Candy was born on January 12, 1990. We brought her home on March 17, 1990. For our family, it was our first dog and little did we know what an impact she would have on our lives. Candy loved being around people, especially our family. Wherever we would go inside or out of the house she would come. She loved being involved in everything, and why wouldnt she, she was part of our family. There are so many memories that we have of her. One of course the day we brought her home. How she ran around the house running, running, running in circles as if she were saying Yes, I like it hereI am home. Another is her unusual greeting of hello; it was more like a cheerful howling that we were home. I also remember when she first swam in the pool. It was one weekend many years ago when we were in the pool, and of course Candy wanted to be with us so we put her in. And on instinct she swam and paddled around. After a little while we put her on a raft where she floated in the sun with us. Candy also had a favorite toy, a red white and blue rubber toy bone. No matter what new toy she would get, she would always go back to the bone. And then there was her BLANKET, how she loved curling up on it; especially after it had just come out of the dryer and was still warm. Candy didnt hesitate to make herself comfortable anywhere in the house as long as we were there. Once when painting the dining room we had old blankets covering the floor Candy would lay there on the blanket in the middle of paint cans, brushes and ladders. I remember how she loved to have her stomach rubbed. If we would do it, she would lay there for hours. And oddly enough thats one of the last things she tried to do. The last time we saw her was at the doctors office the day before. I remember the nurse carrying her out and laying her on the examination table. Candy had an IV in her paw, and was shivering. The doctor had said they were keeping her on a heating blanket. We were unaware at that point if she even knew if we were there. But then like she always would do, she tried turning on her side for her stomach to be rubbed. I will never forget the way she looked that last time. Candy passed away on October 9th 2001. One of the most special memories that I have of her is the month prior to her death. My father had just come home from having surgery and was in a lot of pain and very uncomfortable. It makes me very happy to think that Candy was there for him; somehow she knew and helped him through it. It has been almost 1 year since her death and the pain of it is still as if it happened yesterday. They say time heals all wounds. Some days are easier than others, but our hearts are still broken over her death. We have created a sort of memoriam in the spot where her she would lay on her favorite blanket. One of the things that helps get through is knowing that one-day we will all see her again at Rainbow Bridge.