Holly Bear
November 23, 2001 - March 16, 2011 I buried Holly yesterday with dignity and affection. I lined the bottom of the grave with the tips of fir boughs and then layered sword fern fronds pointing in the four sacred directions. I placed a sacred cedar bough and two flowering tips of Oso plum below where her head would lay. Wednesday evening after her passing, I wrapped her with two shrouds and wrapped bindings to encircle her. I placed her head facing west and covered her with fir boughs until I could no longer see the shrouds. I told her again: "Holly is a good dog.". I asked Mother Earth to accept my Friend; and to be kind and good to her in the next circles she will travel. I asked Father Sun to shine upon her; and bless and warm her. I asked the four sacred directions to guide her on her future journeys. I will go to the places by the rivers where she took me and collect stones for a cairn. I will always consider her final resting place as sacred. For these last almost five years, she was the best and only Friend I had. I knew that the most important thing I could do for her was to provide her a safe home; a place where she would never ever be beaten and hurt; a place where she would not ever be afraid. And in return, Holly Bear Power Airedale did something that no one else was willing to do -- she trusted me.

Rufus Myers
June 1999 - March 24, 2010 It has taken me almost a year but I am ready to "officially" remember Rufus now. Mike & I adopted Rufus from the Skagit Valley Humane Society on January 16, 1999; he was 7 months old, and named Moses then. His dossier said he had been owned by a ninety-something year old man – a gift from the grandkids – and he was “a little too much dog”! Mike was still claiming to “hate” Airedales then, as a few of our previous dogs had been ‘Dale crosses and had been typically energetic and naughty, but after checking out many dogs at the shelter, Mike chose Rufus. Rufus was the absolute love of our lives…Mr. Personality who loved everyone and everything, in short, he loved life. He definitely was a bad hombre…a counter-surfing, elk-chasing (when he got the rare opportunity by escaping), roast beef stealing bundle of BAD, but he was also the most lovable, funny, cuddly bear that ever was. He taught himself to open car doors after he found some food in a friend’s car, and he was the ultimate car-burglar! We adored our goofy Rufus Dufus and miss him terribly. I did not realize until he left us how much of a stress-reducer he was. He left this world on March 24, 2010 after a short bout of kidney failure. RIP, Rufus…

Maggie Ellsworth
Maggie - June 23, 1999 to January 15, 2011 Maggie was the last of her generation. When she crossed the bridge she was met on the other side by all of her friends. Now they spend their days chasing balls, eating cookies and napping on clouds. When she walked through town, Maggie had a smile for everyone. She enjoyed long hikes in the woods and on the beach. But most of all Maggie loved to play ball. She never met a tennis ball she wouldn't chase. She brought joy to those of us lucky enough to know her and enriched our lives. Maggie was a very good friend and she will forever be in our hearts.

Riley
Crossed the Bridge February 12, 2011

Gracie
Rescued Feburary 15, 2002 Left us February 8, 2011 It seems like yesterday when we turned around and there you were. And then, one day when we weren’t looking, you became our best friend. You were simply the best surprise of our lives. The way that you would look at us as if you were blessed with a human soul and understanding made a wonderful kind of magic in our lives . . . a true treasure you were . . . simply our best time. We now walk where we all used to walk together and we shed gentle tears and remember sweetly. You are no longer here to tell us it is time for dinner and time to go to bed. We no longer wake up to your wonderful face resting patiently on the side of the bed in the morning with those beautiful eyes begging us to play. Oh dear Gracie . . . you are so deeply imbedded in our hearts. We will always feel the laughter that you gave us, the affection, the silliness, the energy and then the tears and the sorrow. There was a place of quietness and contentment that we found with you whether it was sitting together in the lake on those hot summer days or driving down the coast to California. How you loved the car rides. Oliver seems so lost without you. You were his leader. He looked to you for guidance. You kept such close cadence with each other and so delighted in each other’s company. Now we all just sit and remember each and every step we took together and know that you will be with us always. You were a vision of long standing loyalty, compassion, patience and unconditional loving. You were the best of everything. Simply knowing you was the greatest of gifts. Thank you, dear, sweet Gracie. We miss you so.