We remember when you came into our lives, some friends of ours were moving, and could not take you along. And they asked Alan if he would take you. And of course he said yes, besides Cody needed a playmate. However for the first few weeks no-one saw you. You hid under the bed for those few weeks, and eventually you broke down and came out of hiding.

I remember Alan saying “Wow, who are you” to this little black ball of fur. And it didn’t take you long to become queen of the castle either. You were always a good kitty. I remember when you would sleep with Alan, or head butt me, or chew on my hair. Those are the things that we will miss the most about you Chloe. I remember sitting on the couch watching TV and you would come and give little head butts throughout the movie to Alan and I.

But the time came when Chloe also said it was time, and we knew we needed to say our good-bye’s to her as well. Chloe you lived a great life, full of fun and excitement. You were the queen, and you always had a big heart.

Chloe you will be missed like you won’t believe. I/we know that Smokey and Cody were there waiting for your arrival, so you weren’t alone. You will never be forgotten, Chloe you are forever in our hearts.

~Laura & Alan

I remember the day we brought you home. You were all by yourself in the pet store, and you were so eager to be adopted. That you could hardly wait to get out of the cage. I remember them bringing you from around back; you climbed right up my shoulders. And you made yourself quite comfortable on my shoulders.

And that was it; you were coming home with us, for some reason you knew that would make me melt. Then Alan said we should get you a spiked collar and call you “Butch”……….. Of course that wasn’t going to be your name, he was kidding.

So we took you home with us that day, and you have been with us from that day forward. It didn’t take long to figure out your name, Buffalo Bill Cody. And you filled that name quite well. But we called you Cody for short.

We have been through a lot together. Some ups, and downs, but we have all pulled through together. And Cody you have been there through it all, never judging any of us.

But the time came when Cody said it was time, and we knew we needed to say our good-bye’s. Cody you lived a great life, full of fun and excitement. You were king of the castle, ruler of the roost, but most of all you had a big heart.

Cody you will be missed like you won’t believe. I/we know that Smokey was there waiting for your arrival, so you weren’t alone. You will never be forgotten, Cody you are forever in our hearts.

~Laura & Alan

~ Jamie W., 1/18/09

Smokey was my shadow, which is one thing I will miss; I will also miss all of our talks. We used to have talks that would go one for quite a while. And if he had something to say well, you’d better listen. He was also my sleeping companion. My husband didn’t really care for that too much since he had to share me, but he accepted the fact that Smokey was here to stay.

He also always greeted me at the door when I came home from work; if I was working on the computer he was there to help me out. If it was work related, he made sure my numbers matched. And if I was playing a game he helped make sure the bad guys didn’t get me.

He was also an excellent mouser; he loved those catnip filled mice. I could throw them down the hallway and he would chase them down and bring them back. Sometimes he would hold onto them though like they were his prize and those were always fun to step on in the middle of the night.

However one day we noticed that Smokey was breathing rough and coughing, so we took him to our vet, Dr. Rosen “The Feline Veterinary Clinic”, Falls Church, VA and started to treat him for what we thought was a typical cold. But that wasn’t the case, so our vet took X-Rays of his lungs. His poor lungs looked like they had blizzards going on in them.

Our vet then referred us to an oncologist at South Paws, Fairfax, VA, we knew then there were big issues ahead. And we knew at that point we were dealing with quality of life issues. So I/we treated my Smokey Joe like a king up until the very last moment. He at least deserved that much for his last days..

In these difficult times it was nice to see that Smokey was well taken care of by your organization. We have other furry little friends in our household, and when we took a couple of them in on Friday, December 5, 2008 for their check ups, I was able to pick up Smokey. I was completely taken back by the way Smokey was presented to me.

I also was quite taken back by the donation made in Smokey’s honor to the Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County. But I think most of all was the guardian angel pin that I received from you all. That really hit home and brought tears flowing. I truly appreciate it, and I wear it proudly on my badges at work. So this way my Smokey Joe is with me always. Thanks again for everything you did to help make this a little easier to deal with.

Smokey Joe, Alan and I along with your Brothers and Sister miss you so very, very much, it just isn’t the same in the house without you here. You are forever in our hearts my faithful friend and companion.

Smokey was born on March 23, 1996, a solid gray kitten with very big ears and a kink in his tail, but with a very big heart. You will always be remembered that way, my furry little friend.

~ Laura

I adopted this cat 2 years and 4 months ago when he was already ten years of age. He was the cat at the DC shelter that nobody wanted. He was rude, surly, and huge. He had already developed a bad case of ear polyps and I was told it was only a matter of time before he developed feline diabetes. When I found out his previous owner had died, I couldn't say no, so Lucky and I came home together. When I let him out of his carrier, he ran off and disappeared under my bed, not to be seen for the rest of the day. When I came home from work the next day, Lucky was sprawled out in front of the TV...he officially "owned" my house. The picture of him here is from that night. From that moment on, his entire demeanor changed. He had turned, overnight, into the most loving and wonderful cat I could ever imagine having. He would wake me up every morning at the same time for his food, and would greet me every night at the door when I got home. He would follow me from room to room and was always ready to sit on my lap. I was truly rewarded for taking a risk and adopting him.

The decision to let him go was the most difficult thing I have had to do so far in my life, but I know it was the right thing to do. I would urge anyone reading this to go ahead and take a chance on the old pet that nobody else wants. You just might be rewarded with a wonderful companion like I was.

I'll miss you, fat cat...

~Ben

~ Candice H.

When I adopted her from the SPCA in Pennsylvania in 1990 they said she would be euthanized next, I adopted her that day and she had 19 years of a wonderful life. She will be sadly missed by her companian cat, Samantha. She survived having her thyroid removed 5 years ago and bravely took insulin shots for diabetes twice a day for the past year.

She loved to lay in the sun every morning and in front of the fireplace on cold winter evenings. My home will never be the same without her to greet me with a friendly "Meo" at the door when I came home from work. She wes kind, and loved people especially kneeding on everyone and giving little kitty massages.

We love you Tabitha and we will see you again in a better place where your not suffering anymore.

I am trying to make it through another day without you and I had someone tell me today that you were "Just a Dog"!

I will have to agree with the fact that you are Just a Ddog! But let me add a little something.....

You were Just a Dog that I lived with for the last 15 years!

You were Just a Dog that I took a walk with every morning and every evening!

You were Just a Dog that I had breakfast with every morning!

You were Just a Dog that waited for me to return home from work every day patiently!

You were Just a Dog that loved anyone that showed you Attention!

You were Just a Dog that loved to have dinner with me every night!

You were Just a Dog that loved to cuddle with Rick & I to watch TV every night!

You were Just a Dog that loved her treats before bed time!

You were Just a Dog that climbed into our bed every night for a good night's sleep!

Sleep my darling for you were just the best dog one could wish for!!!!

You were Just Our Dog!

Love,
Corey & Rick

~ Karen W.

Yukio was a beautiful, affectionate, idiosyncratic cat. Andre and I miss him terribly.

I am indescribably sad about losing Yukio.

~ Nancy D.

Our darling and beloved boy, Dallas, went to Heaven on 12/9/2005. He was 12 years old. He had liver cancer. We took him for chemo treatment but the doctor said the treatments weren't working. They said he would not get better so we had to let him go to Heaven.

Dallas, you were a joy. Nothing bothered you. You were a great brother to Domino, Dimples and Darcie. You would come to bed with me each night. I had to pick you up and move you off the comforter because you pretended you couldn't do it. Remember how this became a game that we played each night. Remember how I would kiss you on top of your head and tell you how much I loved you. We had so much fun together. I don't have enough words to tell you how much I love you and miss you. You were the first of my angels to leave me and the pain was unbearable. You were a good cat. There will never be another like you. You were Mommy's boy.

Dallas, your Daddy and I will love you till the end of time. You will wait for us and we will cross that Rainbow Bridge together. We will see you again.

Dallas, we will love you always...

~ Esther & Ricardo W.

My beloved little boy, Domino, went to Heaven on 2/24/07. He was 9 years old. He had a bad heart. A blood clot went to his back legs and he was paralyzed. We rushed him to the Emergency Hospital but the Vet said there was nothing that could be done. We had to say good bye to him and he went to Heaven.

Dominio, you were my little boy. I remember how you would come to bed with me at night and lay beside me. When your brother, Dallas, went to Heaven you decided each night I had to get a bath since your brother was no longer around. You would lick my face and take your paws and pat my face. I would shed tears because I knew how much you missed your brother. You were a good cat. You were a loving cat. You were my little boy. You would walk around the house without a care in the world. You were a darling angel. When you looked at me with that sweet innocent face, it would melt my heart.

Dominio, your Daddy and I will miss you forever. You were a sweetheart. GOD how I miss you. You will wait for us and we will cross that Rainbow Bridge togeher. GOD Bless you my sweet little boy and rest in peace until we meet again.

Domino we will love you always....

~ Esther & Ricardo W.

She was such a sweet precious angel. She was Mommy's "Pumpkin". She was smart as a whip. She would tilt her head to the side when you talked to her and she would listen to every word you had to say. She understood every word that was said to her. There is so much I can say about her but my heart is to heavy. My heart aches for her. She was as sweet and precious as they come. There will never be another like my Pumpkin.

Pumpkin, Mommy and Daddy will always miss you and love you forever. You will be waiting for us and then we will cross the Rainbow Bridge together.

Pumpkin we will love you always ----

~ Esther & Ricardo W.

She left us to join brothers and sister in Heaven while we were away on vacation. The pain will never go away that we weren't home for her.

She was the most adorable loving pet. She was cute as can be. She was Daddy's girl. Her Daddy called her the "Dimp". She would dance around on her little feet to entertain us or when she wanted her food. She would love to sit in our laps, look at us and grin showing her cute little teeth. She was such a joy. She was always with us. She didn't walk...she would prance. She loved to take pictures. I would have to say "Dimples that's enough pictures for today".

She was a little sister to Dallas (cat) who went to heaven on 12/9/05. She was big sister to Domino (cat) who went to heaven on 2/24/07, to Darcie (dog) who went to heaven on 4/10/07 and to DiDi's best friend and DiDi was there when she went to Heaven. DiDi still morns the lost of her sister and her best friend. We will always mourn you Dimples because you brought so much love and joy to all of our lives.

Mommie and Daddy will love you forever and the hole in our hearts will NEVER go away. We will never know why you left us so unexpectedly but the Vet did let us know you did not suffer and you went peacefully in your sleep.

Dimples, we will love you to the end of time. You will wait for us then we will cross the Rainbow Bridge. We will see you again....

Dimples we will love you always....

~ Esther & Ricardo W.

I love you and I miss you so much Buster, I can hardly breath sometimes. I know your passing was the only way to stop your pain, I'll miss your sweet bark, your funny little way you jumped up in my lap and made me feel better when I was down. I'll miss our walks together and every moment in between.

You will be in my heart always, and i know we will see again someday, we will find our golf course in Heaven to walk on, and I'll never leave you again.

My beloved baby boy, it was a pleasure being your mama. Thank you for picking me. You were such a good little boy.

Lady is looking for you. Dixie, Maggie, LewLew and Daddy send their love.

I'll never forget you, I'll think of you everyday of my life.

Goodbye baby. I love you so much!

~ Mama (Eileen N.)

Among the things I most miss is when he would greet me at the top of the steps with one of his stuffed animals in his mouth. This came to be affectionately known as "offerings."

Shadow offered and gave me so much that I wanted to offer him something in return for the years of joy and happiness he gave me. This offering took the form of the following poem: