In Loving Memory of TAZ November 14, 1990 - September 5, 2003 Sadly missed by John & Sylvia Aiello	Spirit of TAZ "I live among God's creatures now in the heavens of your mind.  So do not grieve for me, my friend for I am with my kind. My collar is a rainbow's hue,  my leash a shooting star. My boundaries are the Milky Way where I sparkle from afar. There are no pens or kennels here, and I am not confined. But free to roam God's heavens among my shepherd kind. I nap the day on a snowy cloud, gentle breezes rocking me. And dream the dreams of Earthlings and how it used to be. The trees are full of liver treats and tennis balls abound. And Milk bones line the walkways just waiting to be found. There even is a ring set up, the grass all lush and green. And everyone who gaits around becomes the Best of Breed. For we're all winners in this place, we have no faults, you see. And God passes out those ribbons to each one, even me. I drink from waters laced with gold my world a beauty to behold. And wise old dogs do form my pride to amble at my very side. At night I sleep in an angel's arms, her wings protecting me. And moonbeams dance about us as stardust falls on thee. So when your life on earth is spent, and you stand at Heaven's gate, have no fear of loneliness for here, you know I wait."  ~author unknown
In Loving Memory of SARG June 7, 1999 - October 6, 2003 Sarg's .jpg is not on line... lost when switched providers... please email me a photo. loulou5858@comcast.net We miss You Jen, Joe and Jess	The day  I said  good-bye I will never forget  If tears could build a stairway And memories a lane  I’d walk up to heaven  And bring you home again One day we will meet again  that day you'll open the gates for me When you look out into the dark of night I'll be that that bright star Your guiding light
In Loving Memory of  COMET Hinds Female flat-coated retriever (looks like a black Golden Retriever) 1990 - May 2, 2003 In Loving Memory of    NIKKI Hinds November 11, 2003 The HINDS Family MA-VEST-A-DOG Welcome to the Rainbow Bridge The RainbowBridge There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called "The Rainbow Bridge" because of its many colors. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge, there is a land of meadows, hills, and valleys with lush green grass. When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water and warm Spring weather. Those old and frail animals are young again. Those who have been maimed are made whole again. They play all day with each other. But there is only one thing missing. They are not with their special person who loved them on earth. So, each day, they ru n and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up. The nose twitches, the ears are up, the eyes are staring, and this one runs from the group. You have been seen. When you and your special friend meet, you take him or her in your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again. You look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet. Then, you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated.   (unknown author)	Please pause (paws!) today to celebrate her wonderful life. Owned by an ungrateful, that abandoned her by leaving her tied to a park bench all day in Wrentham...duly noticed by a dog lover, and rescued by the Animal Control Officer.  Comet was lovingly adopted by a wonderful little old lady in Wrentham - who gave her a large fenced-in yard, lots of love - and didn't manage to spay her quite fast enough...Comet had a litter of 8 adorable puppies, seven of whom quickly found homes, and the last - Nikki - was to stay with Comet for her whole life.  The little old lady became sick and died. The family decided 2 big dogs were too much for them (and they sadly also made this decision to surrender, knowing they could not be home enough...with a full time job and going back to school, they would be away 5 days a week for over 12 hours a day)...and they called Canine Connections to list these two wonderful dogs for adoption - while keeping the dogs in their home - thereby eliminating a potentially stressful shelter stay.  By now Comet was 7 and Nicky was 5.  Being a mother & daughter pair, the family hoped to manage a two-fer adoption, keeping them together. Confused about the option of going from no dogs to two dogs, Kathy consulted Debbie Paton, long-time friend, and now kennel manager in Bangor, ME.  Debbie's sage advice:  "Two dogs are happier than one...they keep each other company when you aren't with them." Comet and Nikki would convince us that this is true!!!!  I called Canine Connections, asking for a dog - preferably a flat-coated retriever.  (We'd dog-sat a friend's mixed breed - Mira - who turned out to look just like a flat-coat, but her weight is closer to 40 lbs.  Mira is exceptional, a total love, and if we could get a dog like her...)  Their response?  "You know, we NEVER get flat-coats, but we just got a pair..."  Destiny is really quite lovely sometimes!  That was 6 years and 4 months ago.  The two dogs have been so much fun - lots of love~  We have been absolutely perplexed on their similarities - and profound differences. I thought it was fitting that Comet be a part of the K-9s since the family works so hard to VEST K-9s in the state of MA.   Last June, Comet was diagnosed with lymphoma. With only one 'bump on the road' last September, she has kept relatively healthy and active.  The last 6 weeks have been a decline, as she slowly lost all the things that made life a joy to her:  "talking' (woo-woo-ed) when asked "Do you wannna go out?"   walking up the stairs (and later, walking down the stairs)  running joyfully outside - no matter how badly she needed to pee - and first flopping onto her back and joyfully doing a back scrub (making delightful doggie snow angels in appropriate weather!)   instigating a game of 'tag-you're-it' with Nikki, complete with playful nose nibbles, starts-and-stops.   going for long walks, enjoying all the wonderful sniffs (but didn't feel she had to re-mark constantly!) - especially at Borderland State Parkston/Sharon) where the 'bonus' ponds offered cool dips and yummy drinks!   'pawing' you to continue patting, whenever you had the audacity to stop.   following us from room to room (even to the bathroom, of course!!!) preferably lying next to us / on top of our feet.  when the ground finally thawed, she couldn't dig her cool doggie pits between our shrubs to hang out in.   on her own, she couldn't get up to a 'stand' from lying down.  and finally,  her crazy tail wag:  not just side-to-side, but around/reverse direction/do it all again!  She is now at the Rainbow Bridge (see below).  We don't know what she'll do first:  back scrub, play tag, or dig a wonderful cool hole to lie in and get used to her new surroundings.  Wonderful girl, we love you. "Dogs leave paw prints on your hearts."  Her paw print on our hearts is indeed huge.  Nikki, at age 11, is doing well...she is getting TONS of extra pats, and has already gone for a couple of car rides and been to a Walpole Girls Lacrosse Game (especially good for more pats!) and gone for a couple of walks - she she DOES re-mark (how do they manage to keep producing another couple of drops?!?!!?). So - today, please pause (paws!) and give a dog(s) an extra hug or three, in loving memory of our awesome 4-legged family member, beloved Comet. with love, The Hinds Family