Good Bye My Handsome Friend

RIP JOEY my Friend,

Last Saturday I noticed that we were running out of time. You were still wagging your tail, but something had changed around you. Sunday came and you were laying close to me, closer than ever before. I knew the time was here.
That Monday morning phone call to the veterinarian was the hardest to make.

Joey was the happiest stray dog in Campania, Italy. With his love and positive attitued he was loved by many Italians, Brits and Americans. He touched so many hearts.

I got a message from Carol Mander Yeomans asking if we could find Joey a home. Stray, getting older (not in his mind at all) winter was coming....I said yes we would find him a home.
Jolene Callahan took him into her home during the health check and passport (helped us great during that time it took, Thank you)

Joey came to me and he was wonderful, deaf, positive little guy. He had a tough stabile charisma that told the other dogs to accept him. And they did, right until the end heart emoticon

No one answered on Joeys adoption add. Maybe because he was black...maybe because there are millions of dogs searching for homes out there!

He was loved, so much loved....and I didn't get to have you for a long time, but you are forever in my heart. 

Joey, you got your wish granted, to fall a sleep outside in "your" freedom with me by your side. 

Thank you my veterinarian Martina (Germany) for helping me with Joeys wish heart emoticon

Freedom Joey. I miss you so much. heart emoticon

That's Amore
Mia Olivia Max

TO DARE TO LET GO

To dare let go

The first time I saw Ariel was back in 2008, at one of the worst shelters in southern Italy.  The dogs were standing in their own feces.  Food, they received every fifth day and the lack of water often made them drink their own urine.

Amidst all the filth and suffering, Ariel captured my eyes and my heart.  A black and white, shaggy dog, she happily limped up to the fence with her misshapen front leg.  The leg had been broken in four different places and had self healed long ago.  It hurt my soul to think of what she had gone through, but to see her positivity gave me an incredible strength.  She had been in four different shelters during her life, likely the vast majority of her life spent behind bars.  I whispered into her ear that she could come home with me. That day I adopted Ariel and four other dogs.

The smell was cruel in that place, only the flies felt lucky!  Ariel had an incredible ability to open up other people's hearts.  When the volunteers saw her misshapen leg, they expressed their horror. The next moment they looked into her eyes and Ariel's tail started to go like a propeller.  She healed people, implanted a calmness inside of them.  Suddenly, they saw the beauty, her soul, pure and forgiving.

One morning, after five wonderful years and a move to Germany together, I saw that her energies were not as vibrant as usual. We had a blood test done.  The result was devastating to me!  Her internal organs were beginning to shut down.  After a few days Ariel, stopped to eat and drank only water.  When I looked at her, she wagged her tail, “thump, thump"  like a Morse Code of love.  The most difficult decision came; to let go of the one you love.

Although I know there is a heaven for animals, I was heartbroken.  A friend showed me compassion even though I knew she was not fond of dogs.  She smiled and told me how difficult it had been for her when her mother slipped into Alzheimer's grip.  It's painful to see someone you love slip away from you.

I told Max and Olivia that Ariel was very sick.  Their behavior around Ariel changed to be more calmly inside.  A peace of mind shrouded the house!  The group of twelve dogs, each walked up to Ariel, sniffed her and walked away.  It was their way of saying goodbye.  I tried to be as strong as they.  Daring to love in the fullest, and when it was time, let the heart be full of love and satisfaction for the time we had together.  Ariel taught me that whatever happens in life, you do not forget, but it is important to be able to let go and continue to live with love and trust.

The vet came and helped Ariel over to the other side.  One of my dogs, Shiloh, laid down beside her. When someone in the pack tried to come up, Shiloh growled and chased them away.  With her nose, she tried to cover Ariel with the blanket that she was lying on, like burying her.  It was most interesting, as Shiloh had acted much the same way when we lost our Black Labrador Retriever Ranger in Italy.

I cried! Olivia put her arms around my neck, "Mom, breathe in and out!"  Outside, it was raining heavily. Max wanted to build a doghouse above the grave "so that Ariel does not get wet.”

Max went on with his own hypothesis, "Mom, what if Ariel is just sleeping!  Do you think God gets angry that we send a sleeping dog up to Him?"

Olivia glared at him, "Ariel is healthy now. She has already had a meeting with God.  God does not accept anyone who is not ready! "

I responded tenderly upon Olivia's words, "no one”.  She knew that we all would go up there, animals and people traveling to another place when we are finished here on earth.

That's Amore!

REINCARNATION THOUGHTS

My children know that when animal leaves us they goes to the Rainbow Bridge. But what happens to people, asked Olivia (8y)?

Will they also go to the Rainbow Bridge?

Yes I believe we all meet later on at a beautiful place called Rainbow Bridge others may call it Universe.

We talked about Angels, and Heaven. It is a little tricky to explain so I try to divide our conversations to several different times.

I kissed her head and suddenly out of the blue I said, “thank you for choosing me to be your mom!”

Olivia looked at me with eyes like, what?

“When we are at the Rainbow Bridge, or if you want to call it Universe, and its time to return to earth, we chose who we are going to be around and whom will be our parents (etc)”

“So MAX chose you too?”

“Yes, he sure did”

“Anyone else mom?”

“No, you two were the ones.”

“Oh I am sorry mommy that not more kids wanted you. I think you are a great mom”.

   

That's Amore!

GOODBYE & FAREWELL, BRAVE AND GENTLE JULIAN

Our beloved Julian, also known as Benji, is now free to run with the wind across the rainbow bridge.

Julian is one of those heartbreaking cases we come across too often here in Campania. He was found beside a road, seeming to have been hit or suffering from disease. After much testing, we found he had a rare virus affecting his brain. Once we identified it, we found we couldn't cure it, but could likely treat it.

He was in a great foster home, with some other dogs, but kept having seizures that would have us running with him to the vet clinic, where they stabilized him. This happened pehaps a half dozen times.

He was blind in one eye, and sometimes had trouble getting around, but after a seizure and treatment, he was a happy and fairly normal little guy.

What struck all of us about him, was how he seemed to come alive when someone petted him, or showed him any affection at all. He had a true, big, and pure heart. Life dealt him a awful hand, but he enjoyed each day he had to the maximum of his ability.

Yesterday, he had another seizure, and again we took him to the clinic. Both myself, and the veterinarian (Dr. Loungo) agreed that all that could be done, had been done, and it was time for Julian to cross over the Rainbow Bridge. With tears in our eyes, we helped him out of his pain, and on his way.

You will remember that I recently also said goodbye to my dear Tjojs, the dog whom I adopted in Sweden, and was with me for 14+ years. While I mourn her deeply, in many ways I mourn Julian even more. Tjojs had a full, wonderful and varied life. She got to do and see so much, and together with me we grew, loved and learned from each other. Julian had such a short life, yet such a big heart. He deserved so much more and better than what he got. Any soul who could thrill to just a little affection from a stranger like he could... deserved so much more.

Farewell, Julian. We will miss you deeply, and will try to embrace what you taught us in your gentle, simple love-of-life. Perhaps you will wait for me across the Rainbow Bridge?