Zeus's owner fell on hard times, but she found Zeus (and his Weim sister, Mica) a great home, or so she thought. After having the dogs for a month, the new owners dropped both dogs in the night drop box at the Denver Dumb Friends League. Zeus and Mica were adopted together and poor Zeus was returned three days later. Zeus was going to be a tough placement as he couldn't go to dog parks and frolic with the other dogs - he was attacked as a young dog by three dogs and never got over that. He loved his sister, Mica, so without her around, the separation anxiety he experienced was more than most owners could bear. His ordeal with new owners, the shelter, more new owners, the shelter again, cost him 25 pounds and a bad case of kennel cough. Zeus had become a horribly frightened, untrusting, scared dog who would require years of rehabilitation to undo what had been inadvertently done to him. The kindest thing to do was to let Zeus go. We all hope that Mica's home will truly be her forever home and that Zeus will wait for her over the rainbow bridge.

From the moment that we first met Shelby, I knew that she wasn't going to leave our house. She came to us as a foster, but I felt that she had always been with us. I called her Shelby Grace - she just had a lovely gracefulness about her at all times...
Shelby came to us after being left at the shelter, and was considered a "three time loser" - she had been returned there twice after adoption because she wet in the house. My husband could tell right away that she actually had a urinary tract infection, and she was fine as soon as we got her treated properly. (Just goes to show that there's usually a reason for perceived 'bad behavior'..!) Shelby fit into our household right away, and it was a joy to be around her. She especially liked spending long weekends out in Westcliffe, having the run of the 35-acre-woods with our other two big dogs chasing along beside her.

Shelby's time with us was far too short. All the years of urinary problems caused eventual damage, and after only a year and a half she succumbed to kidney failure in May 2005. I miss her snuggling up on the bed with me to sleep, and curling up with me on the couch to watch TV at night. She was a sweet and gentle Weim soul - and I think she still is, because I feel her with me every day even now.

For the past six months my little Ellie had become my daily companion, my focus, and my friend. Yesterday afternoon, she left our company to move on to the other side. I like to think of her playing with our yellow Lab Libby. Or, maybe at this moment, my mom is scratching her soft ears and giggling at the funny way Ellie tips her head. Either way, Ellie is no longer in pain.

It has been said that the number of years is not a measure of a life well lived. How we live each day is the true yard stick. I would like to think this is true with animals as well. Ellie lived each day with joy and love. Her spirit was undeniably and unconditionally good and loving. Although I wish I would have had her for a longer period of time, I feel fortunate to have had her during what was a critical transition time in my life. She leaves this world reminding me, and all of us I guess, that life is short--make the best of each day--enjoy the little things--and give as much love as you possibly can--because in the end, that's the true measure of a life well lived.

Both Ellie and I have been blessed to have had great people supporting us during these previous months. Ellie will be missed by her "co-workers" here at Sounds True, by my family who got to meet her over the holidays, by her foster family who did such a great job with her before I got her, and by all of her other friends who have enjoyed petting and playing with her silky ears. Most of all, she will be missed by me.

Thanks for all of your love and support.
Karolyn
(and Ellie in heaven)