Pepper
Pepper (formerly Olive) crossed the bridge sadly too soon. Rest in peace sweet girl and run free and happy. You will be greatly missed by your family and all who met you.

Mae
Sweet Mae who was almost 11 yrs. old went to the bridge in July, 2011 after a long bout of cancer. She came into rescue with her daughter Marilyn after they were both used for years for breeding. Rest in Peace sweet Mae. You will be missed greatly by all who loved you and by Marilyn.

Mia
Mia joined Mae and the others at the Rainbow Bridge this morning. I knew she was heading downhill fast, but had refused to let her go just yet. The lymphoma had invaded her bone marrow and for the past week, she has only been able to stand if assisted. We would hold her hind quarters up while she ate, drank and pottied. She spend 90% of the day sleeping. A few days ago she began to refuse her food. We began feeding her soft bits from the table and yogurt, which she always tasted, but never ate much of. Saturday she would only lick a tiny bit of yogurt off a spoon, but had absolutely no desire for any of her other favorites. Yesterday when I looked in her eyes, I just knew she was ready to go. I gave her a bath (of sorts) and she thanked me with lots of tail wags. This morning I was putting off calling the vet when Chris came into my study yelling. Mia was lifeless on the floor with old blood pooled around her head. We thought she would die before we could get her cleaned up again and to the vet, but she continued to hang on. We got her cleaned up, grabbed her favorite blanket and took off for the vet. We got to hold her for some time in the exam room before the vet came in and told us it was time to let her go. We knew this already, but I think it helped Chris and I both to hear the vet say it. It was especially confirming when Mia raised her tired little head, looked us in the eyes and wagged her tail for us one more time. "Mia's never stopped wagging her tail," Chris told the vet. "How is that possible when she is so sick?" "She's a cavalier," the vet responded. "That's what they do, they always wag their tails." What a sweet, sweet girl Mia was. It was a pleasure to care for such a loving, good natured, tail-wagging girl. I'll miss her.

Aileen
August 1, 1998 - February 19, 2011 Cavaliers are a special breed, and among them comes a certain dog who is more special than others. That was my Aileen. Rescued from a puppy mill, adopted to a family only to be returned to Lucky Star after two years, she ultimately found her way to my home at 9 1/2 years old. I promised her that she could relax, knowing that this would be her loving home until the end. We shared a special bond - she always by my side, and I always by hers. Aileen is the only dog to have the dubious honor of sleeping by my side in bed each night - we wouldn't have it any other way. She would make me laugh, plowing through the other dogs (like a bull in a china shop) to be the one on my lap. Yet, she had the patience of saint, patiently letting the younger dogs walk, crawl, and lie on top of her, knowing as a grandmother does, that eventually the 'grandkids' will have to go home. That is, until a wretched disease called Degenerative Myelopathy (Multiple Sclerosis in dogs) took hold of her little body. There is no treatment and no cure. As the disease progressed, beginning in her rear legs and traveling to her front, I tried in vain to keep her as comfortable as possible. I would carry her, ordered a wheelchair to help her stay mobile, massaged her extremities as they became atrophied, but I could see that she was becoming more uncomfortable, frustrated, and unhappy as time went on. I was fighting a losing battle. She looked older and older each day from the strain of still trying to drag herself to my side. Just as I had been told to expect, the disease traveled forward, paralyzing her vocal chords taking away her bark, and began to weaken her front legs. Her eyes no longer sparkled. Instead they seemed to plead for help. I could not let my Lady Aileen suffer any longer. I loved her so much. So I decided that my gift to her would be to allow her to travel across the Rainbow Bridge where she could spend eternity content and happy. My house seems empty now. I had three wonderful years with Aileen, 1 1/2 years healthy, and 1 1/2 years failing. It was too short. This is a tribute to my special Lady Aileen (August 1, 1998 - February 19, 2011), the best friend I ever had.

Olivia
May 7, 2011 Sweet Olivia slipped away quickly and was adopted by God. Rest well beloved, happy girl. We are blessed to have had you in our lives and will miss you.