"I have always known I would take this road... but
yesterday, I did not know it would be today..."
T.S. Elliot
Calliope's Memorial Garden, nestled here among the Flowering Almond, Rose of Sharon, and golden Forsythia. Beau is buried here, but Piper, Mimzie, Buddy, Sophie, and now our little sweet potato, Millie; are represented only by their memorial markers. In their little boxes, they are kept inside in a place of honor, to be with us always.
"We who choose to surround ourselves with lives
even more temporary than our own,
live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps,
we still would live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only certain immortality,
never fully understanding the necessary plan."
Irving Townsend.
Millie, gosh, we hardly had a moment in time. She came here on July 12, 2007, after her owners of 14 or so years, left her at a shelter in NY to be put to sleep.
This is Millie on the evening of her arrival – comfy and cozy.
Colonel Potter got her and gave her some much needed veterinary care. She came to live with us at Calliope to spend the rest of her forever in love and comfort. Val Pokrywa went to New York to pick up our baby girl, and brought her all the way to us. Millie was arthritic and a little incontinent, and carrying her everywhere was a joy as she relished it. The little grunts and snuggles, I will remember always.
Millie settled in just fine, taking up residence in the kitchen right in the front of the sink
This little “red haired” girl, surely enjoyed being here, and for the 3 ½ very short days she was with us, you could really tell she was happy and knew she was HOME.
This picture taken by her rescue angel, Val, on Friday, July 13, 2007.
She crossed the Rainbow Bridge in Amy’s arms on Monday, July 16, 2007; knowing, good food, good care, comfort, but most importantly, LOVE. The entire Colonel Potter family mourned the loss of this girl, she meant so much to so many. But even if she only had that short a time in our care, she was loved a whole life time’s worth.
Rest well sweet little pumpkin…say hello to all our friends waiting at the “Bridge”.
My favorite picture of Millie, unfortunately it was also the last one we took on the morning she crossed that Rainbow Bridge to wait for us to be together again.
Sophie, just plain old Sophie. May 14, 1995 - December 27, 2006.
Miss Ophie Dophus arrived at Calliope: August, 1995. We wanted another Cairn, but decided that we would go to the shelter and see who needed us. Sophie became our first shelter adoption. She was 10 weeks old when we met her. Someone had brought Mama (a Beagle) and six puppies at 5 weeks old, to the shelter. All the other puppies and their mother got adopted, we had our name on Sophie, but so did several other folks. After waiting two long weeks for all the other people that had applied for her to be checked out, the Lackawanna Shelter called us and asked if we still wanted her. Want her!!!!??? We ran right down, and she came to live at Calliope in August 1995. We found right away that she had some health issues that we had to take care of, and we did. We jokingly called her the $2000 dog, because that's what she cost us in her first three weeks!
She was just the sweetest, cutest little thing. After some research we decided she had some Dalmatian, and some Pit Bull Terrier in her, as well as the known breed of Beagle. Actually, she was our first Cairn Terrier Wannabe, as Buddy showed her the ropes and the finer points of hunting and killing things that did not belong in the yard. Sophie was a very hard girl to get to know, but once you did, she gave you everything she's had. She struggled with meeting new people, and with new dogs coming in, but we worked on it because it was important. Those humans that were able to get in her good graces were blessed with the affection of one of the most devoted dogs we'll ever have the pleasure of owning us. She loved her front yard, her Grammy and her ship; and let out the sweetest "hoot" you'd ever want to hear.
Our hand was forced on December 27, 2006, when Sophie's aggression with other dogs hit a high point and Mommy got bit in the cross-fire. We gently and lovingly helped her cross the Bridge that day. We miss her sweetness, her kisses, and her adoration SO much, but know that her troubled little mind is at ease now, across that Bridge, with Buddy, Mimzie, and Piper. Rest well little one, and have fun.you deserve it.
We love you always.
Left to right, at ~7 weeks, Buddy with his sister and brother; Suzie and Gus...a priceless parcel of puppies!
He was given to us on our wedding weekend in July 1992 because he needed some new "digs". He was not happy where he was, and he was placed with us. He was a Champ...not a champion, no way, the show ring was definitely not for him, but he was such a Champ. He was more fun than a barrel of monkeys...and a "no bones about it" Earth Dog. He was the apple of his "Dad's" eye, and he was my heart. He was Buddy...CastleRock Bit of Annwood {Ch Annwood MeMerlin, CD X Ch Glenmont My Wee Yin}. He earned himself a PCTC Champion Working Terrier Title, and continued being the best darn Earth Dog there was, until his sight was taken from him and he could no longer compete. He had gotten the first leg of an official AKC Earth Dog Title here in PA, but then we had to stop, although even without sight, he blew everyone else away. At a few months short of his 15th birthday, on February 22, 2005; our boy let us know his journey on earth was over, and a new journey for him, was about to begin. We gently and lovingly helped him cross the Rainbow Bridge.
This picture of Buddy in his "hole" is very popular and is used for products
on the www.cairnrescue.com
He managed to take a 5 point major in the conformation ring in his youth, and several first places in matches in his puppyhood, including some Group placements...but he grew to hate being around strange humans, and to him, a show judge was a strange human, and he behaved like a marshmallow on the table and in the ring, instead of the maneater he seemed to be, outside the ring. One case in point, waiting outside the ring to show him at an outdoor show, a man with a Samoyed walked passed us. We weren't paying close enough attention I guess, as Bud went after that big white dog. We snapped his lead back before he got into too much trouble.then, when we put him up on the table in the ring, the judge pulled a clump of white fur out of his mouth. OH MY GOSH.I hope that other dog was done showing. That's how he was.a true Cairn Terrier, but as soon as hands were put on him, he was done for.
Buddy at 9 months of age
He became ours when he was 2 years old, and we were truly blessed to have been owned by him. His favorite thing in the world was his Mimzie (McKeegue Miss Mischief), who left us in 2002...he was never quite the same after that. Although he still loved his "stuff"...his favorite stuffed toy, catching bubbles (even though he could no longer see them, we got the bacon scented ones so he knew exactly where they were), the hose nozzle, balloons, and gosh how he loved to run outside and try to kill any flying machine that happened over HIS air space. Not to mention the Canada Geese flying over.my gosh how he relished thinking he was actually impacting on them.
Buddy and his girl Mimzie
He had a coat to die for, and was just the most handsome boy, always. Even in his "golden years" his colors turned even more striking. There will never be another dog that gives better kisses and affection, and there will never be another Buddy. If he liked you, he REALLY liked you.if not, you were just someone to ignore until it suited him.
Buddy at 13 years of age
He is now at the Bridge, waiting for us, but SO happy to be back with his two girls Mimzie and Piper (McKeegue Pipe Dream). He's teaching them all a thing or too I think.
Buddy and his girls, Piper (left) and Mimzie (front)
Rest well little man, we will never, ever forget your sweetness, and we will love you forever.
Mimzie - McKeegue Miss Mischief - my first Cairn, my first true companion.
Mimzie had a future in conformation, but alas, as a mischievous "teen" she got pregnant. The pregnancy failed and the five puppies she would have had were lost. Mimzie became quite ill with a disease called pyometria, which is most usually fatal. Just as a testament to her, and her tenacity, she didn't leave this world then. Mimzie would end up waiting 15 more years to cross the Rainbow Bridge.
Before she came to live at Calliope, Mimzie had a promising future as a show dog. Her mother and father, both Champions over and over, and her step sisters and brothers, excelling in the show ring. Mimzie did a few shows with her breeder and was then placed into a show home to continue her career. That's when it happened...Mimzie met a 'boy' named Mac, and they got into trouble. Mimzie had been the only surviving member of a litter of seven pups. Apparently, carrying on her line wasn't meant to be. She aborted her litter of five close to her whelping date due to an infection, and became deathly ill. She had to be spayed immediately and the infection that ensued nearly claimed her life. She was guided through this ordeal by gentle hands and then became available for me to adopt. The old story, "once you have one Cairn, you have to have more", fell true when in a few years, I "needed" another one. That's when Piper came, but that is a whole other story.....
Mimzie endured several health issues, always rebounding like it was nothing. 12 surgeries in her 16 years, and still, the end didn't seem like a possibility for her, or for us. Our choice to help her cross the bridge was made while she was still cognizant of her surroundings, still giving those wonderful Mimmie kisses, and still happy to go for a walk. The pain, however, had begun and loving her as much as we did, we could not bear to make her final days those that would be painful. The pain that would be suffered at this point would have to be ours, not hers. We owed her that, she surely had earned it.
She had the personality of a saint. She was patient and loving and the only thing she ever asked for during her whole life was to be held and petted. She wasn't a player - not really fond of toys - she loved chewies and she loved to eat. She accepted every other dog we ever brought into this house without question. In fact, even as late as a week before she left us, she was valiantly attempting to play with our newest recruit, Wookie. Now that was a sight: little Mimzie at 15 pounds and Wookie at 40! She was that sweet. Everyone that met her loved her to pieces, as she provided them with the opportunity to see first hand how sweet little Cairns can be. She loved to hunt, although the last year or so, she'd rather watch as everyone else did. She loved the snow, we used to laugh at her antics in the snow, like she was a puppy again. She hated kids...even in her later years, hard of hearing and with a loss of vision, she could still tell when a child went by on a bike. Her bark was very clear, "stay away from my house!".
Her favorite song was Louie Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World", and each time it was played, Brian would pick her up and "dance" with her; holding her in his arms, kissing her. She seemed to enjoy this, when actually she was simply "using" the opportunity to be so tall as to be able to look out the window into the front yard. She really liked to dig holes, and the one she left us under the pine tree in the front will stay there, until the winds of time make it disappear.
She was the first thing in my life that truly made my heart full.
Mimzie, you gave me everything...I love you always.
McKeegue Miss Mischief
12/7/86 - 11/19/02
I could write volumes about this little girl, but that's for another place, another time.
Piper came to me (while I was still single) in 1991, as a "partner in crime" for Mimzie. They were friends instantly, but getting to know Piper from a human standpoint took a lot longer. It was months before she knew that a hand coming towards her was for a scratching and not a smacking. Months before she would get accustomed to the fact that no matter when I went out or where I went, I always came back. Piper's breeder, Bill, a dear friend, found that the person he had sold Piper to for show and breeding did not like her, and neglected and mistreated her. As a result, he took Piper back, and contacted me to see if I wanted her.
Wanted her???
God yes!!!!
At any rate, I had a little over a year with Piper when I met Brian, who she fell in love with instantly. Hey, you know what they say, if your dog likes him... Brian and I were married a year later, and he went from "Uncle" to "Daddy" very effortlessly. Piper became the love of our lives, the most affectionate little girl, very dependent and always the little warmer of my side.
In May 2002, Piper began to change her behavior which initiated an immediate trip to our vet. Bloodwork was done and we found, much to not only our surprise, but our total devastation that Piper was in the throws of renal failure. She wasn't exhibiting any of the normal signs, so perhaps we could put her on a maintenance program (which often times did work) and give her a little more quality time. Well, always being a fighter, Piper was further into her kidney failure than was thought, and two weeks after diagnosis, we made the decision to have one last weekend with her. That weekend I carried her everywhere, she had trouble making it outside, she did not have the strength to follow me from room to room, something I could always count on her doing... hearing those little twinkle toes on the floor behind me...
We helped her cross the Rainbow Bridge on July 1, 2002.
She came home to us the following week, and a headstone in her honor placed in our memorial garden. Piper, however, in her little velvet box, remains close to me... I can't bear to part with her again.
Piper had a special ability and detected Karma in a lot of folks...Brian and I came to the point that if Piper liked someone, whoever they were was okay with us.
Karma came into play as well with her passing. Born on 1/7/89, Piper passed on 7/1/02, the total vet bill for her care was $107.71, and her ashes were returned to us on 7/7/02. We never knew of any lucky numbers she had, but I think she had them just the same. She has sent me several signs already, that she is still around me, and I can feel her at times, still by my side... where she will always remain.
Sleep well my little Pippee...you will forever be in my heart and I will see you again some day.
McKeegue Pipe Dream
1/7/89 - 7/1/02
We had Beau for such a very very short time, that we can only say that he would have been a wonderful companion.
We found these two adorable dogs wandering on the road on Christmas Eve 1996 and picked them up. It turned out they were a mother and son, a pure bred Basset hound, and this little guy. We took them to the Dog Warden who placed them in a shelter so they would be safe and warm and hopefully their owner would claim them. Well, after five days we decided to adopt the puppy, who we named Beau. We took him directly from the shelter to the vet and had his first round of shots administered. It was determined that he was about three months old.
Well, I guess we killed the little boy with love (although we hate to think this) because as a result of a reaction to something nasty he already had in his system, and his immunization shots, Beau became very ill. He was only in our home for 12 hours, before we had to rush him back to the vet where he died four days later. Everything was done, but he was just too weak.
We had Beau cremated and his ashes came home to us in January 1997. He will be ours forever now.
Beau
9/96-1/4/97