Beloved Pets Memorial

Lake Lanier Humane League has been blessed with the support of many hardworking volunteers and the dogs and cats in our program have been blessed with wonderful, loving adoptive families. Some families have been so kind as to write a poem or testimonial describing the joy filling their lives with the addition of their rescue pet. Other families and volunteers have experienced the devastating pain of losing a beloved pet. We wish to honor the loved and cherished pets in these pages.

Memorials

Tula the Mastiff	November 21, 2008 Sweet Tula, A female Mastiff came to us at only 80lbs and heartworm positive. She had been bred, exploited and neglected. That was more than 5 years ago. Tula quickly gained the weight she needed and then spent the majority of her later years of life in rescue. She enjoyed sunny days in green pastures sunning her old bones and cool evenings on hot days in the same sweet grass. She also had a soft bed and good food inside when she wanted it too. Her foster mom cared for her up til the end. When the old bones just wouldn't care for her anymore, she was helped to the beyond. Tula, may you find again, the same green pasture you enjoyed here, on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.
Maggie watching over her lake	June 16, 2008 Maggie was a loving member of not only the Brewer family, but her boating family as well. This included many people, but also her many four legged friends. Her favorite thing to do at the lake was to fish under the bow of her boat. As much as she liked to fish, we don't think she ever caught anything. Maggie passed away doing what she loved best -- fishing under the boat. It was very peaceful, and if we had to lose her, this was the best possible scenario. We love her, we miss her, and we'll always remember the special girl that she was!
Lady Bug the Beagle	March 23, 2008 There are times when words are not enough. Times when a tearful look from a wounded soul will make your own eyes burn with empathetic pain of her loss. For the volunteers of the Humane League, this is one of those times. We grieve the departure of Lady Bug, and open our hearts in solace to the family she has left behind. Lady Bug was the light of Patty's life! She was wondrous in spirit and personality. She greeted life and the even regular daily activities with enthusiasm and wonder. She escorted her Mom to feed the horses, always on the look out for sights to see and smells to sniff (or chase!) She never ceased to make her Mom laugh until the Easter morning when her Mom could only cry. Though Lady Bug was a petite Beagle, she left a huge hole in her Moms heart. If tears could build a stairway And memories build a lane I’d walk right up to Heaven And bring you home again.
Nina the heartworm positive Boxer	February 20, 2008 Most days, as rescuers we take a lot in stride; accepting the unacceptable. Dealing with the unwanted waste in pets cast off from our society. Some days it is just too hard. Today Nina died. Nina served man as a pure bred Boxer. Used as a breeding tool, she was exploited, neglected, abused. If that injustice wasn't enough, she was then dumped at a high-kill shelter where she should have met death at the hands of strangers. But, she was given a chance. She was sent to rescue, where we all believed such a great girl deserved her chance. She was given love and care by her foster mom and the veterinarian. She was fed, loved and knew a little bit of life without all the hardship. While she had a heart of gold and gave back all the love she got in foster care, it just could not get past the heartworms. She died today during treatment. Her life is a tribute to all the shelter workers that wanted her not to die at their hands, to all the foster Moms and Dads that deal with deserving pets and to all the veterinarians that support the cause of homeless pets. To Nina. You are in a better place.
Patton	August, 2007 Patton was adopted by a wonderful family on April 28th, 2007. Within months he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Even though his new family only had him a short time, they were committed to helping him. They exhausted all resources. However, there was no way to save a failing heart. His family lost him in August. How wonderful for Patton, he did not die alone in the dog pound, he died a loved and cherished pet!
China with foster brother Tanner	December 31, 2006 A good Dog only breaks your heart once, they day you lose them. Our founder, Beth, started her career in rescue 6 years ago with a stray mother dog and her 9 one-week old puppies. Mom was named Penny, and she had both heartworms and mange. In order to treat her, she had to be separated from her puppies. Beth and her husband became the surrogate mothers. Waking every 3 hours to feed and care for the puppies, they all survived to be fat and happy and adopted into forever homes. They were known as the "Lucky Penny's". One of those puppies found a special place in Beth's heart. She was the little doll of the litter so Beth named her China. On Christmas day, Beth's husband paid the adoption fee (only a foster home can appreciate the irony of paying for a pet that you already own), and China was officially in her forever home. China quickly became the queen of the house. She was the "Pillow Princess", the "Little girl who couldn't wag her tail straight", "Pelican Puss", "Squishy Face" and overall the one dog that could melt Beth's heart with just the twitch of her ears, and the bat of her eyebrows. She was the first one to jump in the bed in the morning and the last one to get out of it. Not friendly to outsiders, she was devoted to her pack. Especially to the first thing she ever saw in her life, Beth. China died suddenly on Dec. 31, 2006. She had an undiagnosed cancer of the blood that took her without prior symptoms and without warning. Within 24 hours of her first symptom, not eating breakfast, she was gone. It was a loss made both harder and easier by the speed in which it took her. In a lot of ways, the hundreds of dogs saved since that first litter owe a debt to China. She was a living, day-to-day reminder of why these animals are worth saving. See you at the Bridge Little Girl.
Cowboy	May 9, 2006 Dr. Stagmeier brought Cowboy into her home knowing his time may be limited. In his previous home, Cowboy was having seizures almost 4 times every day. Under the loving care of Dr. Stagmeier, Cowboy enjoyed months of playtime and companionship without a single seizure. This boy went through so much before coming to a home that cared for him. At one point, Cowboy was even on Death Row at the pound. God wanted Cowboy to be happy and loved in his last days, because Dr. Stagmeier came into his life and took all the fear and uncertainty away. Cowboy passed away from a grand mal seizure in his own home and with his human that shared a love that transcends the boundaries of this world. Cowboy, all of us know who you wait for at the Bridge.
Khaki Khaki with her first foster puppy China	April 3, 2006 Driving home, an 8 year-old girl pointed out a sign to her mother that read, "free puppies." Beth was the mother and Andrea the little girl. They went to the house and saw a litter of tiny Springer Spaniel mixed pups freezing in the winter weather. They picked out a little girl pup, and Andrea put her inside her own jacket to warm the shivering body. They named her "Khaki," and took her home to meet the rest of the family. Khaki was incredibly intelligent, affectionate and stubborn. Khaki taught her humans a great deal about animal behavior and training, and when her family had been properly schooled, Khaki blessed them by becoming the most loyal dog they ever had. Years went by, and Andrea began affectionately calling the now white-faced old girl "Dirt," because she was older than dirt but too stubborn to give in to old age, so much so that we often joked that she would outlive us all. At 15 ½ years, Khaki would greet foster pups into the house with a wagging tail and would show them happily around the house and yard, so happy to have a youngling to tutor. She loved Christmas and unwrapping presents and treated everyone like family. Even though Khaki was incredibly old for a fifty-five pound dog, she left her family very unexpectedly, and she left a gaping hole in the hearts of many bereaved loved ones. I know Barney had been waiting a long time for you to join him, but we just weren't ready to let you go. We love you, Khakerbeast!
Joker	December 3, 2005 Donna Matheny, a dedicated and hardworking volunteer, said goodbye to Joker, a King Charles Cavelier Spaniel mix this past week. Donna was part of the surgery team that performed a late-term abortion (the owner insisted on the surgery because the mother dog was purebred and the owner allowed her to breed with a mutt) 15 years ago. Outraged by this atrocity, Donna pulled the pups from the placenta to save all five of the puppies and raised them herself. When they were old enough, Donna found loving permanent homes for all but her favorite of the puppies. Joker stayed with her since that fateful day 15 years ago and has been a loyal, loving companion since the moment she saved his innocent life. Joker, your memory will always be with us.
Brooke Smith with her three chocolate labs, River is on the left	August 8, 2005 God took River home with him on August 8, 2005. My Grammie died one year ago on that date. I know they are together, and I sure miss them. River was only ten months old. He was so proud, went swimming every day after work in the Gulf and watched the sunset. I know his life was short and hard in the beginning before rescue, but he was full of life and the love of mine.
Hux	December 11, 2005 Amy Dickson, a devoted and hardworking volunteer and contributor to the success of Lake Lanier Humane League, said goodbye to her beloved companion Hux. Hux wandered into Amy's life 3 years ago and secured himself a home in her heart forever. The two quickly formed a very special bond with each other. As if they were soul mates, they understood each other in ways that only the luckiest of us will ever understand. Hux, you will be missed while you wait for us on the Rainbow Bridge.
Henry	January 2006 Henry was a much loved golden retriever of Kelly and Amy Dickson. He crossed over to the rainbow bridge after a year long battle with Cancer. Kelly and Amy did all they could for Henry in his final days. Trying to help him win the battle and keep him comfortable. Henry never complained nor asked for much. Just the love of his people. He will be sorely missed. Henry passed just weeks after his buddy Hux. Hopefully they are together running and playing across the rainbow bridge. Laura Hagen made a donation in Kelly and Amy Dickson's name for Hux and Henry to the Humane League of Lake Lanier. A donation that will help other pets live a life as wonderful and rich as theirs
Coco with Santa	Our Coco went to Rainbow Bridge after suffering from a brain trauma, possibly caused by a tumor, or blood clot...we tried the most agressive treatment recommended and she did not respond. We adopted Coco at the young age of 10yrs and after 3 1/2 years, wonderful years were devasted to loose her. Coco was dumped at the local animal control. When I went to get her it was under the assumption she was a foster. She was less than the ideal dog...someone had really been mean to her. She couldn't be touched without being bitten. After many tears, lots of patience and love...I finally earned her trust, admiration and unconditional love...she will never be forgotten and I will always be grateful for being able to make her golden years truly the very, very best. Thank you Kelly, for opening your heart to another special angel in need. Scooter had asked Santa for you for Christmas!