a tribute to the shepster

katieliz · 06-10-2010, 03:29 AM

with his "dad" earlier today...

saying good-bye to his girl jeni...

shep came from a kill shelter in bellefontaine, ohio. he was a shelter worker favorite and had been held long past his scheduled "time". they would take him out of his kennel and into the office on euth days, i can't remember how long this went on, but for quite a while. his story was that his owner had gotten a new boyfriend who didn't like him (in retrospect, shep probably didn't like the boyfriend either, he was a very good judge of character), and so she dropped him off at the shelter, turned her back and walked away. her loss, i can tell you that.

i had only been doing rescue here for a short time when i started working to find shep somewhere to go. first we were going to fly him out to a board member in california, but she was a single working woman who already had three dogs, and that turned out not to be a realistic plan. simultaneously i had been working with a woman who'd won millions of dollars in the new jersey power ball lottery, who opened a sanctuary in the white mountains of new hampshire...and i got a commitment from her just before thanksgiving weekend to take him. i was to provide the transport...shelter workers would bring him to toledo the monday after the holiday, we'd meet them and take him out east. sunday night when i called the sanctuary to confirm, i was told they'd had an emergency influx of dogs, and space for him had evaporated. monday morning when i called the shelter to tell them all this, they had something to tell me. if i could not meet them in toledo by 2pm that day, the shepster was out of time. period. i never thought twice about it. i went out, started the car, stopped and bought a crate, and drove to toledo in, as i recall, high winds and freezing rain.

the dear boy i picked up that day was rail thin, his coat was brittle, his tail looked like a rat (but he had this endearing quality of wagging it so hard you thought he'd break it), he had lick granulomas on both front legs and several kinds of worms. my plan was to foster him. that was my plan all right.

after a stop at the vet's, he went to my dear friends pat and harold at hy hopes kennels to detox from shelter life, gain some weight, and get healthy enough for adoption. pat would say to me, "you know, this is a REALLY nice dog", and i'd say, "yes, won't he make SOMEONE a wonderful pet"?

on christmas day he came "home" and i became that "someone". he was a very dear and wise soul, who ask for nothing and gave his heart. with good nutrition he became a stunningly beautiful dog, his manners were impeccable, his temperment flawless.

he was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma just a few weeks ago, in retrospect i'de known for a while something was not quite right. we decided on hospice treatment only and had a wonderful last few weeks, filled with brushing, car rides, binzo bones (milkbones, oh did he love milkbones), and lots and lots of love.

i learned all i could about the progression of this dreadful disease, and was watching for the s

katieliz · 06-10-2010, 03:49 AM

(continued due to editing time expiration)

signs that it was time. this morning i knew it was time, and made that phone call that none of us wants to make. it was a beautiful day here in michigan, and under the silver maple trees, with a beautiful breeze blowing and the birds singing, i held him and told him what a beautiful and good boy he was, and my grand old man's wise old soul slipped out of his tired body and left for the bridge.

his complete story in words and pictures is at:

shep goes home

i was hoping we could find shep's original thread, which was really something to see...four thousand and some hits, if memory serves me correctly. we think it's been "pruned" tho, so i'd like to say, if the person who originally posted him to this board reads this, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Mrs.K · 06-10-2010, 04:45 AM

I loved Sheps blog. I really did. I was always waiting for new pics of him. He was a gorgeous dog and looked so powerful and wise the same time.

I am so sorry that he is gone now. He must have been a wonderful companion and one can see the love in your words.

bianca · 06-10-2010, 07:18 AM

Words just seem so inadequate right now but I am so so very sorry that your dear boy has gone. My thoughts are with you and your family. Big hugs to you xx. Rest In Peace dear Shepster xx

DnP · 06-10-2010, 07:50 AM

Your tribute to the shepster has brought me to tears and flooded me with memories. It is never an easy thing to say good bye to them. I think both you and shepster were so fortunate to have found each other.

I know I, for one, will miss hearing about him. May he rest in peace and may your memories of him bring you comfort.

Trina · 06-10-2010, 08:37 AM

What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful dog.

Quote:

my grand old man's wise old soul

Shep's pictures certainly show him as being such.

My condolences to you and your family, and thank you for giving Shep so much love and care.

SylvieUS · 06-10-2010, 09:47 AM

I'm so very sorry for your loss, but it sounds like you enriched each others lives so much....you were both 'the lucky ones'

Rest in peace dear Shepster

raysmom · 06-10-2010, 10:15 AM

Katherine -

I know I've posted a link to this version of the Rainbow Bridge set to music many times before, but I think it's especially poignant for Shep's passing as he seemed to love being outside surrounded by nature and his family.

http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html

Rest in peace Shep - your time with your forever family was much too short, but all dogs should be so loved.

onyx'girl · 06-10-2010, 10:39 AM

Katherine, my thoughts are with you. Shep was so very lucky to have found you, may he rest in peace.

Crabtree · 06-10-2010, 10:46 AM

I knew the time was drawing near, but it's still so hard when it comes.
My heart is with you in your time of sorrow. Shepster sounded like a wonderful ole man.
Rest in peace Shepster.

06-10-2010, 03:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
katieliz Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: york township, mi Posts: 6,323	a tribute to the shepster with his "dad" earlier today... saying good-bye to his girl jeni... shep came from a kill shelter in bellefontaine, ohio. he was a shelter worker favorite and had been held long past his scheduled "time". they would take him out of his kennel and into the office on euth days, i can't remember how long this went on, but for quite a while. his story was that his owner had gotten a new boyfriend who didn't like him (in retrospect, shep probably didn't like the boyfriend either, he was a very good judge of character), and so she dropped him off at the shelter, turned her back and walked away. her loss, i can tell you that. i had only been doing rescue here for a short time when i started working to find shep somewhere to go. first we were going to fly him out to a board member in california, but she was a single working woman who already had three dogs, and that turned out not to be a realistic plan. simultaneously i had been working with a woman who'd won millions of dollars in the new jersey power ball lottery, who opened a sanctuary in the white mountains of new hampshire...and i got a commitment from her just before thanksgiving weekend to take him. i was to provide the transport...shelter workers would bring him to toledo the monday after the holiday, we'd meet them and take him out east. sunday night when i called the sanctuary to confirm, i was told they'd had an emergency influx of dogs, and space for him had evaporated. monday morning when i called the shelter to tell them all this, they had something to tell me. if i could not meet them in toledo by 2pm that day, the shepster was out of time. period. i never thought twice about it. i went out, started the car, stopped and bought a crate, and drove to toledo in, as i recall, high winds and freezing rain. the dear boy i picked up that day was rail thin, his coat was brittle, his tail looked like a rat (but he had this endearing quality of wagging it so hard you thought he'd break it), he had lick granulomas on both front legs and several kinds of worms. my plan was to foster him. that was my plan all right. after a stop at the vet's, he went to my dear friends pat and harold at hy hopes kennels to detox from shelter life, gain some weight, and get healthy enough for adoption. pat would say to me, "you know, this is a REALLY nice dog", and i'd say, "yes, won't he make SOMEONE a wonderful pet"? on christmas day he came "home" and i became that "someone". he was a very dear and wise soul, who ask for nothing and gave his heart. with good nutrition he became a stunningly beautiful dog, his manners were impeccable, his temperment flawless. he was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma just a few weeks ago, in retrospect i'de known for a while something was not quite right. we decided on hospice treatment only and had a wonderful last few weeks, filled with brushing, car rides, binzo bones (milkbones, oh did he love milkbones), and lots and lots of love. i learned all i could about the progression of this dreadful disease, and was watching for the s __________________ mom to seraphina blue & the cashman miss jeni-take-a-ride, rescued 7/07 shangri la's great white caesar, rescued 4/09 hearthside's cinderfella (RIP 4/20/09) shep von bellefontaine (RIP 6/9/10) voodoo lily (dsh) & cricket (african grey) Last edited by katieliz; 06-10-2010 at 03:34 AM.

06-10-2010, 03:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
katieliz Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: york township, mi Posts: 6,323	(continued due to editing time expiration) signs that it was time. this morning i knew it was time, and made that phone call that none of us wants to make. it was a beautiful day here in michigan, and under the silver maple trees, with a beautiful breeze blowing and the birds singing, i held him and told him what a beautiful and good boy he was, and my grand old man's wise old soul slipped out of his tired body and left for the bridge. his complete story in words and pictures is at: shep goes home i was hoping we could find shep's original thread, which was really something to see...four thousand and some hits, if memory serves me correctly. we think it's been "pruned" tho, so i'd like to say, if the person who originally posted him to this board reads this, THANK YOU SO MUCH. __________________ mom to seraphina blue & the cashman miss jeni-take-a-ride, rescued 7/07 shangri la's great white caesar, rescued 4/09 hearthside's cinderfella (RIP 4/20/09) shep von bellefontaine (RIP 6/9/10) voodoo lily (dsh) & cricket (african grey)

06-10-2010, 07:18 AM	#4 (permalink)
bianca Knighted Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 3,328	Words just seem so inadequate right now but I am so so very sorry that your dear boy has gone. My thoughts are with you and your family. Big hugs to you xx. Rest In Peace dear Shepster xx __________________ Miss Molly Moo (aka The Piranha/The four legged Mouth) GSD 31/10 Raennik Hassan (Cooper) GSD 19/10/11 Paris Tabby Cat 15 years Texas Tabby Cat 15 years

06-10-2010, 07:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
DnP Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,248	Your tribute to the shepster has brought me to tears and flooded me with memories. It is never an easy thing to say good bye to them. I think both you and shepster were so fortunate to have found each other. I know I, for one, will miss hearing about him. May he rest in peace and may your memories of him bring you comfort. __________________ Diana Mom of Brightstar's Phoenix In loving memory of Dakota 1/93 - 10/2006 He seemed neither old nor young. His strength lay in his eyes. They look as old as the hills, and as young and as wild. I've never tired of looking into them.-John Muir

06-10-2010, 09:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
SylvieUS Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NE Pennsylvania, US Posts: 319	I'm so very sorry for your loss, but it sounds like you enriched each others lives so much....you were both 'the lucky ones' Rest in peace dear Shepster __________________ Happily owned by: Lads (Alladin's Folly) Red Husky (rescue) Chester the cat (humane society) Mags (Teeny Tortie Siamese runt, too "old" to be sold at 12 weeks) Mocha (Chocolate Siamese) At the Rainbow Bridge, I'll always miss you.

06-10-2010, 04:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mrs.K Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 6,381	I loved Sheps blog. I really did. I was always waiting for new pics of him. He was a gorgeous dog and looked so powerful and wise the same time. I am so sorry that he is gone now. He must have been a wonderful companion and one can see the love in your words.

06-10-2010, 10:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
raysmom Knighted Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Northwest OH Posts: 2,782	Katherine - I know I've posted a link to this version of the Rainbow Bridge set to music many times before, but I think it's especially poignant for Shep's passing as he seemed to love being outside surrounded by nature and his family. http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html Rest in peace Shep - your time with your forever family was much too short, but all dogs should be so loved. __________________ Pat Kaiser - 6 yrs old Ray (Radar) - 8 yrs old - At the Bridge

06-10-2010, 10:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,606	Katherine, my thoughts are with you. Shep was so very lucky to have found you, may he rest in peace. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

06-10-2010, 10:46 AM	#10 (permalink)
Crabtree Crowned Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: On. Canada Posts: 4,370	I knew the time was drawing near, but it's still so hard when it comes. My heart is with you in your time of sorrow. Shepster sounded like a wonderful ole man. Rest in peace Shepster. __________________ Sandra Larka GSD 1/4/06 Palla GSD 7/16/06 Loki adopted 8/23/08 Badger,Miss Crabtree & Shafford, the kitty krew Waiting at the bridge;Palla,Tucker,Chance, Brandy and Lacy. I'll miss you to the end of eternity, and love you twice as long.

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