Clara
I lost my beloved Clara this morning. I adopted Clara in February 2007 from Lucky Star. Clara has been an amazing addition to our family. I got Clara as a companion to Junior a Cavalier I had bought four years earlier. Not only was Clara a companion to Junior, she was the big sister to my daughter Lily who I adopted from China in January 2010. Lily adored Clara! While Junior can be aloof, Clara was full of love and licks for Lily. Our little family was complete, Mama, Lily, Junior and Clara. Clara got sick last week and was diagnosed with kidney failure. I spent the past 9 days trying to get her creatinine levels up –but she kept getting weaker and weaker and refused to eat. I was afraid she was in pain and that the time was here to make the call to the vet. This morning Clara and I sat in the glorious sunshine, I snuggled her and told her how much we love her and what a good girl she is and that when she gets to heaven there are going to be lots of friends to play with and as many treats as she wants. She took a couple of deep breaths and died in my arms. It was peaceful and beautiful and she gave me the most wonderful gift. Clara, the lover of life, Lily and McDonald’s French fries saved me from having to make that awful decision. Clara was always a people pleaser – right up until the end. Our hearts are broken and my 6 year old daughter is confused. We will miss Clara forever! Thank you so much for giving us the gift of Clara! She was pure joy!!! Heaven certainly gained a jewel this morning.

Max
Precious Max went to the Bridge on July 29, 2014. He brought nothing but love and joy into the lives of his family and they so returned it. He was happiest when he was in their laps. He will be sorely missed; they loved Max dearly. Our condolences to his family Dave and Susan. RIP sweet boy.

Gertie
Oct. 8, 2014 I sit here with tears streaming down my face, as I write to tell you all that our dear Gertie has gone to the Bridge. As you know, she has been steadily going downhill for months, and we have been struggling with knowing when the time was right to send her on her final journey to the Bridge. She was still eagerly eating, and would still interact with the world somewhat by barking at the wind when outside, so I knew it wasn’t her time yet. Last night, however, she had a first ever grand mal seizure, which lasted a good 6 minutes or so, and then had difficulty breathing after the seizure stopped. We knew her time had come, so Jim and I took her over to the Emergency Vet and sent her to the Bridge. She went peacefully in my arms. Our Gertrude Maude was a puppy mill rescue from an Amish puppy mill in Ohio. She was rescued by Lucky Star Cavalier Rescue in 2009, and was in foster care for a while with an absolutely wonderful foster mommy who rehabilitated her and got her used to life outside of the mill. We adopted Gert in May of 2009, 3 months after we lost our dearest Chester. I had not been looking for another dog, but for some reason (fate, obviously), went looking at the Lucky Star site, and when her little face popped up, I literally gasped out loud. It was a thunderbolt and I knew we had to have her. We were told that she was about 7 years old then. She melded into our pack very well. She was our littlest one to that point, so after we named her “Gert”, the nickname “Gert the Squirt” came naturally, since she was “just a little squirt”. She participated in our annual Holiday photos, and my favorite pic of her from those is her as the angel in the Nativity Scene. She always had spunk, did our Gert. She was full of life and a little bit bossy. She would bark at our neighbor when he mowed his lawn. We think she had ben debarked at the puppymill, since her bark was very breathy and soft. It was funny to see her bark at Jeff while he mowed the lawn, then stop when he disappeared behind the garage, then start barking at him again when he came back into view. You could see that she believed she had made him disappear and was affronted that he dare show up again! She is now at peace in my father’s arms at the Rainbow Bridge. She can hear well, can see well, can walk a straight line, can run and jump and play. She has all her teeth again and eat whatever she wants without tummy upset. She can bark with her full voice to her heart’s content. She is with Scout and Lainie and Chester and all of her buddies from the puppymill who went before her. God bless you, Gertrude Maude. We love you and will miss you. You were a very very special little girl, and you touched our lives deeply. You taught us how to love unconditionally. Sweet dreams, Puddin’ Pop.

Jenna
From Michele Landis June, 2014 RIP Sweet Jenna. My sweet Jenna passed away and losing her is heartbreaking. For 5 1/2 years, Jenna was kept a prisoner in an Ohio puppy mill. She was haunted by the horror she experienced and saw around her everyday. It was my honor to help her overcome her fears while falling in love with her more each day. Jenna loved her freedom, especially running in the grass and playing with her sisters, Annie and Bun Bun, who are also puppymill recues. Jenna was here with me for 4 years and I know she is waiting at the Bridge, her health restored. Like Annie and Bun Bun, Jenna was a Lucky Star Cavalier Rescue and she has many other Lucky Star Cavs to welcome her. Run free dear Jenna and chase those butterflies until we meet again.

Fletcher
Fletcher crossed the Bridge tonight to meet his best friend Owen. Fletch had been diagnosed with end stage liver disease in January 2014 and had more good days than bad days until this past week. He passed away snuggled in my arms, peacefully passing from one phase of life into another. Fletcher was my first foster -- and my first foster failure! He walked into my house the very first day as if he owned it, and he did! Always "second banana" to Casey, Fletcher was everyone's friend, groomer, and cuddle buddy. Fletcher was my snuggle bug, first one in my lap in the evenings and first one in the bed at night. He had the most beautiful face with eyes that looked into your soul and reflected his own loving soul. Everyone remarked upon his sweet face. There will always be an empty space in my heart for my Fletcher...absent in body but never in spirit!