Mallie was the sweetest, most intelligent, sensitive, and perceptive German Shepherd I’ve ever known. Her eyes always told you exactly what she was feeling—excitement, joy, comfort, tenderness—she spoke whole conversations without making a sound. She spent her “prime” years serving as a search-and-rescue and drug-detection dog, and was even chosen for breeding because of her incredible temperament and intelligence. But I truly believe I got her in her very best years. When she came to us at seven, “retired” on paper, she was anything but retired in spirit.

Mallie understood three languages, picked up new commands after being shown just once, and immediately attached herself to her new family as if she had always been ours. She was lively, joyful, endlessly loyal, and always by your side—even when she had only just met you. She had a heart that seemed to sense every emotion, and she carried herself with gentleness and strength all at once.

When she turned eleven, Mallie began experiencing mini-strokes. For a year and a half she fought bravely, recovering time and time again like the fighter she’d always been. Eventually, she suffered a major stroke she couldn’t recover from. After three days with no improvement and significant brain damage, we had to make the heartbreaking decision to let her go. Even then, those beautiful brown eyes still held that familiar love, loyalty, and quiet promise that she’d never really leave us.

My sweet Mallie Moo will never be replaced. But recently, my husband and I welcomed a new German Shepherd puppy, and she carries so many of Mallie’s qualities that it almost feels like Mallie sent her to us. We already love her beyond words, and every day we think of Mallie—her spirit, her love, and the legacy she left living on in our new girl. Mallie will always be part of our family, always remembered, and forever loved.

We brought LEO home to our 60acre forest at the age of 10 weeks. He grew up roaming where and whenever he wanted and was at my side from the time I meet him until the day we lost him. He was never on a chain or in a kennel; he was in our bed and on our furniture and with us on every trip we made. From the time he was young I could see a difference from other shepherds we’ve had through the years. He was very smart, ambitious and responded great to anything I tried to teach him at a very early age. We moved across the country several time through the years and he always adapted to his surroundings and new people with out any issue and would be a little extra protective in new places until he was sure it was OK.

Leo was about 6 when my daughter was born and then I saw a beautiful unbelievable almost humanistic side of him. He would stand over my daughter or act as her pillow and would look deep into my eyes as to say “Don’t you worry about her on my watch dad nothing will happen to her on my watch” and truthfully I never did worry when he was around. In the next several years he watched that girl as if his life depended on it. Always had to know where she was at, at all times. If she was not there he would not sleep, pacing the floor until she came home, he would lick her face, sniff her everywhere and go lay down. I was riding my bicycle in circles one day and my wife and daughter we’re sitting in the grass, I playfully road by them and Leo decided it was too close so he began pushing me away and letting me know he didn’t like that. I did not stop so he ended up biting my front tire and popping it just letting me know he was done playing around. He never fearful of anything ever including the 2000lb moose we encountered in the mountains of Wyoming together, I had to clam him down so he didn’t end up squished. He was a big, powerful, athletic dog and never had any health issues. We returned back to the woods he was raised in for vacation after being gone for 3 years and he knew we we’re going back there. When he saw the little country corner store just down the road he went berserk. We let him out at the woods and didn’t see him for many hours. In the last 4 years we went the woods for vacation and he knew it every time. Last summer when he was 13 we left for vacation and the very first day we went to the lake and he was chasing the ball as he’d done for the last 13 years. He was swimming and playing and simply walked up on the beech and laid down, he would not get up. For the first time ever in our lives together, after thousands of miles together and 3 new homes together, new neighborhoods together and all the things we do with our companions together! I saw in his eyes that he was scared, something was very wrong and then I got very scared. We loaded him in the van and after 20 hours at the vet’s office we had to put him down, he suffered from a severe stroke. My wife and I held his head telling him he was a good boy over and over until he took his last breaths. We took Leo back to the woods where he grew up where he rests today. As I look back on his last couple of months of his life, I really believe he knew he was “going” and just held on until he got back to the woods. Every one who knew him will miss Leo and he had many friends around the country. He was a very special dog to everyone he met. It was a very sad day that lingered on for weeks and months. After 9 months, we are ready and are very excited about bringing home our new family member and if that pup is only half the dog Leo was we will be happy.

Our Bella was one of our family. She was absolutely beautiful inside and out. Regal, sweet, loving, protective, gentle and the most loyal being I have ever met. We are so lucky to have been able to share our lives with her. She was not a dog, she was our first child, my best-friend and her passing is a loss that has left our hearts in pieces. Our girl had idiopathic megaesophogas. She was diagnosed a year and a half ago. A condition that is indicitive to shepherds. We changed her lifestyle and had a Baily’s chair built. We measured her food, blended it and fed it to her by spoon, while she was sitting upright in her chair. The specialist that we saw said that her case was very severe and there wasn’t any surgery or medication that would help. He said that she would have a few weeks to a couple of months left. We were blessed with an extra year. The chair and her pro-collar were our saving grace.

She would do anything for us. She would back up into her chair on command and put her paws up on a pipe. She would sit in that chair for an extra 30 minutes after eating without protesting. She knew that I was helping her. Her quality of life was still good. She enjoyed going for rides, walks, playing with toys and doing almost everything that she used to do. Last Monday, her body grew tired and she passed away in my arms. My Best Friend! My Girl! I needed her more than she needed me!

Chili was planned just as children are. I could not wait until the day we were able to bring him home. Seems like yesterday.He was a very confident, naturally smart, cautiously gentle, always happy, gracefully protective, handsome and proud and always loved unconditionally.He loved running, walking, rollerblading with me, rides in the big red truck, jumping off the pier, chasing kittys, my friends dog Baily, microwave popcorn and when dad spilled rumplemintz:)Letting him go was the hardest thing to date I have faced. He is missed dearly missed beyound words. He was fun to train and his tricks charming, but his hugs were more then perfect, like an angel wraping his wings around you.He has crossed over and we will meet him on the other side someday. He is loved more then love. We love you BooBoos The Last Battle If it should be that I grow frail and weak, And pain should keep me from my sleep, Then will you do what must be done, For this, the last battle, can’t be won. You will be sad I understand, But don’t let grief then stay your hand, For on this day, more than the rest, Your love and friendship must stand the test. We have had so many happy years, You wouldn’t want me to suffer so. When the time comes, please, let me go. Take me to where to my needs they’ll tend, Only, stay with me till the end And hold me firm and speak to me, Until my eyes no longer see. I know in time you will agree, It is a kindness you do to me. Although my tail its last has waved, From pain and suffering I have been saved. Don’t grieve that it must be you, Who has to decide this thing to do; We’ve been so close,we two, these years, Don’t let your heart hold any tears.

Kya was our heart dog. She was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma on Christmas Day 2010. We woke up Christmas Day morning, and Kya was laying in our porch… she wouldn’t move and wouldn’t eat. I rushed her to the emergency vet, and they told me that she was bleeding internally and we could do emergency surgery, but that even with surgery, she would only live at most 3-6 months. We made the decision to put her down right then. It was the worst day of our entire lives. She was our heart dog… and always will be. She loved all people and was so outgoing and very beautiful. She was our cuddlebugger and best friend in the entire world! No other dog will ever touch our lives like she did. Kya’s name means ” Diamond in the sky” She truly is our shining star! And now our Christmas angel. We love you forever baby girl!!!! Mom & Dad

Felon was a true friend until the end. We noticed leisons on his face early in July of this year and after many vet appts and biopsies he was diagnosed with lymphoma. He was younger brother (not blood brother) to our 8 year old german shepherd Riko. They loved each other so much; they would talk all the time…mostly when “their daddy” got home…a sound that we truly miss. Always a smiling face to open the door to…would do just about anything for a treat…except go down the stairs!!!!…He is truly missed and can never be replaced….Every dog has their own personality and therefore could never ever be replaced….but has the #1 spot to be remembered forever! We will always have the red ball for you FELON! We all miss you.