RYAN

In August of 1999 we attended a volunteer orientation at Friends for Life Animal Sanctuary in Gilbert and when I received a phone call the next day asking if we would foster the "3 feral sisters". We did indeed bring the three very scared sisters to our home. Little did we know that it is an almost universal truth that those that agree to foster almost always end up keeping their first foster. Well, we did indeed end up keeping Chompers our golden girl and Ryan her silly redheaded sister. Giselle found a great home with people who understood the needs of a feral dog.

Ryan came to us with a limp which we soon learned was indeed a fracture and not long after that she was diagnosed with a very strange immune disorder called masticatory myocytis. Over the years she would have a few flare ups but we managed to treat her and keep her eating and happy. About 5 years ago she added the dreaded valley fever to her ailment list and although we treated her for that as well and she seemed to recover the disease can always reoccur and we believe that is what happened last night. We took her immediately to Gilbert Vet and made the painful decision that it was time to let her go. She had a high temp and had lost the use of her right side.

We will miss her sweet silliness. She loved to greet us in the morning at the table by pushing her little body up against us until she had received a proper petting. She loved big toys the bigger the better! Ryan was so sweet and very polite, always careful not to be in your way. One of the many lessons that our animal friends teach us.

It seems that loving animals is a hard road as we know that their lives are far too short but I can honestly say that for me the joy does outweigh the pain. There is nothing quite like that bond with creatures that seem to live and move in a different time and space. Their gifts to us are many from unconditional love and companionship to learning how to live in the present. On a practical level they become service animals, alert us of seizures, do search and rescue, sniff out cancer cells and the list goes on.

We will miss you Ryan.

"In the Candle's Glow"

Warm light coming from far below,
Twinkling, sparkling is the candle's glow.
All is well up on the ridge,
The place we know as Rainbow Bridge.

Furbabies sleeping in heaven's light,
Tended by candles in the night.
Peaceful dreams be theirs to keep,
As they slumber in this night so deep.

Hearts on earth that miss them so,
Take comfort in the candle's glow.
Watching for them in skies above,
Bound eternally by a cord of love.

Laura Hickman

Laura Kraft, President, Heaven to Home