A good dog never dies
she always stays
she walks beside you
on crisp autumn days
when frost is on the fields
and winter's drawing near
her head is within our hand
in her old way.

-- Mary Carolyn Davies

Donations have been made to
Airedale Rescue in memory of . . .

. . . BONNIE, May 25, 1990-July 5, 2003; mourned by Lesley & John and Cameron & Karl Mattuchio

I know many of you have seen her photos and heard Bonnie the Bonster Monster stories over the years and I truly appreciate all your thoughts and wishes.

Bonnie was a very special girl (aren't they all?) who never came across a person or dog she didn't greet with a wagging tail and bum. And to her credit she saw me through 13 years of life that sometimes was very difficult. She was always there to cuddle up to me and try to warm my spirits. She accepted three dogs into our home over the years with an open and loving heart. She helped me babysit the oldest grandson when he was a baby and loved to play let's chase each other around the house (inside) with them taking turns carrying the ball.

She adored our first Rottie, Taylor, and played so rough that at times I thought she would get hurt, but she would get right back up and do the butt-tuck-run and ask for more. She was forever my creative landscaper, helping to dig up her Mum's lovely bushes and choosing only the most expensive choice ornamental grasses to chow down on.

She was naughty and fresh and full of fun and I never could really discipline her as she was just too gosh-darned cute. Bonnie loved to run free in the woods with the Hamilton girlz until she was too arthritic to keep up and had to be retired. She never complained about her poor health and always wagged her tail to greet me or anyone else . . . even last Saturday when I took her to the vets for the last time . . . she had a wag for everyone.

One of Bonnie's most favorite things in life was to take a ride . . . didn't matter where . . . two hours to New Hampshire, or just around the block. She was the only dog who ever had the privilege to ride in my husband's Vette, through Boston at lunchtime, while he was dressed in his suit, as he was picking her up from Angell Memorial Hospital after her physical because he didn't want her to have stay in a cage until his daughter got off duty there at 6 PM and bring her home then.

She was also seen many time with her head stuck out the sunroof of my little red Honda Prelude with her ear flying straight up in the air, which elicited smiles and chuckles from bystanders.

Bonnie will have one last ride . . . she will be coming home via a UPS truck next week, where her ashes will go where her heart's desire was...her backyard. She was a much loved and valued member of our family and will NEVER be forgotten as her name is carved into our hearts for eternity.

. . . CHARLIE, who crossed The Rainbow Bridge unexpectedly on July 15, 2003; mourned by Mary, Toggle & Nell Giese, who writes:

My beloved Charlie collapsed and died this morning at approximately 6:40. He was only nine. He'd been to the vet last night for a thorough exam prior to going in for dental surgery on Friday. Everything looked great.

He was fine last night and earlier this morning. I called the dogs to go outside. I heard a thud that I thought was a lamp falling or something falling. When I went to investigate, Charlie had collapsed. He could barely lift his head. I rushed around trying to figure out how to get him to the vet. When I came back into the room, he was dead.

We all have our favorites even if we don't like to admit it. He was mine. For good or bad, he always knew what I was thinking and was always trying to "help" in his own way. I had to move some furniture & crates around last Sunday. He was with me every step of the way, supervising & checking out the new locations. He was so good for his bath yesterday. And later, he "helped" me core strawberries, eating the tops that I took off. Yesterday afternoon he climbed into my lap, all 81 pounds of him, to be close to me. Now I'm so glad he did.

[It was determined that Charlie died of a stroke.]

. . . TRUBBLE, who crossed The Rainbow Bridge on July 20, 2003; mourned by Pip Smith:

Cuvaison's Ms. Demeanor - March 26, 1990-July 20, 2003

Trubble was one in a litter of five born on March 26, 1990 in Mississauga, Ontario. Her dam was overdue and was scheduled for a C-section that day but went into labour at the 11th hour. Trubble was the second puppy born in the litter. She earned her name by always having a glint in her eye, so every time she came towards me, I said, 'Uhoh, here comes Trubble!'

In August that year, we moved to Cambridge, Ontario where we lived until we returned to British Columbia in 1994. During that time, Trubble experienced her conformation show career, began formal obedience training and whelped two litters of puppies. On returning to British Columbia, we continued obedience training and even went to some trials. Trubble humbled me in the obedience ring and retired shortly thereafter. She had one more litter of puppies and retired to be a couch potato and Therapy Dog. Trubble was certified to visit with adults in 1998 and later to visit with children. She was the first Airedale in Canada to be so certified.

When she was ten years old, I retired her from the Therapy Dog Program because I no longer wished to vaccinate her. Since the beginning of this year, she had been in declining health with a heart murmur and enlarged heart. On July 20th, I made the unbelievably difficult decision to have her humanely euthanized.

Trubble was a wonderfully bad dog and I loved her immensely. Her passing will leave an enormous hole in our lives.

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal,
love leaves a memory no one can steal.

-- From a headstone in Ireland

. . . STELLA, who crossed The Rainbow Bridge on September 17, 2003, and will be sadly missed by Anne Marie & Bill Glaser.

Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak whispers the o'er fraught heart and bids it break.

-- William Shakespeare

. . . TRUDY, who is sadly missed by Chuck Booher.

On 15 September 2003, Lesley Mattuchio writes: It has been brought to my attention that an old friend in Florida is gone. Trudy Booher, Mary & Chuck Booher's last living Airedale, is now playing with her beloved younger sister Clara at The Rainbow Bridge. I feel especially sad as many of you know that Mary Booher passed away a few years ago from ALS and that Trudy & Clara were such a light in her life even towards the end.

Please light a candle for Trudy Booher tonight as she will be missed in the hearts of many of us.

There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief.

-- Aeschylus

. . . KOKO, who crossed The Rainbow Bridge on April 19, 2001 and is sadly missed by Ann & Daniel Ferraro and Family.

I DID NOT DIE

Don't stand beside my grave and weep
For I'm not there
I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond's glint on snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn's rain
When you awaken in morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in the circle flight
I am soft stars that shine at night
Don't stand beside my grave and cry
I am not there
I did not die

-- Anonymous

. . . WALT, who is sadly missed by Stephanie Ross

GO TO
AIREDALES IN MEMORIAM, PAGE 14