To All our Family and Friends,
A heartfelt thanks to all of you who have sent cards, emails and phone calls to comfort us in our loss! We truly are grateful to all of you who have helped us through this very sad time! As you might all know, Sebastian died of a disease called hemangiosarcoma. You can read about it on this website:
http://www.caninecancerawareness.org/CanineCancer-Hemangiosarcoma.html
Love, Terri & Adrian
September 23 - the first holiday - Dad's birthday - without you. No Sebastian to tear open presents and rip up envelopes - oh how you loved holidays and presents - such a sad day without you.
August 26th - one month since you have gone and your toys and tennis balls are still in the back of my car waiting for you. Each day is another reminder that you are not with us.
August 16, 2005

To Sebastian- my love chop!

It has been 3 weeks since you have been taken from us so unexpectedly! Initially, both Dad and I have been wondering around in a state of shock and disbelief that you are no longer with us! Even though, your ashes sit on our fireplace, the tears seem to be endless and the absence so overwhelmingly painful that it hurts to even think! Everything seems so empty and everywhere we look, WE SEE YOU! You have become part of everywhere we want to be and without you, we feel so lost!

I still wake up every morning thinking that you will come and lick my nose to remind me it is time to get up. Then we would go downstairs, get a cup of coffee, open the back door and you would go running out whilst I get a cup of bird seed to fill the feeder. As I go outside, I would watch you roll on the grass and wash your face and let the world know that you are awake! You would patiently wait for my return and then we would proceed to the side of the house where you would roll in the grass again. We finally go through the gate, in front of the house where you find a bush, then proceed down the driveway where you would proudly fetch and carry the paper back and then scuttle back to the house the same way we came. We would then decide if we would sit by the pool or go back into the house to read the newspaper! You would politely remind us that you need your medicine but more importantly, your biscuit!

You would wait ever so patiently for Dad to shower and as soon as you hear the water running from his bathroom, like clock work, you would run up to his bathroom and wait for him to finish getting dressed. After a certain, time you would start to bark at him so he would be reminded that it was time for YOUR morning walk at Longshore!

When I would get to the office, you would greet me ever so lovingly, with big puppy kisses and a huge smile! After a belly rub or 2, you would take your place besides the wall near Dad's desk! When the TNT, FEDEX, UPS and DHL men would come deliver our packages, you would assume your job as mail boy and quickly grab the package or envelope and dutifully deliver it to one of us! YOU ARE SO CLEVER and make everybody laugh!

After some time, you would make your way over to my desk, especially during lunch time, when we would share my chicken soup and you would lick the rest of the yogurt out of my the cup. It's become somewhat of a joke the way we shared food. Talk about guilt if we did not give you any! You really are a smooth food operator!

We would then take our afternoon stroll down Wood's Grove, so that you would do more of your business!! Then, we would go back to the office where you would quickly take your place back at the wall near Dad's desk! You patiently would wait until it's was time to leave to the office and make it a point that the evening walk was as important as your morning and afternoon ones! If it became too late, we get a serious "yelling at!" I must admit you were ever so patient with me!

The evening walk was as important for me as well! It would give me time to spend alone with you and watch how you carefully selected each bush and smell every blade of grass before you would even consider lifting your leg! I have always wondered why it takes 100 leg lifts and 2000 smells for a dog to complete his business, when in 2 minutes; it's over for humans! Everyday, I would shake my head, and laugh at the performance you would make! You made me realize how the smaller things in life count and began to appreciate nature and its entire splendor! Through the blustery rain, sleet, boiling sun, smothering humidity, snow, ice or wind, there we were side by side spending time with each other and Mother Nature. You certainly have kept both of us in shape!

When we got home, you barked your way up the stairway into the kitchen with dire anticipation that your meal would be waiting for you. Invariably, the parent who was not walking you would have your meal already prepared!

Afterwards, you would assume your prone position on the kitchen floor, sprawled out like a bear rug! After a certain time, you would go outside for your evening surveillance and ferociously bark at the deer and other forms of wild life, to remind them and us that they were not welcomed on your "turf!" You would then come inside and take your place by my side and patiently wait for some scraps from my plate!

Before going to bed, there would be one last walk around the garden before you would go upstairs, jump on our bed to kiss us good night then take your place on Dad's bathroom floor for your evening sleep!

My Ode to Sebastian!

Now we wake up and you are no longer there, no more puppy licks and big brown eyes that stare! Gone are the days watching you roll in the grass, gone are the belly rubs, which you wanted to last!

I look around to all the places where you once made your mark; I look around our little world and see it ever so stark! I feed the birds and talk as if you were there, I look around and my eyes begin to tear! Alone I fetch the paper, alone I still take our walks, imagining you besides me, imagining we still talk! There's no more sharing my chicken soup and yogurt and no more licking my plate! Gone are our days as share bears, a memory that will never escape! Gone is the Merlin mail dog that brought smiles to everyone's face!

Gone is the image of Bassie, jumping off the side of the pool, watching him ever so obsessively, chasing tennis balls like a crazy fool! The garden seems ever so empty with no tennis balls on the ground; swimming is ever so lonely without our little Pumpkin around!

Although your life was short and you are no longer here, your memories are forever embedded in my heart and mind! Good- bye my devoted, trusting and loving friend!Until we meet again, I love you forever and always,

Love,
Your Puppy Mommy
Terri

A Tribute to the Dog

'Gentlemen of the Jury: The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful.

Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith.

The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it the most.

A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads.

The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog.

'Gentlemen of the Jury, a man's dog stands by him prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness.

He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side.

He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world.

He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince.

When all other friends desert he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is a constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.

If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies, and...

When the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death.'

by Senator George Vest

"An Ode to Adrian- My Puppy Daddy" -given to Adrian on his 50th birthday- September 23, 2004!

I remember the very first time I saw Adrian, he and my puppy Mom, Terri, came up to the Rainbow Kennel in Killingworth, CT, where I was born on January 21,1998. Both he and Terri were looking for a new puppy. There I was with my 10 other brothers and sisters, playing tug of war with a long scarf and suddenly he picked me up. He couldn't get over the size of my paws!! He immediately said, I WANT HIM! I remember Grandma Debbie, she's the breeder, cutting a piece of hair off my tail and off we went playing again!

A few weeks later, they came back to get me and ever since then,
it was love at first sight! I must admit I was very scared in my new home without my Mom,brothers, sisters and all, but within a few short weeks, after a bit of yelping and howling, I knew that I would be very happy in my new home! And I must admit, I think I really have it made! At least that's what everyone else tells me!

So,here's to Adrian from Sebastian, his four-legged,fury fool!

What can I say about the man who through the sweltering heat, torrential rains, in blustery snow storms, was there, by my side, walking me, so I can do my business! Oh, how I love those trees! One time we made the first page of the Westport Newspaper for being the only fools walking at the golf course in a blizzard! Now, I am a star! I have such fond moments of our time at the golf course..do you remember when?
-I rolled in a dead animal so that I would hide my scent? That's what dogs do you know? Everyone kept saying.. what is that rancid smell? Guess who?
-Or when I rolled in dog or goose dung- That was easy to figure out!
-Or the time I chased a skunk at the golf course and got sprayed, or in my garden I get sprayed again! I even had a problem with that. Gotta love those ketchup baths!I guess I tested my Mom's and Dad's patience! BUT, I REALLY LOVE TO ROLL IN THE MUD! I'M A BOY!

I have a bit of a reputation for being a bit of a bully and troublemaker, which has often landed me at the vet! But really, it's not ALWAYS my fault! Really! My Mom calls me CATIVO, which means bad in Italian! My Dad says another word, which I am not allowed to say!

Do you remember when?
-I slit my pad on a seashell at the beach whilst running into the Long Island Sound? I think I got 2 stitches. And the time I got into a scrape with the German Shepherd, Boxer, Golden Retriever or was that 2, the Black Labs, or the Pit Bull who jumped out of the car window and punctured my neck in three places,(that was totally not my fault!) I kicked his ass-oh boy!
Or the time when that little Yorkshire terrier with a "Napoleanic Complex" decided that it was going to bite my front paw for no reason. TALK ABOUT ISSUES!

It's not easy being me! I am very famous at Poster Animal Hospital especially when I was a puppy! Boy,how I loved to eat sticks and cow manure! And you thought worms were tough to pass! Ouch! At any rate, those were the good old days!

I love our long walks on the beach where I get to swim, roll in the sand, dig holes and bury my tennis balls! My Mom gets really upset because I make a mess of the house! But really, you know she's a bit anal. My Dad let's me do what I want to!

Speaking of tennis balls, do you remember when one rolled under our fence and into our neighbour's garden, under a pile of dead leaves? I went obsessively chasing it and dove into a bee's nest! Ouch! 100 bees stung me! I froze up and couldn't walk, but my Dad courageously picked up little 85 pound me, and rushed me off to the vet! I could have died! Thank you for saving me!
Something makes me think that I have something to do with his back problems? I just want to say that I am sorry!

Ah,those tennis balls! My best moments with my Puppy Daddy is getting him to continually throw tennis balls at the golf course-or in our swimming pool where I jump off the edge of the pool and try to get them. I think their friends come over to see the show! I know I can be quite the ham! Ah, those dog days of summer- NO PUN INTENDED, of course!

I especially love to eat! That was not the case as a puppy, but I have made up for lost meals! I love when my Dad sneaks me an extra biscuit when my Mom is not looking. Shh, that's our little secret! Or when we drive to the Puppy Parlor in Clinton and WE ALWAYS stop at Dunkin' Donuts for coffee and of course a coffee roll! That's my favourite! You see, I said WE! Mmmm good! I just love donuts,meat,eggs,chicken,cookies,pizza,pasta,cheese,cereal,
sausage,milk and yogurt! Ah, life is good!

Thank you for being my Puppy Daddy! I couldn't have picked a better person myself! Thank you for all those belly rubs and wrestling matches. It's nice to be boys together! Yeah, I know you're still the Alpha! But I try! My bed is still MY bed! That we got clear!

Thank you for all the SELFLESS hours of devotion that you have given me! I just wanted to end by saying that..

"You are my Alpha, you are my Friend and that I will LOVE YOU 'til the end!

Happy Birthday from your loyal,faithful,loving dog,
SEBASTIAN