The following Sunday, I had to truly be talked into going to see you at the shelter (thank you Jen!). I wasn't looking to own a pet and I didn't want a pet. I wasn't all that good at taking care of myself and knew that I didn't want to be responsible for another living thing! And, besides, I didn't think dogs were allowed in my cool apartment with a great view. Going to see you was just a waste of time.

When I got to the shelter, I found out that you had been deemed "non-adoptable" because they said you weren't a "warm and fuzzy dog" and that you had been giving "hard looks" to the workers there. They were apprehensive to put you in the play area with anyone, but having some interaction with you a week earlier, they allowed you to come out to see me.

I remember you walked around the fenced in patch of grass almost completely indifferent of me. I thought to myself that you were so pretty but I certainly didn't want to make a huge commitment to a dog that couldn't care less if I existed. And then, without prompting, you came up to me, sniffed my leg, looked up at me with your golden eyes, and flopped over and showed me your belly.

And then my life changed forever.

I signed all the necessary the papers and even went back to see you one more time before I left......and you whimpered and cried out as I left. Maybe you weren't so indifferent after all. And while I know it was only because I was a familiar face, it did make me feel like I was doing the right
thing.

At the shelter they called you Goldie, but the name Gypsy just seemed to fit you better.

You were spayed and the next day I brought you home on a warm Tuesday afternoon. I didn't know you. You didn't know me. Suddenly, I find myself in a position where I have to carry you up three flights of stairs because you couldn't climb them yourself after your surgery. You trusted me. I trusted you. You were stoic, but I wasn't afraid.

The next few weeks included me receiving eviction papers, massive rains, my father hospitalized after a heart attack, you riding in cars for hours at time during the search for a pet friendly place to live that would allow a dog of your size, and scariest of all, you escaping out of the yard of a co-worker kind enough to offer to keep you while I searched for a new place to live. You made it nearly a mile and a half while crossing three major streets during the morning rush hour!! It was a miracle you didn't get hit!(You had a tag with my phone number and I will always be thankful to the guy who caught you and called me!)

It was chaos and I wondered what I had gotten myself into.

But in the midst of all the craziness, one day I walked through the door from work, you saw me and wagged your tail for the first time. You were mine. I was yours.

Over the next nearly nine years you were a constant in my life. You traveled so well in the car. We used to drive the 45 minutes to see my parents and Lucky "the pest"....you never seemed to mind the journey since grandpa always had a pocketful of treats!! You did so well in the car, you got to visit Santa Barbara, Solvang, and San Diego a bunch of times.

Ya know, Gyps, it was okay with me that you didn't have any interest in chasing the ball or carrying around sticks in your mouth. I never minded that you were not big on licking or even that your fur got on all of our clothes. You were patient with every stranger who wanted to pet you and every little kid who wanted to hug you. You kept Kristen company during the day and nights I worked late. You found a comfortable places to sleep and made everyone step around or over you.

We were so fortunate to have lived so close to Community Veterinary Hospital in Garden Grove, California. Dr. Grant, Dr. Jennings and the entire staff always took such good care of you. While you didn't like to stay away from home without us, the folks at Animal Friends Pet Hotel were wonderful to you, even when you'd just go in for a bath.

Back on September 5th, I took you to get scanned to determine the size of what Dr. Jennings believed was a thyroid tumor. You spent a long day at the scanning facility and were so weak when I picked you up, I was certain that the time had come to say goodbye. I called Kristen and Community Veterinary Hospital stayed open for us. Thankfully, Dr. Ericson recognized you were just very dehydrated and gave you intravenous fluids. And while we were nervous for the the next few days, you got your strength back. The scan results came back and the news was worse than we imagined; there was not one, but two active and inoperable tumors. Once we came to grips with the diagnosis, we made a point of making the most of the time we had left with you. You probably noticed we were considerably more generous with treats and restaurant leftovers! We were blessed with 5 months of bonus time with you.

Before we knew it, you were very much back to being yourself. And while you made it through my birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Kristen's birthday, the bad days were more and more often. Our walks grew slower and shorter, but you always found a way to surprise us! It was late January that you even successfully climbed the little grassy hills along our walk that you used to easily scale when you were healthy!

And until Kristen and I said goodbye to you a week ago Saturday, you'd been there every moment of our marriage. Up until a week ago Saturday you were our companion, our burden, our comfort, our excuse, our purpose, our reason, our joy........and you were always our special girl.

You will always be Kristen's Baby Girl. You will always be my Gippo!

We were blessed to have had every single moment we shared with you. We are blessed to have had thousands of sweet memories.

We love you Gyps.

We miss you, Fuzzy One.

Thank you, Gypsy.

You were a fine girl.

December 2014:

My Sweet Gypsy,

Much of the year I was too aware your absence. You were so weak at the end, I never doubted that we did the right thing when we said goodbye.

The "popcorn" answer to my prayer helped me pass through the darkness and the despair of brokenhearted loss.

I saw you "in the clouds" exactly when I needed to. Gyps, I simply missed you.

By summer I was convinced I was ready for another dog......companion....family member....soul to welcome into our home, I deferred to Kristen to know when the time was right.

On October 29th, the time came. After a couple of days of exploring shelter and rescue websites, she found Lucy. A Lab-Golden mix. You would love her!

She could never "replace" you, nor was that the goal. You were the soul we were supposed to have and love during the time we were blessed to share with you. Lucy is clearly the soul we are supposed to love and share our lives with now.

My prayer was answered in such an obvious way, I know you're fine and that you know how much you were loved.

I'll always love you girlie!

Until we meet again.....

February 22, 2018:

Four years without you has gone by so quickly. You will always be our special girl. While I wish you could have been happy and healthy longer, I know in my heart we shared the time we were supposed to. You going to the Rainbow Bridge put us in the position to be ready to adopt Lucy nine months later. I don't know if she would have gotten another chance at a family had we not been looking at the time.She has a sweet soul and greets me when I come home, the way you used to. I really think you two would have been great together.

We shall continue to not take love for granted and will remember to value those in our lives every day. Thank you for all you were and always will be.

Until we meet again....

January 1, 2019

Gypsy, you were joined by Lucky and Goldie as 2018 came to a close. I know in my heart that you were there to greet both of them as well as Reggie when they arrived last year. I can see you all in my heart as you are all running freely through the tall cool grass beyond the Rainbow Bridge together.

Until we meet again....

February 22, 2021

Gypsy,

Seven years have passed so quickly. In September, I know you were there to welcome Sweet Lucy to the endless lush grassy hills beyond the Rainbow Bridge.

The time we shared with you helped us to be the best guardians for Lucy when she came to us in October of 2014. We gave her the best life we could. Like you, her days with us were full of love, adventures, head rubs, an endless supply of toys and she never knew an empty bowl.

And like you, after we said goodbye, she gave us signs that she knew she was loved and when it was time to welcome a new soul into our family....Kiki came to us in January.

Unlike you or Lucy, who each came to us with unknown pasts which included some abuse, Kiki is a puppy. We are sharing her puppy-hood, which we would only endlessly wonder about when looking at you and Lucy.

On our watch, Kiki will never know the fear of a human hand or a rolled up newspaper. Kiki will never know the desperation of living on the street. Kiki will only know all the love we have to offer.

It didn't take long for Lucy to sense she was home with Kristen and I. Kristen worked from home the nearly six years we shared together.

It took a while for your fear, doubt, and uncertainty to thaw to where you felt comfortable and secure in Long Beach. I did my best to love you and to make up for all the hurt others inflicted on you. I had my troubles but the love and trust I saw on your eyes inspired me and truly guided me out of my dark maze of unhappiness and selfishness.

Every morning Kiki looks at me with such love and trust in her eyes, I don't feel worthy of her unconditional love yet I am willing to do anything I can to always see that look.

I can see you in those adoring eyes.

I can see Lucy in those adoring eyes.

I can see Happy in those adoring eyes.

And today, as I reflect back on the seven years since we returned you to God's Heavenly Pack, I can't help but believe you're all still with me today in the eyes and heart of Kiki.

And today, I pray for the guidance and strength to do right by Kiki and give her a life complete, start to finish, where she knows nothing but the love and joy every dog deserves.

Until we meet again....