this afternoon with his dad:





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 on message boards for a short time when i started working to find shep somewhere to go. first we were going to fly him to california, to a member of the "other" board, 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 van, 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 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 afternoon here in michigan, and under the silver maple trees, with a 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 (scroll and keep clicking on "older posts") is at:

http://shep-goes-home.blogspot.com

thanks to everyone here for listening, for the virtual hugs, and all the support. i am in awe of all of you (here and everywhere), who work tirelessly to help these dear animals, i take my hat off to each and every one of you, and wish you many blessings.

I'm very sorry for your loss. Your Shepster was a beautiful gentlemanly dog and I am so glad he got to share your life. I have followed his journey in the past and sadly in the thread his illness was diagnosed.

You have given him a dignified and moving tribute. Hugs

What a dignified boy he was - and such a lucky one to find his way out of the shelter and into your home and heart. Even though I never met him, I feel like I got to know him through your photos.

Rest in peace, Shep - play hard with all of our beloved animals who wait at the Bridge.

I'm so sorry. I'm new enough here that I didn't know the story of when you got him.

I took the time about a week ago to read all of the old posts and your blog and Shep won a special place in my heart.

I'm sitting here bawling my eyes out right now. Rest in peace dear Shep and big hugs to you and your family!

So sorry about your loss ...run free dear Shep

I am so very sorry. Words seem so inadequate but I am thinking of you. Rest In Peace dearest Shepster.xx.

I'm so sorry to hear of Shep's passing. He sounded like a grand old guy I'd have loved to meet.

What a lovely story, and pictures to go with it. What a lucky dog to have had such a nice life with you. Thank you for sharing that with us.

Shepster.

to you and yours

Katherine -

I posted this on the other board, but wanted to share it here also -

It's my favorite version of the Rainbow Bridge set to music and I think it's especially poignant in honor and memory of Shep as he seemed to be in his element when he was outdoors enjoying nature and his family -

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

Rest in peace Shep

I am so sorry for your loss. You gave Shepster a great home and let him go when he needed to. :hugs:

Reading your tribute to the Shepster I am again impressed at the depth of the bond possible between person and dog. It's possible but not always realized. You and your dog proved how close our spirits can be.

I'm very sorry for your loss and touched by the Shepster's life with you.

Mary Jane

Katie. I'm so truly sorry for the loss of your Shepster.I wish I could have met him.
For now, Lacy and Shepster are at the bridge. Playing and resting under shadey trees, waiting for the day we join them.
Rest in peace dear Shepster.

Shep

So sorry for your loss. It's never easy to let them go.

What a great tribute
So sorry for your loss

What a wonderful tribute to a loved companion...

I am so very sorry for your loss.. He was so very lucky to have yous in his life..

ugh, i am crying so hard.

rest in peace sweet boy.

lots of love kaityliz...i wish i could type more but i am not good at words with this kind of thing.

((hugs))

What a beautiful tribute to the shepster. How lucky for both of you that you found each other.

What a beautiful tribute to the Shepster. We love them all but he sounds like he had that "little something extra". Run free at the bridge sweet boy.

Beautiful tribute. What a warm and caring home he went to from the shelter.

He was a gorgeous boy and it was good to hear the rest of the story about him.

Thank you so much.