~ Dedicated to the GSDs that I have come to know and now miss. ~

It takes us back to brighter years,
to happier sunlit days
and to precious moments
that will be with us always.
And these fond recollections
are treasured in the heart
to bring us always close to those
from whom we had to part.

There is a bridge of memories
from earth to Heaven above.
It keeps our dear ones near us.

It's the bridge that we call love.

Kaiser:  Forever Loved By Jeanne
"I loved that boy with all my heart..."

10-13-96 to 2-23-05

 ***

Freudig: Loved and Remembered by Joann Furse

(Click on Thumbnail for Larger Version)

On the California coast,
there did stand a form.
It was black.
Black as the starry western nights,
black as the ocean depths below.

He stood there proud and true
beside a master who loved him so.
His heart was strong and brave,
yet as gentle as the puppy
that he once was.

He looked up at her, the master,
and his tail did wag.
Whatever she would ask,
he would do.
His loyalty was that true.

For almost nine years,
this German Shepherd Dog
did give his heart
to his master.

One summer day
the time to return had come.
The angels swept down,
and as his packmate
did howl,
his master stood by him
strong and brave,
for whatever he would ask,
she would do.

Under the tree
there in the garden,
this noble dark friend
said goodbye
but not for good.

For his spirit,
will be by his master who loved him so.
In the coastal breeze,
strong and steady,
In the California sun,
warm and soothing,
and in her heart
alive and well
and always as gentle as the puppy
that he once was.

By Cassandra for Joann...
In Memory of Freudig
August 8, 1995 to June 14, 2004

(Click on Thumbnail for Larger Version of Xenna and Freudig Memorial)

Xenna:   Also Lost Six Months After Freudig by Joann

Dear Friends:
My gorgeous, highly intelligent, graceful companion
passed suddenly from this world at approx. 3 p.m.
Thursday, December 16, 2004 in the presence of my
husband and Yuri.

True to her nature, Xenna vom Grunenfeld left on her
own terms. She collapsed and died at home in a shady
spot in our garden, eerily reminiscent of the way in
which her beloved friend, Freudig had died six months
earlier. In doing so, she wrested from me the awesome
responsibility of calling for veterinary intervention
to release her. That was her special gift to me.

Majestic, proud and regal in bearing, Xenna had flair,
style, a zest for life, and an aura that drew
compliments and admiration from all who met her. She
was truly stunning with her lovely long coat, flecked
with highlights of gold and red. In her honor, I
started LH-L in 1998 hoping that I would be able to
share experiences with other coated Shepherd people.
The list has grown since then from a handful of
founding members to over 80 subscribers representing
not only the  U.S. and Canada, but the U.K., Australia
and New Zealand.

Xenna acquired a small circle of internet canine
friends over the years, and being technologically
adept, corresponded with them via email. These friends
were located in Colorado, North Carolina, Illinois,
Virginia, Northern California, and Australia. Her
closing signature in her messages was "Ich gehe
jetzt"-I go now. I think those were probably her final
words.

It will be a constant sorrow to me that I was not with
her when she left. I have to imagine the scene as best
I can. The reality is she probably waddled stiffly
through the door, blinked at the bright sunshine,
gazed round the garden, took a few faltering steps and
fell to the ground.

But that reality is far too hard for me to endure.
Instead I prefer to think of her striding out with
head held high, and a determined look in her eyes.
Yes, that's it-that's the way I choose to remember
her, and I am convinced it is the way that Xenna would
wish to be remembered. Not an old Shepherd lady dying
from congestive heart failure, but a truly magnificent
and awe-inspiring sight, strutting her stuff as she
gaited out, eyes agleam, silken leg feathers and mane
blowing in the breeze, and that wonderful tail held
aloft and streaming behind her like a banner.

Yes, that's it-that's the way she went. Like the
champion she was and still is, and always will be.
Look at her go! Look at her move, look at her beauty!
That's my girl! That's my Xenna!

Joann
San Diego, CA
December 20, 2004

At the Bridge:
Xenna 10.2.93-12.16.04

 ***

"Heaven's Doggy Door "

My best friend closed her eyes last night...
As her head was in my hand.
The doctors said she was in pain
And it was hard for her to stand.
The thoughts that scurried through my head
As I cradled her in my arms,
Were of her younger puppy years
And Oh!....her many charms.
Today there was no gentle nudge
With an intense "I Love You" gaze,
Only a heart that's filled with tears
Remembering our joy filled days.
But an angel just appeared to me
And said "you should cry no more,
God loves our German Shepherds
He's installed a doggy door."

Jan Cooper - '95

***

"Angel Dogs"

When dogs go to heaven, they don't need wings because God knows that dogs love running best. He gives them fields. Fields and fields and fields. When a dog first arrives in heaven, he just runs. Dog heaven has clear, wide lakes filled with geese that honk and flap and tease. The dogs love this. They run beside the water and bark and bark and God watches them from behind a tree and smiles.

There are children. Of course. Angel children. God knows that dogs love children more than anything else in the world, so he fills Dog Heaven with plenty of them. There are children on bikes and children on sleds. There are Children throwing red rubber balls and children pulling kites through the clouds. The dogs are there, and the children love them dearly.

And, oh, the dog biscuits. Biscuits and biscuits as far as the eye can see. God has a sense of humor, so He makes His biscuits in funny shapes for His dogs. There are kitty-cat biscuits and squirrel biscuits. Ice-cream biscuits and ham-sandwich biscuits.  Every angel who passes by has a biscuit for a dog.

And, of course, all God's dogs sit when the angels say "sit." Every dog becomes a good dog in Dog Heaven.

God turns clouds inside out to make fluffy beds for the dogs in Dog Heaven, and when they are tired from running and barking and eating ham-sandwich biscuits, the dogs find a cloud bed for sleeping. They turn around and around in the cloud... until it feels just right, and then they curl up and they sleep. God watches over each one of them. And there are no bad dreams.

Dogs in Dog Heaven have almost always belonged to somebody on Earth and, of course, the dogs remember this. Heaven is full of memories. So sometimes an angel will walk a dog back to Earth for a little visit and quietly, invisibly, the dog will sniff about his old backyard, will investigate the cat next door, will follow the child to school, will sit on the front porch and wait for the mail. When he is satisfied that all is well, the dog will return to Heaven with the angel. It is where dogs belong, near God who made them.

The dogs in Dog Heaven who had no real homes on Earth are given one in Heaven. The homes have yards and porches and there are couches to lie on and tables to sit under while angels eat their dinners. There are special bowls with the dogs' names on them. And each dog is petted and reminded how good he is, all day long.

Dogs in Dog Heaven may stay as long as they like and this can mean forever. They will be there when old friends show up.  They will be there at the door. Angel dogs.

  By, Cynthia Rylant

***

The First Shepherd's Dog

I wish someone had given Jesus a Shepherd
As loyal and loving as mine
To sleep by his manger and gaze in His eyes
And adore Him for being divine.

As our Lord grew to manhood, his faithful dog
Would have followed Him all through the day
While He preached to the crowds and made the sick well
And knelt in the garden to pray.

It is sad to remember that Christ went away
To face death alone and apart
With no tender dog following close behind
To comfort its Master's heart.

And when Jesus rose on that Easter morn
How happy He would have been
As his dog kissed His hands and barked its delight
For the One who died for all men.

Well, the Lord has a shepherd now, I just sent him mine
The old pal so dear to me
And I smile through my tears on this first day alone
Knowing they're in eternity.

Click on "Next" to remember some past GSD friends....