“Old dogs come and old dogs go, old dogs always seem to know,
That love is life's most precious flow and love is worth the waiting.
And when their time on earth is through, old dogs are forever true,
And ‘round the bend they wait for you come some tomorrow morning.”

…. from “Old Dogs” by Bill Staines

“Karri”
Ellyka-Thorbjorn’s Tempest
10/11/2000 – 8/6/2016


Early Saturday morning, Karri joined Joey, Shadow and her littermate Tara at the Bridge.  She had been declining for a while, but was not in pain.  She was still asking for chin rubs and wagging her tail right up to the last few days, and only stopped reminding us when it was dinnertime on the last day.  I’m sure the knowledge that she had a long life, and a relatively easy passing, will help us get through this.

Karri may have been the sweetest Elkhound we’ve ever had, and that’s really saying something.  Her sweet, gentle nature made her lots of friends among the nursing home residents she visited every week for nearly 10 years.  For a while she was also competing in conformation, but she eventually let us know that the only career she wanted was to be a therapy dog.

As for what she meant to us personally, I think everybody on this list knows that putting a 15 1/2 year relationship with a dog into words is pretty close to impossible, and right now I’m not sure I’m even able to try.   Heidi, our other Elkhound, is already trying to help fill the void we feel.   Hopefully we can do the same for her.

Barclay & Sharon Hills

Ch. Windy City's Guardian Angel
5/7/02 - 5/8/16

Gabriel has always been a very special companion.   He was always highly aware of any stress or loss.  He was the sweetest boy who loved everyone.   As a puppy he always wanted to be carried like a child.   He would jump into your arms.  One rear leg on each side of your torso.   One front leg on each shoulder and his head next to your head.   Gabriel was always happy, always wagging his tail, even at the end.   I will always have a special place in my heart for Gabriel.   Now he is my...Guardian Angel.

S. Kaplan

Memories of Stig
4/4/2004 - 4/28/2016

Stig met Fran and myself for the first time at the Colorado Springs Shelter.  We had gone there because we felt the need for a New Friend, since we had just lost Mason.  And we wanted another Elkhound.

When the Shelter people brought Stig into the room, he was so happy that he rolled around on the floor and gave us a very warm greeting.  That was it; Our Vet told us,he had been shot with a shotgun and the pellets were still under his skin.  Of course he was treated for that.

It was suggested that we give him the name of Stig, which I was told meant Traveler or wander in Norwegian.  That name did apply to him;  He wandered off a couple of times for several days where we found each other on one of the peaks around here.

Basically, we both communicated well between us.  He also let us know if any cars came on our road and, of course, any Deer or other wildlife that would come by.  Stig loved people.  When we lived in a retirement community for a couple of years, he and I would visit the community medical center every day.  The people there really enjoyed his visits and I know he did.

Be at peace STIG.  You have been LOVED and still ARE LOVED.

         Fran & Dutch Muetz

Dagny
2004 – September 23, 2015

She came to rescue in 2010, 6 yrs old, heartworm positive, and abandoned when her owners moved.  Many thanks to Carol and Larry Gray for fostering her through HW treatment and to Andrea Baker for moving her here after treatment was finished.  We fostered her for two months before we finally realized WE were her adopting family.  Looking back, she decided that far earlier than we did as evidenced by her couch photo taken on her second day here.

She was always smart and seemed to know exactly what we were thinking.  I asked her Wednesday if she thought she was ready to travel to the Bridge and she went straight to the car. She wasn’t into car rides that much and it was clear that she knew she wanted to leave.  She did make her last statement about entitlement when she was offered soft treats at the vet office.  She dove into the treat jar and ate as many as she could.  If she had been able to breathe more easily, she would have taken them all.  They all knew her there from having had two cruciate ligament repairs and were well aware of her “nothing holds me back” attitude.  She left this life with the same spirit we always loved.  With her, she took a large part of our hearts.

You are loved and missed, Doodle bug!

Pam, Tom, Andy, Lucky and Starbuck