We adopted BB just a few weeks ago from the shelter. We went looking for a new dog, preferably a puppy and we found 5 month BB. One of the shelter workers took us to one of the outdoor pens to play with him and it was love at first bite. We decided to fill out an adoption application and give BB a good home. We fostered him for about a week until he had to get surgery. After that, we adopted him and he was renamed Mongo. After further research, we found out he was a Danish Pointer and maybe a mix of some kind of terrier. Mongo loves rawhide bones, chew toys, and Beggin’ Strips. (Which helped me teach him ‘sit’ in just one day! He barks wildly at the vacuum cleaner and chases the broom around the kitchen. Even though he has a lot to learn about living in a house, Mongo has found his fur-ever home.

Hi, my name is Bear. I am writing this story posthumously from the Rainbow Bridge.  The story I am about to tell starts 4 years ago. It's a story about true love and eternal devotion.

 

Here I am, 8 years old and find myself back at the Berea Animal Rescue for the second time. So, I figure this time I am gonna do it smart and get with my counselor, Mike McGinty, to help me write a personal ad on their website, he even took some gorgeous photos. This time, I want to find someone who is a keeper and I am gonna be picky!!   Well low and behold, a couple days later Mike comes to me and tells me my ad caught the eye of a couple guys from North Olmsted, a father and son team Jim and Jamie McKnight. They show up and I am thinking, "Hey, who dragged the stray cats in"?!  Then, worse yet, they take a liking to me (who wouldn’t) and want to take me home.  So, I appeal to Mike not to let me go, not with these two knuckleheads, lets give it some time, I am sure my ad will lure in somebody that doesn't appear to be a couple of mongrels.   Mike advises me I am not getting any younger, this is my second trip thru this place, and they have a nice house in North Olmsted complete with a fenced in yard and a swimming pool.  Well, that perked my ears up!! Now I am thinking about spending my summers at the pool, margarita in my paw and a french poodle strolling around the patio in a string bikini.  Oh yea, Mr. Bear is gonna give these two guys a try.  And hey, maybe I can even teach them a thing or two.

 

So we arrive at my new place and first thing I do is round up Jamie and have him call a few friends over for a sleep out on the living room floor.  Things went well.  The next day I take them to the metro parks for some sled riding and of course to show off my malamute snow talents.  And I must admit they were impressed and asked me to take them again next weekend. Hey, I am starting to grow fond of these two leggers!!

 

So, the years go by and things are well. I find these two guys to be great. My dish is full of good food and fresh water, I have my own blanket, am making plenty of new friends in the neighborhood and I even have my own cat I named Amy. I take them camping to the Wayne national forest during the summer, and I take Jamie for a walk each day when he gets home from school.   I am beginning to think this is what life is supposed to be like.  No, I am convinced this is my life as it should be!! I am going to stick with my commitment of eternal love and devotion to them.

 

But, another year goes by and my physical abilities are being tested. I find it harder to get up, walk and get around. I also am not seeing too well anymore. Jim and Jamie never seize to amaze me. They modify things in the house so it is easier for me to get around; they even line the steps with carpet so I don’t slip when coming in and out of the house. Jamie even agrees that when I walk him after school we can make it shorter. I now know these guys are keepers and I made a wise choice to make them part of my family. Now I know that eternal devotion works in both directions, they give right back.

 

Well, fall of 2009 is here and old Bear is now pushing 13 years old. My hearing is going as well now. My two guys do everything to make me cozy as can be and I love the added attention.   I am happy though and still look forward to taking Jamie for a walk every day after school. I can tell that Jamie notices my frailty and keeps our walks shorter and slower now, letting me sniff things longer than before. I wasn't able to take them camping this summer because I was too frail to get in and out of the van. But they were ok with that.

 

Then last Monday, November 2nd god called my name.  I appealed to him to let me stay as I love these two guys and they love me. I have never before felt so loved and been taken such good care of.  And besides, I can’t leave them because they still need me. Well God's will is stronger than mine and I passed thru his light of love, which brings me back here to Rainbow Bridge. It's great here; I have everything I need except those two guys who I adopted 4 years earlier. Oh I have them in my memories and in my heart and that is what eternal love and devotion is about. But it saddens me to look down at them from up here and see their teary eyes and broken hearts. They are wondering why I had to go so soon. But like me, they have my memories forever etched in their hearts. Yes, eternal love and devotion. They know it too.  

 

Thank you for reading my story. If you happen to see Jim or Jamie tell them I said thanks for everything, that I love them and that I will be waiting for them on Rainbow Bridge.    Bear McKnight

Hope this email finds you doing well.  I wanted to send you a few updated photos of Bentley (adopted 11/08 from Petco, formerly Maurice).  He is doing awesome and he is the king of the household.  By far the best animal we have ever owned.  We swear he has dog and people genes somewhere in the mix!  Caitlin has taught him to fetch and he does so well with Kaden!  Mercedes (adopted 2/08 from Petco, formerly Snowflake) finds Matthew to be her best friend, however the two cats play so well together.  He follows us around EVERYWHERE and whenever we have people around he either plants himself on the rug in the kitchen or the chair at the kitchen island!  He sat on that chair for hours on New Years Eve and it was so loud with more than 20 people - just wants to be part of the action!  He is a bit of a chow hound (feline) so we have to watch him whenever the other animals are trying to eat!  I hope you can view the attached photos.  Hopefully we'll see you guys up at Petco......Kaden is now trying to talk us into another kitty telling us "he needs one too".

 

Happy New Year!!

Julie Morron

A little over one year ago I adopted Big Red, an Australian cattle dog that had been with the animal rescue going on one year. Since his adoption last September Red has been a great companion and has made himself very comfortable (usually in my recliner) and has lost about 11 pounds chasing squirrels, geese, and deer out of his two acre yard. When he is not chasing animals I can usually count on him making his way to the creek for a quick swim or making friends with the German shepard next door. Red is always happy to see us when we come home from work and is right by my side the rest of the day. Red is the perfect dog for my active lifestyle, keeping up with me on runs and has become quite good at catching soccer and tennis balls. Red has made a great addition to our lives and we are very thankful to Barb for introducing him to us. Thank you so much and keep up the good work!
 
Andy Robinson

 

Even though my letter is overdue, I would like to thank you so much for my wonderful cats. Four years ago, my old cat Bopeep passed away and for the next two years we begged my mom to get a new pet. The day before Earth Day, my family went to the shelter to "look" at cats. Little did we know that we would be walking away with two, new, fluffy companions named Boots and Cocoa. Over time their names evolved into "Fluff" and "Chococat" as we came to know them better. The last two years we have come to shake our heads in wonder when we imagine life without them. Shy, angry Chococat came out of her shell after two months and is now the world's loudest purring machine. Her purring can be heard from other rooms! Fluff made himself at home after two hours and turned out to be an irresistibly adorable cat with a passion for tropical fruit. Both kitties make our life fun and interesting every day. I'd like to thank you for your time, and again, for giving these cats a second chance and a loving home. Sincerely, Nikita Martin "Cat Fanatic"