Memorials

Mr. Ranger 

October 4, 2006 – September 12, 2019

On September 12, 2020, Mr. Ranger crossed over the rainbow bridge at age 12, one month shy of his 13th birthday.

He joined our family in 2011 when his former family could no longer provide a house and fenced yard for him. His first act upon entering our yard was to try to hump Miss Enya! She promptly flipped him on his back and threatened to neuter him in the middle of the backyard:) He became very respectful of her.

Enya taught him how to show other dogs to behavior around and interact with other dogs. He even taught a postal carrier to not be afraid of dogs after he had been seriously bit. Ranger was demo dog for classes and dog reactive dogs, as well as teaching many therapy dogs to bring great joy to others. In 2014 Ranger became a Certified Therapy dog.

He played Santa Paws during the Christmas parades each year; marched with his baby sister, Moira, in the Colorado Springs Parade of Lights for 2 years and was quite the ladies man.

He loved all girls, both human and dog. He was even a playboy for his last Halloween parade. He was big brother and mentor to Moira. He taught her how to play nicely but still be an enforcer.

Those that Ranger helped share their stories on the Remembering Ranger Page,

Eddie Munster 2007 (?) – July 2017 – Registered Therapy Cat, Demo Cat, Enforcer

Eddie Munster was adopted from Table Mountain Animal Center in October of 2008. He actually volunteered himself for adoption!

I was looking for a kitten to raise as a therapy cat, as a demo cat and to work with dogs. I had picked out a beautiful little grey kitten and was turning to leave when something grabbed my ponytail and yanked. I whipped around and there sat Eddie, just looking straight at me with my hair stuck in his par. He seemed to be saying, “I am just what you ordered, sitting right here the whole time.”

Because we got him right before Halloween, we decided he had to have a Halloween name and Pumpkin it was not. When we got home, the first thing that Eddie did was curl up next to me to watch the “Munsters” marathon on TV. Hend, the name Eddie Munster. He really was just what I ordered.

He instantly took to his job as therapy and demo cat, with an “I love everyone” attitude. His philosophy on life was “There is nothing that some petting can’t fix.” For nine years, Eddie was therapy cat extraordinaire, visiting several nursing homes and building his little harem of “lady friends” at each stop.

He helped teach puppy and socialization class, reminding the dogs that not being gentle meant getting swatted or punched in the nose. He even went to clients’ homes and did private tutoring with their dogs on proper etiquette of interactions with kitties. Through all of it, he never once used his claws. He always sat quietly no matter how big the dog was that was lunging at him. When the dog got too close, he calmly balled up his paws like a fist and “SMACK”…right in the nose. Rarely did any dog need a second lesson.

The love of Eddie’s life was Miss Mattie, who misses him terribly. They took months to get along after Mattie came to live with us. Once they decided to get along, they acted like they have been a “married couple” ever since. They slept together, played together, fought (with Eddie always losing and having a bit of skin missing from his face, despite the fact that Mattie is declawed and was not), and then they were right back to sleeping together. Whenever Eddie left for work ( dog tutoring or therapy visits) Mattie sat by the door waiting for him to come home.

Eddie’s nemesis was Jessie the turtle. He was terrified of the “moving rock”. Whenever Jessie was loose on the floor and we could not find her, we looked for Eddie/ He would be at the furthest point in the room away from Jessie. Fine Eddie and draw a straight line to the farthest distance and there would be Jessie.

Eddie’s death on July 7, 2017 was not only tragic but shocking. He went form a healthy cat to kidney failure in less than 24 hours. The cause was never determined and he had had no contact with poisons or interactions with other cats that were not known to him.

For such a little cat, Eddie left huge pawprints on so many hearts and is deeply missed. So many dogs will never have the pleasure of being taught proper interactions with a kitty.

Emma Krauer-Seelmeyer
September 1991-September 2004

Emma was born in September 1991 of German police dog parents, destined to become the next generation of canine law enforcement. Or was she? She began intensive training at an early age and was enrolled in the police academy before her second birthday. Although she learned new skills very quickly, she never quite fit in. She was a future police dog who would not bite. Emma loved everyone and wanted desperately to be loved in return. Repeated attempts were made to teach Emma fear and anger, including physical abuse. Rather than attack, Emma became frightened and distrusting.

One day a retired police officer saw Emma’s situation and intervened. Emma’s destiny was forever changed that day. Mary Krauer became not only her savior but her new “mom” as well. The two rapidly became inseparable. Emma spent the next 10 years being a devoted and protective companion to Mary. Even though trusting people was very difficult for Emma, she gradually made friends with her neighbor, Carol (who loved Emma as her own), and Marie (the veterinary technician who comforted and cared for Emma during doctor’s visits).

As Mary’s health deteriorated, Emma did her best to care for and protect her “mom”; but a German Shepherd dog can only do so much to help her beloved human. One day Mary was taken away to the hospital and Emma became very frightened. Then her friend Marie came. Marie took Emma to visit her “mom”. Even though the hospital was a very frightening place with strange people and smells; there were also wonderful people there who loved Emma at first sight.

Emma was able to return home with her beloved “mom”, but only for a short time. Mary remained very ill. Emma tried very hard to care for her “mom” until one day Mary did not respond. Emma was confused and terrified. She was trapped in her house with her “mom’s” body. Even Emma knew that Mary’s body was all that remained. Her spirit had departed. For two days, Emma ate from the trash can and tried to figure out how to get help. After two days, Emma risked her own life and jumped through a window to get help. She ran around her yard barking wildly, trying to get someone to help her. After a very lonely and frantic night alone, Emma saw Carol. (Carol knew that Emma was never outside at night, so something must be wrong). Emma was overjoyed to see Carol enter the fence. Emma was immediately taken to Carol’s house and given the first real food in three days. Emma’s “mom” was taken away and Emma never saw her again.

Emma was very frightened and confused. All that she had known for most of her life was suddenly gone. What would happen to her now?

Marie came, and Emma’s life changed again. Emma went to live with her friend Marie, and experienced many new and exciting things. Now Emma had dog “siblings” to play with. She went hiking in the mountains, played in dog parks and met many new people who loved her. Emma’s new “sisters” showed her how wonderful it was to visit hospitals and nursing homes. Within months, Emma had earned her Therapy Dog Registration and had more friends that she could ever imagine.

Emma was getting older and despite the best care available, her muscles began to weaken. One morning she simply could not hold herself up any anymore and collapsed. She was rushed to the hospital and received exceptional love and care for two days. Despite the wonderful care, she lost the ability to lift her head, or control her bladder. With her new family and many of her new friends gathered around her, Emma was released from her body. Her spirit went to join her “first mom” Mary.

Emma will always be loved and remembered as the police academy dropout with the heart of a therapy dog.

Niladvyi

Finnish Spitz/Chow Chow mix born April 1993

Rescued from a creek in Georgia

Registered Therapy Dog, Canine Good Citizen

For those of you who knew Miss Niladvyi, my Princess and Lead Dog for 14 years, she is truly an angel now.

On Monday, August 20, 2007 at 2:15 pm., she was released from her failing body, her heart stopped and she was given the eternal peace that she deserved.

As some of you know, her mental capacity had been deteriorating over the previous two years, due to Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (doggy Alzeihmers). She had two collapsed disks in her neck, which gradually decreased her movement and, eventually, control of her hind quarters

Thanks to the wonderful efforts of Drs. Deanna Miller, Jonathan Quint and Monica Overman, her life (and quality of life) were greatly extended. In her last week, she began chewing on her joints, in reaction to pain or numbness.

I felt that she needed to be released from her failing body and mind to enjoy the rest that she had earned through 14 years of faithful service, friendship and support.

She spent her last moments in the grass and sunshine that she loved, sitting in her mommy’s lap, with her daddy and Aunt Deanna there.

She was an angel with fur, and now she has shed that fur and become a true angel. Her spirit will remain with me always.

I want to thank Dr. Deanna Miller and Mary Cook at Pets Vet of Arvada for their wonderful care or her, through the years, and especially during Nila’s last moments. They made a painful good-bye easier for me and more pleasant for Nila. I also want to thank Kristina Durham for her support in making a painful, but necessary decision.

I want to thank everyone who has been so understanding and supportive. This good-bye would have been much more difficult without you.

Thank you all for your love and support of Nila through the years.

Rocky-Therapy cat

Domestic Shorthair, Born June 1999

Rescued from a trailer park

Rocky crossed over the rainbow bridge to join his sisters Nila and Diddy on June 8, 2008, as a result of dog-bite injuries.

Rocky, known as the one-eyed wonder, office cat, therapy cat, and class demo, will always be greatly missed. He would have been 9 years old a month after his death.

Rocky was buried with his favorite wrestling buddy, Miss Diddy, beneath her evergreen tree.

Isaac Newton

Saint Bernard mix born March 2008

Adopted from Freedom Service Dogs November 2008

Isaac (Saint Bernard mix) was rescued from Greeley Animal Shelter by Freedom Service Dogs and began training as a balancing dog, at 9 months of age. Due to repeated episodes of human aggression, Isaac was released from the service dog training program

Isaac was adopted by Marie in 2007. Isaac was diagnosed with “idiopathic rage syndrome”. This is a neurological disorder that causes seizures in the form of uncontrollable “rages.” Isaac would attack without provocation and without control of his actions while in a “rage.”

Through anti-seizure medication and Chinese medicine, we were able to minimize Isaac’s rages for two years. During that time, Isaac’s physical discomfort, from irreparable spinal damage was minimized. Isaac was able to lead a happy and eventful life, including attending dog parties, playing with his “siblings” and beginning therapy dog training. Issac’s aggression towards humans was nearly eliminated.

Although Issac was euthanized in October 2009 after a violent and uncontrollable seizure/rage, the information learned from helping him, medically and behaviorally, has helped many other dogs lead happy and longer lives.

To Read More about Issac’s rage condition and treatments conducted, visit Calming Isaac’s Rage

Toffee

Chow Chow/Shepherd Mix, Born ?

Rescued from euthanasia; Demonstration Dog, Training Assistant,  Registered Therapy Dog, READ Dog, Canine Good Citizen

Taka

Taka’s life was cut tragically short at 18 months of age. Rescued from a shelter, Taka spent his last year with two loving families, his wonderful human parents and his second family/dog-sitter Miss Marie. He learned to play ball with his doggy sister Bella, run with his mom, pass his Canine Good Citizen test, pull a sled and even perfect his “Woohoo!” He was a husky angel in this life, and now watches over his Nordic brethren.

Heidi

Belgian Malanois – Born October 2005

Adopted from Front Range German Shepherd Rescue – December 2007

Thank you to everyone for your incredible support after Heidi crossed the rainbow bridge. Several people have asked how to best honor her memory. Please make a donation to Front Range German Shepherd Rescue in her memory. Donations will go to help other Shepherds find loving forever homes.

You can donate at http://frgsr.org/ (go to bottom left corner and click on make a donation). Heidi thanks you for helping others like her find forever homes.

Timon

On Feb 15, 2016 Timon passed across the rainbow bridge to join his teacher Miss Enya.

Timon began his life in 2006 in Byers, Colorado. He joined his human family with his litter mate Pumba. The brother/sister duo rampaged through life being playmates, and trouble-times-two for their human mom Sarah.

When Timon enticed his sister into slipping out of the yard and chasing a smaller dog, he earned him and his sister lessons with Marie and Miss Enya.

All Timon ever wanted to do was love and play. The only thing bigger than his heart and smile was his tongue. Timon was nicknamed “Timon the Tongue”, because of the extraordinary length of his tongue, which never fit completely into his mouth. He experienced life through that tongue-licking everyone and everything he came into contact with. (Miss Enya offered to shorten the tongue when Timon tried to lick her face:).

After 10 years of living it large, Timon’s big heart finally gave out. He left behind his loving mom Sarah and devoted sister Pumba — and all of those he licked through his life.