In 1994 my husband at the time was to be stationed in Rodman Naval Base in Panama City, Panama and I was to follow. The day after arriving I noticed a sign advertising American Black Labrador puppies so we went to look. I immediately fell in love with a black fat little puppy and we decided to take him home with us. Home at the time was in a hotel until our military housing was ready, but it was home. I named him Rebel Yell and he quickly became my baby. Rebel was a wonderul puppy and and equally wonderful dog. We did almost everything together, he was my friend. My husband and I started having serious marital problems and it was decided that I would go back to the states and live in our house so Rebel and I boarded the plane and left. There were some hard times ahead, but they soon smoothed out and things were good. It was just Rebel and I, so we spent our days and nights together sharing pizza and key lime pie. Rebel was a beautiful, shiny, black lab who topped out at 120lbs. of almost pure muscle. In October of 1996 my husband left the military and came home. Life was very different then. He didn't want Rebel on any of the furniture, he wanted to keep him outside all of the time and he would complain that Rebel would never listen to him but then again he never spent any quality time with him and often yelled or hit him. My ex-husband became a very abuse man, both emotionally and sometimes physically. I was scared of him, but didn't have the courage to leave either. It was a bad situation, but I had my Rebel Yell. One day while I was at work he called and when I picked up the phone I heard him say something about an animal shelter, when I asked him what he was talking about he said that there was a stray cat he was going to bring there so I didn't think much more of it. I was very allergic to cats and I didn't want the cat to be on the streets. When I came home that evening Rebel was gone and all that was left was his toys. Then it hit me, did Glenn take him to the animal shelter? I went to where he was and by the time I got there I was crying. When he saw me crying he asked me what the "F" my problem was. Then he told me that he had taken Rebel Yell to the shelter and had him put to sleep. Rebel was a healthy, vibrant 3-year old labrador. I cried and cried, I thought my world had ended. I felt so guilty, why wasn't I there to save him, I never got to say good-bye, I had nothing of him-not even his ashes. I sunk into a depression. Keep in mind that I was afraid of my ex-husband and by this time he had beaten me so down I honestly didn't think I would be able to survive without him even if I could find the courage to leave. About a week later there came a call from the shelter, Rebel had bitten one of the handlers and was scheduled to be put down. WHAT?! I tried so hard to get him back, but Glenn was the one who had the final say. My mother even came over from Ft. Lauderdale to try and take Rebel home with her and Glenn called her up cussing, etc. It was like my baby had been brought back from the dead and was scheduled to die again in three days. I felt like I had died again as well.
Years have passed and I am no longer with Glenn and I will never forgive him for what he did. I will also never forget Rebel Yell. He was born on 01/06/1994 and was put to sleep 3 years later, I do not know that date. Since Rebel I have had another chocolate lab, Maverick, who has also passed on-his story is also on rainbowsbridge.com. I'm sure they are both up there at the rainbow bridge playing together happy and healthy awaiting my arrival. Though I am only in my 30s and hope to live a long and happy life I very much look forward to the day when I can be with them both again. Two beautiful, sweet, wonderful babies who left this earth way too soon. I love you Rebel Yell and have not forgotten you!