will blood test halfway through that transition. I was so happy on Dec 23rd that I was in tears leaving the vet's office. I am always leaving the vet's in tears..but never out of happiness! I just hope this is for real. I really liked my other vet. He really seemed to know his stuff. I was worried about hurting his feeling or stepping on his toes...but then decided this wasnt about him! Please keep on praying for Baby.

January 3, 2004
Baby is 100% off the Prescription K/D Diet food. He has finished his antibiotics. No more peeing. He seems perfectly healthy. The last step in this process will be a final blood test after he has been off the K/D for awhile just to see how his kidney and liver readings are. I dont quite know what to say to vet #1. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and Baby through this. I will still check back in...Baby is no spring chicken!

June 3, 2004
Quick update on Baby. Boy, is he getting grey! Baby is on medication to help with some night time incontinence. I wash his bedding every couple of nights. I can handle that! Baby also has a very large lump on his side. Testing has shown that it is benign. Good ol' Baby keeps hanging in there : )

September 22, 2004
I had a full blood work-up done on Baby last month. I was afraid to see the results, but was pleasantly surprised that his numbers were only slightly down. His appetite is great and he seems happy and healthy. Unfortunately, his bed-wetting at night has gotten worse. I do loads of laundry every day. Poor Baby. But, until he shows signs of distress...or...until he starts losing control of his bladder altogether, I will do what it takes to keep Baby with me.

February 2005
Time for blood-work. Baby's breath is getting stong. He gets me up at least once, sometimes twice a night to go outside. I think his body had conditioned him to wake up when he starts leaking really bad. I dont do nearly as much bedding laundry as I used to.
The blood-work was as we expected. He is getting worse. Not as bad as I thought, but slowly getting worse. The vet said he still has good muscle-tone and asked if he was eating well. Yes. That's a good sign. He suggested the Prescription KD-Diet. No way. Baby hates that food. I am not going to have his last few months be served food that he hates. Food is one of his great pleasures in life. I'm not going to take that away from him.
Baby still drinks copious amounts of water. As a matter of fact, we almost always have to yell at him to get out of the water or he will stand there and drink for five minutes or more (seriously!) We have a five gallon self-waterer and when we hear the water "Glug" (it can be heard throughout the house) we yell, "BABY....GET OUT OF THE WATER...BABY!!....BABY!!!" It usually takes two or three yells before we hear toenails moving.

March 2005
Last month the vet had said that he had seen dogs last for years in Baby's state. Here it is a month later and Baby is going downhill. His appetite is decreasing. That was the one huge red flag that I was to watch out for. I am going to try finding a new canned food to tempt his appetite. Maybe he is bored with his food... but I know better. He doesnt dance around impatiently when I am making meals the way he used to. He is over laying on his bed : (

April 6 2005
Baby broke two toes today. I am very distraught. The vet really didnt do anything except give him Rimadyl. If he was going to X-ray to find broken bones and then do NOTHING ANYWAY...why X-ray? Baby has lost six pounds. He's down to 142. He used to eat six cups of food every day. He now eats four cups of food every other day. The one thing he loved...food...is no longer something he loves. And he is in great pain with his foot. And he cant come upstairs and sleep by me at night. I am very distraught about Baby.

June 1, 2005
Today is devastating. Let me back up a bit. Baby's broken toes healed ok. I also found that raw hamburger helped Baby's appetite and he was actually getting two square meals a day (smaller than usual, but eating regularly.) He actually had a little sparkle back in his eye. He was begging for treats and greeting us at the door. I thought he was getting better! I guess deep down I knew that really was possible. In mid-May the hamburger wasnt doing the trick anymore AND he did something to his other back leg. Bob thinks his bones are getting brittle.
Back to today. Baby is no longer enjoying life. His leg is very painful. And I always said that I will not watch Baby waste away to a skeleton just to have him around for my benefit. He has so much sadness in his eyes. He will heave himself up and come over and ever-so-gently touch my arm to tell me that he needs me. I have to wonder how great the pain is at those times. Today I am going to the vet to look at an urns catalog. I have a hard time thinking about it. Tomorrow my beautiful Baby will be a memory.

June 2, 2005

early AM - I didnt sleep at all. I got up and went to Walgreens at 5:30 AM to pick up some really strong medication for my migraines because I knew all the stress and crying was already starting to bring on a whopper of a migraine. I certainly will know the "trigger" for this one. I stopped at Starbucks but couldnt go in because I'd been crying. My stomach was too knotted up for even coffee. Last night I cooked him some hamburger and Ashley brought him a double cheese-burger. I only gave him half of the burger (It was big!) I didnt want the poor guy to have diarrhea all night. I went online and found that song from the final episode from ER when Mark Green died in Hawaii. I never in a million years realized how perfect the song really would be. I am going to burn it to a cd and take it to the vet's office with us. It's called, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". I didnt know that. I just liked the song. I had a really nice, soothing tone for this sad morning. It's by a Hawaiian singer. Baby will be somewhere over the rainbow.

mid AM - It was an absolutely perfect day. Baby, Ashley and I went out in the yard and just walked around. Baby got to 'hold up' some bushes and I got some great photos. He has always done this bizarre thing where he'll wedge himself into a bush and then kind of hold his head up like an elephant and just stand there. Maybe it's a camoflage thing. He even does it with low trees. We have always laughed at him. Ashley and I each took turns taking pictures with him. I could tell he was getting tired of that. In the house we go. I start rooting through the fridge. I cooked him a hotdge. I opened a big bag of ham and he really liked that, so I gave him lots of that! Then I started getting the back of my truck ready to put Baby in. A blanket and then his soft bed on that and then his down blanket on top of that. I put his teddy next to it. At 11:08 I told Ashley that we had to go. We all teared up. I got Baby's two collars and put them on him (I figured he'd never be wearing them again.) The four dachshunds were beside themselves that they didnt get to go. Baby NEVER goes anywhere. They all spit their cookies out in protest (except Holly and Linus) Nick helped us load him in the back of my Durango. We very gently laid him on his bed and he looked very stately laying there.

trip to the vet - Baby was actually looking out the window as we drove! Usually he slept. I couldnt decide about the Arby's. I finally reasoned that if Baby had a say in it, he might choose Arby's! If nothing else, he was enjoying the drive. I ordered a roast beef. $2.49. I pulled out and told Ashley that I didnt want to give it to him in the vet's parking lot. He'll know that place and he might be nervous there. I pulled over, walked back to the tailgate and opened it, opened the roast beef sandwich (Baby doesnt always like bread or buns)...and he turned away his big head. I set it down in front of him. He looked at me. I picked it up, wrapped it up, put it in the bag with tears in my eyes and got back in the truck. Ashley had tears in here eyes too. Neither of us said anything for the rest of the trip to the vet.

vet's office - Ashley and I each grabbed an end and gently set him on the ground. I didnt want him trying to jump out onto that bad leg. I walked him over to the grass and let him tinkle. We walked into the waiting room and both of us teared up. No one was in there. Every move we made was a step closer to Baby being gone. The receptionist said, "You can bring Baby on back to a room."

As we stood in the room, the door opened and someone gave us a Kleenex box. I then turned on my little iPod stereo to the "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by IZ. Baby was nervous we all were. I spread his down blanket on the floor and coaxed him to lay on it. He settled down carefully, painfully onto it. I put his teddy bear next to his cheek and sat down next to him. He gave me a little kiss. Baby doesnt kiss much these days...and to get one at the vet made me feel really good. Ashley sat down on the other side of him. I could hear the dreaded sound on the other side of the door...the rustling of the folder. Dr Dritley came in. I dont remember what he said. I do remember him wanting to take Baby out to put some kind of catheter or something in his leg and bring him back. I just looked at him. Baby was all settled. "Cant you do it in here?" "Yeah...I'll get what I need." He came back with an electric shaver and shaved a patch on Baby's front, right leg. He looked at it really closely and said that it should be ok. I think he was looking for a good vein. He had a giant syringe filled with pink liquid. I had both of my arms around Baby's neck. He said, "Start talking to him...say some nice things." We both told Baby how much we loved him and what a good boy he was and how beautiful he was and that he wouldnt have any more pain. His head started to get heavy and he caught his breath. It took all of about 10 - 15 seconds. Dr Dritley said, "Let me go grab a stethoscope and check for a heartbeat." and he left the room. Ashley and I continued to talk to Baby and to pet him and kiss him. Dr Dritley came back in and checked both sides of his chest and under his armpits. He quietly said, "He's gone." He sat there with us for a couple of minutes while we pet Baby and I asked him a couple of questions about Baby's disease. Then we got up to go. I stood at the door and didnt want to leave. This was the last time I would ever see my beautiful Baby. And now it was my turn to be the sad, crying dog-mom with the empty leash and collar leaving the vet's office.

I loss my black lab Sunday the 15th 2007 her name was BABYGIRL so sweet she was 14 years old and was very much loved. I called her mommies girl because she was just that.
I'm going to miss her very much but she will alawys be in my heart.
                                                                                   Thank you Vickie Bendixen

with love from Mom and Dad

with love from Her Mommy

with love from Allison Moore

with love from Angie

with love from Mommy & Daddy

HE WAS OUR BABY AND CLOSE FRIEND.
 
3/ 9/ 04   HE RAN FOR THE FIELDS
 
 CAN'T WAIT TO PLAY WITH HIM
 
WE MISS HIM SO MUCH
 
 HE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
 
PATTI AND TOM
"MOMMY AND DADDY"

with love from Mum, Dad, & Vanessa

with love from 
"your favorite companion :)" Tamera

with love from Elaine

To My Loving Baya,

You are my special kitty. You came into my life and give my so much love. I just wonder why you were taken away from this world so suddenly. I feel you all around me. I will miss you waking me up every morning time for your yummies, I will miss your beautiful eyes. My little "beamer of love" I will cherish you always! Love, Mommy

Oh, dear friend, I will miss you so.  Faithful companion,
soulmate.
I'll miss your golden eyed stare; I will miss your sitting on my
lap during the sleepless nights; I will miss your purr; I will
miss your antics and I will miss your presence.  You were the
pet I was waiting for all of my life and it hurts to go on
without you.  I would not wish you back at the end since there
was so much pain and now you are free of it.  Somewhere,
somehow, you are at peace and happy.  I know that you are
waiting for me.  It may be awhile but we will be together
again.  Until then fairwell until next we meet.

January 29, 2007
The Bear. Such patience on your mommy's part to attend to all of your medical needs. Patience is love. And now a recent stroke has left you completely blind. She makes you take your short walk every day...even though it is only to the end of the driveway. I'll bet that is the highlight of your day : )   And she took you to have your picture taken with Santa. Crippled and blind, she wanted her Bear to get out of the house and do something that us silly humans treasure...sitting with Santa Clause. I hope and pray that Bear handles the severe cold and can enjoy a beautiful, warm Spring. She is a lucky dog to have the mommy that she does.
(Lou...can you scan and send The Bear's Santa pic?)

THE "MAC" BLESSING

A blessing came to us with 4 legs and a tail Giving love and kisses from the heart without fail Her heart was kind and always forgiving Of people who forgot that life is for living

Her eyes would sparkle and the excitement would flow Just knowing that her love she'd be able to show, How much she appreciated what ever the case Especially if it was given with a hug, kiss, or pat on the face

A face that would melt your heart at just one glance We all feel blessed to have had the chance To have had her in our lives if but just for a short while She gave us love, laughter and hearts full of smiles

This is our "Bear", "Pebbles" to some A Godsend to all and the new that will come For her memory will forever live in the hearts that she loved She is a blessing, a gift sent from above.

Bear was a company dog and was needlessly destroyed at the direction of the owner. All of the staff that cared for her and loved her were told she had gotten out of the yard and was lost. We searched months for her until the truth was revealed. All our Bear ever wanted was a loving hand to pet her and a kind voice to call her and a warm place to lay her head. We now wish for her a place at Rainbow Bridge where she can play in the grass and be safe and warm. All of us that loved her will carry her in our hearts forever! Until we meet again at Rainbow Bridge our sweet girl.

You are such a funny girl - Love Jeanne Love Forever and Always - Penny Be Happy - Annette We'll always miss you - Dennise I Love You - you're in my heart - Joyce You're in our hearts forever - Carol B & Carol

To my hairy son - you are now in a place where you can dig and chew all you want, pee on any tree during your walks, eat people food all the time, bark anytime you want, run and play again, have endless rubdowns. There's no thunder to scare you, no nail clipping, no baths, no bristle brushes, no vet visits, no arthritis, no cancer. The only thing missing is us, and you will be in our hearts forever. You were the best dog and we hope you know how much we miss you and how much we loved you. You were truly a part of this family, and we will never be the same without you. Mom

My Dearest Beau, It is almost Christmas and I can't believe it has been 2 months since you went away. I talk to you and visit you all the time, but it is not the same. If I could only have you here for the holidays I would be so happy, but I know in my heart that you are in a better place. I was thinking about getting a new baby and I wondered if you would be upset with me. I don't want you to think that I am trying to replace you because there will never be another Beau. I miss you so much and you