BABY ~ "It was love at first site when I saw the Golden Retriever/American Eskimo mix we later named Baby in the Hamden Animal Shelter. Little did we know as we drove him home, what an impact he'd have on our lives. Baby was the ever patient soul, tolerating 2 yr olds biting him, running endless homemade agility courses, being dressed up as a school mascot, pulling me around town on roller skates or sleds, being my guinea pig as I learned how to groom. When not putting up with such torments, he was the ever faithful companion: playing hide and go seek every night (though never letting me win), being my pillow on any vacant hillside to watch the clouds go by, my shoulder to cry on when the time was right. Baby was the ideal best friend. I have to say he had the cutest face. People would think he was a puppy right after his haircut. He had such a 'baby-face' that often people would think I meant he was 13 months, not 13 yrs! When it was snowing, he would look like an angel because the snowflakes would melt into tiny crystal beads and he would shimmer. As he aged, his favorite pastimes evolved from playing with me to napping in his chaise lounge on the deck, swimming for rehabilitation purposes, and eating heartily! Though he slowed down quite a bit, he did NOT lose his mental edge. He had us trained better than we could ever train him. We were wrapped around his paw. Such was his life until June, 2006. We think he had a stroke, and though it was a sudden blow to know he had to be put down, we were able to spend his last day cuddled next to him telling him how much we loved him, how sorely we would miss him, what a wonderful friend he had been, how lucky we felt to have offered him a home for all those years, and how we would dream about our reunion one day. Even immobile, atop the hill of blankets we had arranged for him, Baby wouldn't refuse his favorite treat of all: cheese! He ate slice after slice, loving all the attention and goodies. That night we brought him back to the same place we had gotten him from 15 yrs before. We found it fitting that he should end his life right where the good part had begun. Through many, many tears we wished him farewell. Now we wait, brokenhearted til we can see him again someday. For now he's in Heaven causing mischief with his best friend of many years, Blackie. I can't wait to see that forever young 'baby-face' again!"
Her favorite resting spot was under the covers, whether it be in bed or on the couch. Whenever I sat at the computer, she was on my lap within minutes to keep me warm. The only downside of having Kimba keep you company was that she tended to drool uncontrollably when she was happy. Before you knew it, you'd have a puddle from her drooling. Kimba's meow was quite atypical. She said more of a 'Meh" than a meow. She was the sweetest cat I have ever known, and that is not a biased statement. My favorite memory of Kimba is one day when she got out and I thought I had lost her. The last place I saw her was in a nearby schoolyard that bordered some woods. She was missing for hours. Finally in desperation, I walked the edge of the woods calling her name and shaking her food dish. My mother, thinking the worst, was about to call me back to the car when I heard a faint meow. To our surprise Kimba fell out of a low branch in one of the trees and came running up to me. Neither of us could believe the miracle we had just witnessed! From that day on she held a special place in my heart. Sadly, we had to lose Kimba eventually. It still breaks my heart to have her gone. She passed in January, 2007. In the end her favorite place to sleep was in my daughter, Rory's crib. We buried her with the blanket that she seemed to favor, one that said, 'I love Mommy'. While I love the pets I have and will someday have, Baby and Kimba I think will always be closest to my heart. They were my first loves and I miss them dearly."
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