Max

Hello Ena,

Oh how I remember that day when I left for my first home on a sunny June day 12 years ago. It was June the 6th and I was bundled into a strange car wrapped in my comfort blanket that you so lovingly cut out for me so that I wouldn't be so afraid and have some familiar smells. But I really had nothing to be frightened of. You see my two new mummys, Liz and Anna, were the best. I also had a daddy, his name was John and stayed just a few streets away.

'Oh no, not again!'.

Yes, I had chewed my way through the three piece suite! I also demolished 2 matresses, phone cables and a carpet in my puppy days! Mum would come in, see all the fluff lying around, and 'Max, was this you?'. Tail between my legs and looking sheepish...again! But they would never shout at me, one look at my big remorseful eyes and it was hugs and kisses; in between trying to repair the damaged furniture! I clearly liked ripping things up, so I got an endless stream of teddies that I could destroy till my hearts content. Every time my mums went out I'd be sure to look for a teddy in amongst all those bags when they arrived home.Walks! I loved to walk and run, and fetch bottles. I would often fetch sticks that were bigger than me almost making me topple over! Silver burn was my favourite spot, so was cotlands park, and lower largo, can't forget lower largo; rabbits in abundance. However, despite having a bit of a lurcher or whippet in me, I never caught a rabbit. They would run in one direction and I in the other. My mums said I was 'irish', whatever that meant. I did however catch a squirrel one day, mid way up a tree, I jamp with all my might. Then came the shrieks. 'MAX, NO.' I reluctantly let go and it scurried up the tree.

In summer before the harvest I loved to jump in the long fields, galloping like a kangaroo above the long grass. It was great, so exhilirating, especially when my mums joined in on the frollicing fun jumping through the grass with me. Now birds, don't get me started on them. You just had to say the word 'bird' and I was barking my head off running to the back door to try my luck. I seem all bravado here, don't I? Truth is, I'm a bit of a scaredy cat! Pardon the pun, no offence intended to other dogs. You see, if you said the word 'flea', 'spider', or if I heard bagpipes, or fireworks, I'd turn into a quivering wreck and try with all my might to hide behind my mums. However, postie games redeemed this... kinda. I would bark my loud alsation bark and the postie would quickly edge letters through the letterbox. The joke was on me though when he saw me for the first time and his response was 'is that it?!'. I still barkedWell all this excitement has got me tired. My mums would treat me to liver, I loved liver...LOVED. After my belly was full I'd jump up on the couch where my mums would budge up to give me a seat. I owned the couch! I also owned the bed, snuggling up under the covers behind my mum's legs. Soooo cosy. I was always mindful of the cats though. You don't want to disturb a sleeping cat!So this was my life, filled with love, long walks, tearing teddies, barking at birds, and fighting with the household cats. Play fighting of course, the cats were boss and I knew it!. An endless stream of happiness for 12 years. So what about the end? I was put to sleep in my own house with all my family surrounding me. There was nothing more they could do to help and I was in so much pain that I know they helped me go to sleep out of pure love. I was meant to walk my mum, Anna, down the aisle on her wedding just days after I got put to sleep. I still managed to get a picture taken though with Anna holding my collar, that means a lot.

Gone but not forgotten is certainly true where my family are concerned. I have a shrine dedicated to me, pictures, angels, flowers, my ashes taking pride of place in a dark oak casket, I even have a trophy with my name on it. I definately was top dog in their lives.

You see when you think about it, lifes rather simple...all you need is love. I cried with them, laughed with them, ran with them, cuddled them, kissed them. It was based on unconditional love. That's what I had to offer and that's what they freely and fully embraced. Me, just me, a dog named Max.

Well Max you obviously were a very well loved boy, I couldn't read this when your folks came to tell me you had " Gone to the Bridge " I have just sat and read it while putting you on here, tears rolling down my cheeks, R.I.P Max in the knowledge you were so well loved xxx.

Anther very sad day came on the 12th April 2013 when we had to say goodbye to Jet our lovely wee girl at the age of 15, just a month after losing Kiera. Devatated was not the word !! We were told two years ago to the month that she could go any day as she had a bad heart ect: but with pills and lattery injections she managed another two years, which along with her big sis we treasured the time we had with them both. Jet arrived at the house before we had the kennels and when I went to pick her up she hid under the sideboard I said to her owner you'll need to put her on a lead and he said " she's a free spirit " Anyway I eventually arrived home with her and it was a Sunday and it took till the Monday afternoon and half a cooked chicken before she decided I was probably okay, but it took Frank six weeks of her rushing barking at him everytime he tried to come in the door. However that all passed and she became his best pal, once we had opened the kennels she used to go over the fields with Frank when he walked the kennel dogs, and lie and wait for him while he took some back and brought more out for a walk I've seen her doing this about 4 times. People used to say there's a wee black dog lying in the field !! We have a pampas grass in the garden quite a large one and she used to go right into the middle of it and have a snooze, she loved it. As we did her. Hope Kiera / Sandy / Tess / Gem & Sula were all waiting for you darling. You can rest easy now no more wondering what pills we had put in your food.So Many stories and so many treasured memories of you all .Miss you loads, Lots of love Mum & Dad xx.

It is with very heavy hearts that we find ourselves putting another one of our family on Rainbow Bridge 15/3/2013. Our lovely Kiera who was a Husky / Akita mix has sadly gone after being part of the family for 17 years and one month.We used to help out at the Pet Care Centre before we had Second Chance Kennels. Whilst there this wee stray came in with the dog warden only about 4 months old,she was never claimed by her owners, but it was their loss Phlllyis used to say either you adopt her or George my husband will. So home she came with us and slotted in perfectly with Sula, Tess and Smokey the cat. Kiera has been a brilliant companion, her only problem was she ran away if off the lead. I remember one day ( well two ) first one was she ran away and Frank and Ronnie our son were up the woods with the dogs, all they could here was her barking deep in the woods, she had found an exhausted wee fox cub, bless her she stayed with it till they came. Then he was taken away to be looked after for about six weeks then released back into the woods he came from. Next we had by this time adopted a black Shepherd girl Gem and Kiera took off and Gem followed her took us ages to get them back that day but we did, and she was on a harness and lead for the rest of her life ! apart from being over the secure fields here at the kennels.Where she claimed the couch or the chair bless her. This just went to make her the dog we all adored and miss so very very much, especially her dad Frank she was always “ his girl “. Rest in peace Kiera you can now run free to your hearts content, miss you so so much Mum / dad / Jet and wee Alfie ( who tried his best to be your pal ) all the family xxx

Hi Ena, I noticed that you have changed E-mail address and was not sure if you recieved the message we sent you about Yogi. It was in November. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to our beautiful big boy. I don't know if you can retrieve any old messages and pictures but it was just so you could also let Phylis know. Yogi was a very special boy and he touched people in a way that nothing else could. Phylis also knew this. He has had an impact on so many peoples lives and everyone who met him felt his strength and encouragement. I have never come across another dog like him and doubt if I ever will. We feel priviliged to have been in his life and owe that to you for trusting us with him.

We miss him so much.
Fiona & Graham xxx

Hi Fiona & Graham, so sorry I didn't get this sooner mfor you, he was such a special big lad and we were so so sorry to hear your news.

Sleep easy big lad you were so well loved Ena / Frank /Phyllis xxx

This wee lass was adopted as a puppy when we worked from home (pre kennels) sadly she passed over to Rainbow Bridge in January of this year aged 15 years. (This was my name for her as a puppy.)

Rest in peace lass you were a very special wee girl. xx

Sadly Benji went to Rainbow Bridge last year, he was adopted from here over 11 years ago and had a wonderful life, for that we are very grateful.. His folks now think it's time to give another one of our dogs a home and have taken wee Pudsey home. You would have liked him Benji.

Rest in peace wee man knowing how much you were loved xx

Janet we were so sad to hear about Jet .x

We were so sad to lose Jet, she was such a special dog. She was very difficult at times and both myself and Iain had a fair few nips (not that she had many teeth left!) from her but it wasnt her fault that she had a bad start in life and had become very defensive. Most of the time she was an angel and she was so affectionate and loyal. She has left quite a gap in our hearts and life. Lovely pic of her on her favourite sheepskin.
I would be no good at writing something for rainbow bridge but have sent you a photo of her on her favourite sheepskin rug on her second favourite place to be, the sofa. Her favourite place being our bed underneath the duvet! If she ever disappeared off in the house that was where you would find her.

Janet you have done really well with your story about Jet, so I have just left it.

Thank you very much for giving her such a wonderful life Janet & Iain xx

Hello Ena, sad news about Bess i'm afraid. The vet sent her to sleep yesterday at home as she was deteriorating more and more, not eating and getting weaker and weaker. As you will understand we are shattered and will miss her so much. She was a wonderful wee dog for us.Thought you'd like to know.
We are just so glad that we had the opportunity to bring her to see you the other week. We took her to Paws RIP this morning and Anne was so helpful and compasssionate.
Hope all well at your end. Will hopefully catch up soon. Love Alison & Charlie Cuthbert.

Alison & Charlie Thank you so much for the photo's of your lovely girl, to think you were on holiday with her this year and just popped into a dog show being judged by Jan Fennel and she won best veteran, well she would be however many dogs were entered because that's what she was just the Best !! This is the one with the card on her collar.I think you have a few rosetes fror her. She was a very photogenic girl.

Alison & Charlie, We were so so sorry to hear about Bess,You must both be devastated. We can hardly credit it is nearly 15 years ago, when we worked from home., that you adopted her and I will also remember how she never seemed to forget me no matter if I hadn't seen her for a couple of years. One time I remember we were in Kinross in the High st, good job there was a wall behind as she jumped up to give me kisses.
I will always be grateful to you both for bringing her back that Saturday just two weeks ago for a visit, although she couldn't jump up I got a lovely wag of her tail. Everyone knows I don't "do" photographs but for Bess no probs this is the last time I saw her just about 10 days before she went to the Bridge I will never be able to thank you both enough for bringing her down that Saturday as I keep saying she was one special lady I feel so priveledged to have been part of her life xxxx

So pleased found your photo with Bess x

Rest in Peace Bess: You were loved so so much xxx

Well it has taken me from June to add Smokey to Rainbow Bridge.As a kitten someone just went away and abandoned him,he arrive from under the hut Spring of 1991, long before the kennels he was only a baby, a gorgeous silver tabby. We had Sula our Rottie, she was a sweetheart loved everything and everyone, so she didn't mind in the least that Smokey now resided with us. He was a super wee cat, before we had our own kennels we used to foster for the Pet Care Centre, so he got used to having dogs around. Then we fostered Tess and yes failed with her,couldn't part with her, then Kyra came along and stayed then Gem a puppy farm dog and then wee Jet and yes you guessed right they all stayed, and then there was Sandy the wee Yorkie and yes he stayed too then we found a ferret Lucky and he stayed, he and Smokey got on well together as did all the dogs except Tess she really only tolerated wee Smokey all these years.Lucky was Tess's best pal. Smokey you were a joy to have in our family,latterly you were incontinent and had started to go off your back legs and we probably kept you going longer than we should have,but you were still eating and drinking. I had to go into hospital on the 5th June and poor Frank had to take you to the vets on the 7th June. Poor man between me having a magor opon the 6th and then losing you wee man he was in a terrible state. At least you are now at peace and back in the bosom of the family, although we now only have Kyra nearly 17 and Jet over 14 !! Well Smokey wee man I like to think you enjoyed life with your adopted family and I miss you sitting cuddling up on my knee. we loved you so much Smokey and miss you every day. Good night God Bless Smokey xxx