Tank

[EVELYN]

As some of you may have noticed, I haven't been on much lately. This has been a very long, very terrible week for us. Tuesday we had to put down our Tank dog....(my avatar's brother) from leukemia. Today was the first time I've written about it to my email buddies, and since I consider all of you my family, I thought I'd include a copy of my tribute to my best buddy, Tank:

A QUICK NOTE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT IT IS WITH A VERY HEAVY HEART THAT I WRITE THIS NOTE. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, OUR TANKMAN DOG WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LEUKEMIA/CANCER IN NOVEMBER. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HELPED HIM CROSS THE RAINBOW BRIDGE THIS PAST TUESDAY. OF COURSE, IT WAS HIS TIME, AND, OF COURSE, WE DID WHAT ANY RESPONSIBLE DOG LOVER WOULD DO, BUT BOY DOES IT HURT.

TANKMAN WAS NEVER A SHOW DOG?.HE HAD TERRIBLE CONFORMATION, NO SHOW ATTITUDE, WAS WAY TOO TALL, AND ONLY WENT AROUND THE RING TO MAKE MAJORS FOR OTHER DOGS AND MAKE TYCE HAPPY..


HOWEVER, HE WAS A WONDERFULLY SWEET, GENTLE SOUL WHO DIDN?T HAVE A MEAN BONE IN HIM. HE LOVED EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING AND PUT UP WITH ALL THE OTHER DOGS HAPPILY. HE NEVER BEGGED, EXCEPT FOR DORITOS OR PIZZA BONES, HARDLY EVER BARKED, WAS NEVER SICK, AND NEVER WANTED OR NEEDED TO BE FIRST?.HE WAS JUST HAPPY TO BE WITH US.

HE LOVED SWIMMING IN THE SOUND?.LITERALLY FOR MILES, CHASING HONKERS IN THE FIELDS, HAVING HIS VANILLA ICE CREAM, CHRISTMAS, CHASING HIS BALL WHEN IT BOUNCED OFF THE ROOF, DIGGING IN THE HORSE STALLS FOR ?RATS,? GOING IN THE MOTOR HOME, AND JUMPING INTO THE UPS TRUCK FOR HIS MILKBONE EVERY TIME THEY DROVE UP OUR DRIVE.

TANKMAN WAS ALWAYS THE FACE IN OUR BACK DOORS, ALWAYS WITH A WAG AND A ?HI MOM OR DAD.? WHILE THE GIRLS WERE YAPPING, HE WAS ALWAYS IN THE BACKGROUND QUIETLY WAITING HIS TURN FOR ATTENTION.

HE WAS THE BEST, AND HE LEAVES A VERY EMPTY SPOT IN OUR HOME AND IN OUR HEARTS. 13 ¾ YEARS IS NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH TIME.

SO PLEASE, KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS, KISS YOUR GUYS TONIGHT AND TELL THEM YOU LOVE THEM FOR THE TANKMAN.

EVELYN, TYCE AND THE GIRLS.

Just love your furbabies out there tonight.....we have them for so very short a time. Ev

 

[Nancy]

Oh Evelyn-

I feel for you. I have had many pets pass over the years. They were all so sweet and wonderful, each in their own way. I loved them all.

Your tribute to your friend was beautiful.

Sorry you had to say goodbye to Tank. He was well loved and he knew it. He couldn't have had a better home.

 

[geebee]

Evelyn,

I am so sorry to hear about Tank but happy that you and he had a good life together.

Tributes like these make me stop and hug my babies (2 Aby cats) just a bit harder and longer than usual.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

 

[Glenda]

Evelyn, I'm so sorry. My heart breaks for you. It hurts so much to love a dear pet. I've lost so many I've lost count. My little old dog is going on 12 and I hate to even think about loosing her. She's my baby!

Tank was so lucky to have you as his family. Hugs & prayers are coming your way.

 

[Georgia]

Evelyn, I'm so sorry about your Tank. It's so hard to put down a good doggie friend - especially when it's pretty sudden. I still get weepy when I think about my poor Sassy who was killed by a car last March - and I have 2 others to think about.

There's no better friend than a canine - no one else loves you so unjudgmentally and totally. I'll be thinking about you and Tyce.

 

[Mary]

Evelyn,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
Mary

 

[Wise]

Evelyn, I'm so sorry about Tank. I sure do feel for you and my prayers are with you. I sure benefitted from our vr friends prayers and support in this situtation. That is such a difficult thing to go through. I feel the stab in my chest that I get from the grief of losing one of my furry friends. Your tribute was very moving; your love for Tank must be great. He surely was an exceptional dog from your description.

Wise

 

[Cris N]

Evelyn,
Sorry to hear that your baby's time had come. I guess it's a reminder to all of us to love those dear to us, furry or not. He was obviously a lucky dog to have such a wonderful family

Cris

 

[labguides]

Dogs are so important in our lives. They give us unconditonal love, provide companionship, and can be a great comedy show.

Mindy with
Sami (Westie, age 10)
Maggie (Westie, age 8)
Vashti (Guide dog breeder, age 4)
Roxy (Guide dog puppy, age 10 months)

 

[Harrybaby666]

Evelyn, I am so sorry for the loss of Tank...

Evelyn, I am so sorry for the loss of Tank...

Having grown up right beside my family dog (He was 2 months older than me) and hearing from my mom that while she was pregnant with me, that our beloved dog stayed right beside her until I arrived and then we grew up together only to lose him in 1980, I can certainly understand the heartbreak you must be feeling....I am a true animal lover and when any pet or animal passes on, it really breaks my heart...Please know that your in my prayers and you have all my best wishes and prayers for healing from your loss as soon as possible. Take Care, Harrybaby

 

[MelissaM]

I am so sorry for your loss. Tuesday, I also lost my beloved Cody to a severe infection. I will miss him so much. Perhaps he and Tank can bring each other comfort?

 

[gadgetman]

Evelyn, "Uncle Harry", Melissa and all the others that have lost a furry loved one,

I am so sorry to hear of your losses. Pets can be true friends and become part of the family very quickly. Thanks for the reminder that we need to give each one of ours a special hug. I also pray that they remain here on this earth for many years providing us the friendship we sometimes don't even deserve.

I live in the comfort that one day I will be greeted in that beautiful, grassy field in the sky by all those pets I've had to say goodbye to. As Will Rogers said: "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."

May God give you comfort in this time of loss.

May God Bless,

Danny

 

[WendyD]

Hello Evelyn,
So sorry to hear about your beloved Tank,
My heart goes out to you,
Pets are such a special part of our lives.
Sending you a big hug
Wendy

 

[Guest]

*hugs*

Very sorry for your loss, Evelyn. Thoughts/prayers coming your way.....

Pets become such a part of our lives...sometimes, without us even knowing it. I remember when we lost Fluffy (Gram and Gramps' dog) and then Fibber (our family dog)....

Heh...as we were going through pictures tonight for the memorial table for the service for Gramps tomorrow, we came across several pictures of dogs they had had.....


Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 32swm/pig valve/pacemaker
MC:family.IL.guide.future = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
chdQB = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/quilt.html
"Where have you gone?" ... Glen Campbell ... 'Still Within The Sound Of My Voice'

 

[hensylee]

Thank you, Evelyn, for sharing your tribute to TANKMAN with all of us. It also serves to remind us of those loving furry people that we all love and have loved during our lives. Humbling, when we recall the loyalties of these family members.

Melissa, please accept my condolences, too. Your friend is beautiful and I know you miss him. Maybe he has already made friends with Tank.

 

[Karlynn]

Didn't know I was going to come online this morning and have a cry.

Evelyn and Melissa, you both have my heart-felt sympathy. Melissa, I remember when you got Cody - an older dog, with some need for the loving attention that only you could give so well. Evelyn, I still miss my Chloe. She had me 13 1/2 years as well. She was not the world's most perfect dog, but she was right by my side continually through my worst days of valve disease. Now we have a sloppy, happy, sweet big bruiser of a dog, who is in our hearts as well, but he made his own spot, Chloe's still remains empty and always will.

I wish you both happy memories and comfort as you adjust to the loss of such dear friends.

 

[EVELYN]

To all

Thank you so much for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers. They mean more than you can know. Tank was a VERY special boy and will always be in our hearts....Everyone here is grieving, even the two girls; but we will get through it.....

Melissa, I will put you in my prayers. I do believe in the rainbow bridge and that they have the ability to "visit" to check up on how we're doing down here after they've gone....it just hurts not to be able to snuggle with him. I know he was welcomed with many barks, neighs, meows up there, but especially those of his brother WT.

Thank you all again, my Mandog has an indelible paw print on my heart.

Evelyn

 

[Yaps]

Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

 

[Karlynn]

Thanks Yaps. When every I read the Rainbow Bridge story is puts a lump in my throat, a tear in my eye and a smile on my face. Because I think of my Mom who had many many dear pets throughout her life. I picture her being completely knocked over by this stampede of dogs and cats when she arrived in heaven.

 

[Wise]

Okay Yaps, why'd you have to go and make a grown man cry first thing in the morning!! That really got to me. It was very nice actually. It made me think of my late yorkie Randy and that is how I like to see him. Thanks for posting it.

Wise