Here's the last pic of Nero before he died (my brother entitled it Evil Eye)

[gateley]

... and you can clearly see his VERY SPECIAL kinked tail. :)

[PatSeg]

1. Oh, poor thing

Looks like he's defying anyone to say anything about his tail!

[gateley]

2. I always made a big, positive, glowing deal about it so he (whispering)

wouldn't get a complex. :7

Once when he was at the hospital for his PU surgery, I showed noted it as I was introducing him to the surgeon. They had to keep him for 2 days so I went to visit him in between. The vet said "I showed everyone in the OR his VERY SPECIAL TAIL. Too sweet!

[PatSeg]

3. Oh that WAS sweet

Gotta wonder sometimes if they understand.

We made it a point not to make fun of Starbuck's unique ears!!!



Guess that's the downside of crossing a beagle with an Australian Shepard.

[gateley]

4. Why, I'd say those are VERY SPECIAL ears!

I've no doubt other Beagle/Australian Shepards would be very, very envious.

Love the little white booties!

[PatSeg]

5. The better to hear you with!

She's a real sweetie. I used to puppy-sit whenever my son and his wife went out of town. My house was like a 2nd home for her.

Here she is all growed up and with her ears under control:

[gateley]

6. She is REALLY pretty! I look at that face and I melt! nt

[PatSeg]

7. She has that effect on people

and she just LOVES everyone. She gets so excited whenever anyone new walks in the door. The poor cat was a very reluctant friend though.

When she was still in CA, Pepper was her best little buddy. They were so adorable together. They came to my house once and Starbuck was like a little kid showing Pepper all her toys and stuff.

[PatSeg]

8. Here's another one of the two of them

[gateley]

9. Wow -- this is Nat'l Geo-worthy! Great shot!! nt

[jillan]

11. Who is that other dog?

That is a cute pic. It needs a caption.

[PatSeg]

13. They had a neighbor was very ill

with cancer. They used to walk Pepper when the neighbor was particularly bad and babysat when he was in the hospital or out of town. When the neighbor was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, they went to the apartment and got Pepper, leaving a note explaining where the dog was.

Pepper and Starbuck hit it off immediately. Cutest thing I've ever seen.

[jillan]

21. What a beautiful story - that brought tears to my eyes.

Did Pepper's human ever come home?

[PatSeg]

22. Yes, he did come home

The whole things was really sad. He broke down crying one night and admitted he knew he was dying. His primary concern was what would happen to Pepper. My son and his wife decided that if necessary they would take Pepper. Being he was so compatible with Starbuck, they didn't give it a second thought. I thought they were nuts, being they already had a cat and a dog, but when I met Pepper, I knew it was a very reasonable idea.

Of course, the kids ended up moving and don't know what happened to their neighbor and the dog. Hopefully the guy was able to make amends with his estranged family and doesn't have to die alone.

[gateley]

12. Awww.. so sweet..

My brother's big o'l Golden Retriever, Maggie, just fell in love with my niece's little Bichon puppy, Fiona. Since I was always here, bed-ridden :eyes:, it was decided that I would babysit Fiona every day when Kim went to work. They kept saying, all nervous -- make sure Maggie doesn't hurt her!~ Well, it should have been the other way around. Fiona tormented poor Maggie and Maggie just took it like a trouper (trooper?) -- the wise adult being tolerant with the rambunctious youngster. Maggie would stand there with a toy hanging from her mouth so Fiona could jump up and play with it.

Tragically, Fiona died unexpectedly (obviously) when she went in to be spayed. We were all heartbroken, and the next time Kim came over, Maggie kept looking around expectantly for Fiona...

They're old souls, I believe.

[PatSeg]

14. Oh how sad

Some dogs are just a great match, like people.

[CrispyQ]

17. OMG, she is so sweet!

I just want to squeeze her! :hug:

[jillan]

10. Oh - what a beauty!!

Look at those eyes.

RIP Nero!

[gateley]

15. Thank you for that! I miss him so much it hurts.

:(

[jillan]

20. I understand that feeling.

Our pets are family.

Nero was lucky that he got to spend his life with you. :hug:

[CrispyQ]

16. He's gorgeous! And I love his unique tail.

I don't think I knew about his tail before this. Gateley, I'm so sorry about your friend. They become such a big part of our lives & leave such a hole when they are gone. :hug:

Here's Bad Charlie, who I lost 4 years ago. He was 22 - I lived with him more years than I lived with my mother. And we were closer, too! I got him as a kitten in a pet shop. The clerk said, "Oh! I'm so glad you picked him! Some woman had him for two weeks & brought him back & said, 'He meows too much!'" He was the most vocal cat I've ever known. He talked all the time & loudly, too! One day I was on the phone with some customer service person & BC was yowling in the background & she asked, "Is someone running power tools in the background?" :rofl:

[gateley]

18. Oh, I love him! I'm so happy you had each other for all those years!!

eta -- that comment by the person on the phone is hysterical! Nero was a talker, too, and when I wouldn't respond he'd get pissed at me (he was a wee bit spoiled). Once he was yelling at me and my friend on the phone said "God -- did you just sit on him??"

[PatSeg]

19. Oh how funny

The cat who would NOT be ignored. Sounds like he had a long and happy life. Did he remain that vocal the rest of his life?

[jillan]

23. Look at that face. How could anyone ever be mad at a face like that?

Powertool voice or not.

22 years - Charlie really had a great life.

I am such a nerd, I really believe we will be reunited with our pets when we die, which is so crazy because I'm not one who thinks alot about afterlife. Maybe it's just something I tell myself to get thru the heartaches of losing loved ones...including all the pets I've loved in my life.