Memorials

Tributes made in honor of the humans and animals we have loved and lost. If you would also like to make a donation in memory of, please visit our donations page. It is not necessary to make a donation to post your tribute.

Pugsley

March 21, 2015

RIP Pugsley Elvis Peek-A-Boo. Today we said goodbye to our beloved Pugsley who was adopted 14+ years ago. His body just ran out of steam. He was totally blind and on chemo for his third cancer, but through it all was quite the trooper. Colleagues said this and shared the poem below – much better stated than I could ever say: “Pugsley hit the jackpot when you adopted him; you gave him a long, joyful, love-filled life. I know how hard it is to let a beloved dog go. But deep in… my heart, I believe that somehow, somewhere, you and Pugsley will see each other again. My thoughts are with you both today.” And this poem by Robinson Jeffers, for his bulldog Haig: “You were never masters, but friends. I was your friend. I loved you well, and was loved. Deep love endures to the end and far past the end. If this is my end, I am not lonely. I am not afraid. I am still yours.” The framed picture below is from his first day with us, 14+ years ago. We will miss his spirit, his companionship, and his expressive and soft ears. We love you, Pugman!

Always,

Cheryl & Karen

Jake

March 17, 2015

On March 17th, we said goodbye to our beloved dog, Jake; he was 16 years old. He had been showing signs of age for the last year, and recently had a stroke. He had stopped eating and drinking, and was sick to his stomach. He wouldn’t take his pain medicine for his arthritis and slipped discs. We had one last day with him, trying to soothe him and let him know how much he is loved. He was family for the 13 years since we adopted him from CARE. Jake had welcomed our two human babies into our family, and watched over them as his own. As the babies got older, Jake befriended our growing children, joining in tea parties, board games, book reading, lego building and table-scrap collecting. We have been camping, hiking, canoeing, swimming and road-tripping together. It was so hard to say goodbye and difficult to write this, but I thought you would like to know how long he was with us, and how much we loved him.

PS. Sharon was Jake’s CARE foster Mom when he came to us in November 2002. She had Jake for about a year before he found us. Thank you, CARE, for rescuing Jake for us.

Christina & Matt Muller

Red

2001 – January 26, 2015

We just wanted to let you know that our sweet old girl, Red, died yesterday. We adopted her from you in December of 2001. She was approx.9 months old at the time, which means she was just shy of 14 years. She was a fabulous dog and we feel so lucky to have had her by our sides for so long. A year or two after we adopted her we moved to Philadelphia. She was our first “baby” and was one of the first to welcome all 3 of our human babies into the family. Thank you for giving us the chance to be with Red all these years. Here she is this summer after a great hike in the Pocono Mountains. She was an escape artist and always came back looking happy and tired. Except for 2 times when she did not come home on her own and both times her CARE Pets tag on her collar was what allowed us to find her. Thank you for the great work you do with the pups. If we were still in California, we would certainly come back to you to find our next friend.

We will surely miss her.

Andrea and David

Hagrid

2003 – June 30, 2014

A friend of mine, Peggy Lambdin, made a donation in honor of our dog, Hagrid, whom we had to send over the Rainbow Bridge on June 30th. My husband, Max, and I adopted him from CARE in 2003 (he was 8 or 10 weeks old) and he was the best dog we ever had. He was loved by everyone; even our groomer cried when I saw her last week and had to tell her (we still have our 7-yr-old Yorkie).

Peggy said you requested a picture of our Hagrid for your memorial wall, so I am enclosing one taken last winter (he loved the rain, just like me!) Don’t know when the hole in my heart will close again …

Thank you for all you do; blessings on your work.

Susan (& Max) Overland

Ribbit

October 30, 1994 – March 8, 2014

Rest in Peace Beloved Friend

Thank you to CARE and Cathy Thomas for rescuing Ribbit and so many other animals like him. He was the love of our lives.

Chatiya

Helen Theresa Connelly

In memory of Helen Theresa Connelly who loved animals and in honor of her daughter who does all she can to save them all.

Debra Coleman

Pinto Queen

November, 2013

It is with a heavy heart I’m writing you today. I lost my little Miss Pinto a couple of weeks ago. Her little body started shutting down and I had to make the tough decision. I walk into the house still expecting to see her jumping around and following me from room to room. I miss her terribly. We had so many great fun adventures. We went camping and boating. She went with me where ever I went, visiting, exploring, shopping, and constantly followed me from room to room in the house. It never got old even after almost 14 years!

Thank you for your kindness and caring heart.

Marcia

Chianti

August 31, 2013

On August 31st, our dearly loved dog, Chianti, who we got from you almost 13 years ago, died. She was the light of our whole family’s lives and we miss her. But we are so glad she came to us and enriched our lives. We wanted to make a donation in her memory.

The Halicki Family

Cody

August 30, 2013

I wanted you to know that Cody, the Pomeranian I adopted about 7 years ago, died of adrenal failure August 30 of this year. He had contracted SARDS almost two years ago and was blind. The vet told us that his heart was enlarged, which was causing the kidney toxins to build up plus a few other medical problems.

We truly enjoyed the time we had with him. He was such a great dog and we both loved him dearly.

Thank you for your part in allowing me to adopt him.

Embee Humphrey

Sam-oh

1999 – August 11, 2013

I adopted Sam-oh from your organization 14 years ago. She passed away peacefully last weekend. She was my pride and joy and together we shared many fun adventures.

When I first saw that 8-week-old pup at your Campbell adoption facility, I couldn’t resist that cute little face. I brought her home that day despite being warned that she would be an active dog.

And she was definitely that! We took her to the park 3x a day to run, play ball, catch the frisbee (her favorite activity). She could jump 6′ in the air to get that frisbee! Everyone would stop to watch this amazing dog. At Ft. Funston, she would jump in the ocean to fetch her ball.

It’s these wonderful times that I will never forget. I’ll also remember her senior years, as she slowed down and would simply carry her frisbee in her mouth, unable to run and catch it.

From Sandy Siscko, her dogwalker: “In Memory of Sam-oh Drenan. She was a special pup with who loved the Frisbee, her brother Yogi and her Mom and Dad. She was an amazing spirit and is now playing on the other side of the rainbow bridge. You are greatly missed Sam-oh!”

She was a wonderful companion. I miss her every day.

Rochelle

Patrick

February 24, 1999 – May 8, 2013

My husband and I adopted a puppy from your organization on June 12, 1999. Patrick (originally called Spencer) was 12 weeks old and an Irish Wolfhound mix. He was a wonderful pet and we loved him tremendously, but he declined over the past six months and we euthanized him this morning. I am convinced he had a long and happy life with us, and he brought us unlimited joy. He was born Feb.24, 1999, so was 14 years and nearly 3 months old.

He was fostered by Chris Smythe, and if she is still part of your organization, you might want to let her know. She did a fabulous job with his early socialization and training, and we’d like to express our thanks.

Miriam Palm

Ally

2002 – January 28, 2013

Ally came to CARE as skin and bones from the Humane Society. Eventually we figured out that her pancreas wasn’t generating the enzyme necessary to digest food and a few months later it failed further making her diabetic. She got crushed tablets to supply the enzyme and insulin shots and kept going like the little champ she was.

She was a little character. When she wanted some lap time, I would hear “Uh” … “Uh” from down on the floor. Usually she would be standing there with the toy o’day in her mouth, waiting to come up for a nap. When she was cold, she’d paw me until I covered her.

At CARE she loved to visit and was especially good at spotting the donut box – then using her squinty superpowers to make someone give her a taste. Since she didn’t properly digest her food, she could have all she wanted!
One day I was leaving CARE and put her in the car, with the door open since it was warm, and went back inside for something. Some minutes later we heard an odd noise…. It was Ally scratching at the glass front door. She had decided she had waited long enough and come to get me. Very funny little dog!

After two years of fostering her, and not much interest from adopters because of her special needs and age, I decided that no one would ever properly understand her “uh” and adopted her myself. She was an outstanding little dog and I loved her very much.

I’m sure she is now on a soft pillow somewhere in the sun, watching and commenting on the action, with her very own pink donut box which is always full of her favorites. Love you, Big Al!

JoAnn and other CARE fosters

Cleo

We loved Cleo. She was a great companion for our golden retriever, Jack, for 13 years. She was depressed when Jack died two years ago. She survived 3 episodes of cancer over the past 5 years. She was such a love. I often thought we should have named her scout as she loved to go ahead on our walks to see what was coming only to circle back to us to “show us the way”.

She loved running with Matt during her early years. She loved Carmel beach with all the sand and ocean as long as we didn’t separate ourselves from one another. It was so important to her to keep the “pack” together!

This picture was taken at the Heritage Rose Garden in front of the “pink’a’boo” rose (which my grandchildren adopted in my honor). She enjoyed walking along the Guadalupe River walk!

We really miss her, but find comfort in the knowledge that she is not in pain. I still imagine her sitting under my feet when I sit at the computer. She crawled under the desk the minute I would sit here to work…

Pat Cox and Matt Holsinger

Kacy

We were blessed to receive the wonderful gift of Kacy from C.A.R.E and Sue McGinness. After 13 great years our beloved Kacy has made her way to the Rainbow Bridge where she has met up with her beautiful and faithful sister Kaylyn and her devoted Grandma Ida where all three await us. Kacy was truly the happiest dog in the world. She is sorely missed each and every day. We want to thank C.A.R.E. and Sue for allowing and trusting us with Kacy. We were so very lucky and honored that we could be part of her life.

Love Doris & Kathy

Reeses

Reeses came to us as a young guinea pig when our daughter was between apartments and needed a spot to hold her for the weekend. I was fine with that. Reeses had been rescued from a Santa Barbara shelter and given as a gift to our daughter. Reeses was supposed to be a male. I took her to Dr. Welsh for a nail trim and exam and saw the twinkle in Dr. Welsh’s eye when she said she had some news for me. Reeses was actually a little girl! Well, Reeses became a permanent pet in our home. I upgraded her living quarters and she became our greeter for visitors at the front door. The CARE foster dogs and pups also got to meet her and were evaluated as to their prey drive. Occasionally, little Reeses was removed from the “greeting area” and put in a back bedroom for her safety from more prey-driven fosters, but spent most of her time greeting all visitors – canine and human – when they entered our home. We all miss our squeaker girl. I still can’t cut up veggies for a salad without saving a carrot or lettuce piece for her. I have way too much time in the morning before work because I don’t have to laugh at her happy dance before her breakfast treat and cage cleaning. What a surprise it was for us to have a sweet little piggie become such a huge part of the family. Little girl, we miss you so much! Thank you for blessing us with your happy dance and sweet personality. You are missed every day, little peanut butter butt.

Jolie

Honoring Jolie for all she has meant to our friends, Greg and Jim. She brought them much happiness and is sorely missed.

Guardian Angel Kelly

A giant thanks to C.A.R.E.’s “Guardian Angel Kelly” for her very generous gift to CARE in memory of her beloved grandmother, Vonnie. Her generosity is so much appreciated and will help so many animals. We love you Kelly!

Teddi

July, 1998 – April 29, 2012

Our dear sweet Teddi was found abandoned on some rocks on Trinidad beach. No one knows how she got up there, or if someone put her there, but she would have surely died if she hadn’t been found by kind passers-by. They took Teddi to the local vet in McKinleyville who knew of the perfect couple for Teddi since they had recently lost their dog. That couple was my folks. Teddi joined their family in 1998 as a cute little bundle of joy. Not knowing her origins, people thought she wouldn’t get very big. Teddi continued to grow. The little almost black bundle of energy grew into a long legged grey bundle of energy…….and love. Teddi came to find her way to live with us, and our doggie Kelly, in early 1999. My father’s cancer was unstoppable and my mom was no longer able to care for Teddi. Teddi had grown into a medium sized, but incredibly strong dog.

Our daily, sometimes hourly, mantra when Teddi arrived was “Good thing Grandma loves you.” Teddi was a high spirited, higher energy, and most definitely opinionated doggy. She knew what she wanted, how she wanted it, and what she did not like. She took the house by storm. She and Kelly, though they came to love one another, definitely had a challenging beginning.

Teddi loved her walks, or jogs if she could talk us into it. She loved to play ball and was the fastest dog we had ever seen. My husband could kick her tennis ball with all his might and she would always catch it before it reached the fence. Neither could you get a ball past her. Teddi hated being brushed to put it mildly. With the two dogs they always looked like Lady and the Tramp. Kelly always pretty and lady-like and Teddi, a rumpled mess leaving havoc in her wake. We used to joke that she was part terrier, part velcro, and part Tasmanian devil. She couldn’t walk outside without a dozen leaves sticking to her fur. We always laughed how the house always had that outdoor look.

Teddi would defend her family ferociously. She took on a much larger dog one time when we were walking that came at me. With no thought for herself she stood her ground to a dog that towered over her. Thankfully we both made it out relatively unscathed. As gruff and grumpy as Teddi could be she was the most loving dog there was. She loved life and wasn’t afraid to show it. When given large steak bones she would take hers outside and enjoy it for hours. When cold she would nuzzle my hand to wake me up so I could lift up the comforter for her to snuggle under – right between my husband and I where it was the warmest. She had her favorite blankie that had to be on the bed for her to sleep and she was always touching it if not using it for a pillow. Many nights after she had rumpled up the blankets and she finally settled down you could hear her “I am content” sigh. The deepest, truest, most relaxing sigh I have ever heard. I sure do miss it at night.

Sadly the beginning of this year out of the blue our Teddi had her first seizure. Other than a minor back injury she had always been a healthy dog. We were so scared as we rushed her to the vet. Most likely a brain tumor. Medication seemed to work miracles but only for a short time. The seizures began again 4 weeks later…….then two weeks later…….then every day. The increases in medicine weren’t working and we could see Teddi’s health, balance, and energy deteriorating a bit more each day. Our sweet doggie, who could fly like the wind, who loved to run, who loved life so much now had a hard time walking around the house. Sometimes she would get confused, lost in the house she had known all her life.

On April 29th after another stronger seizure we said goodbye to our beloved Teddi. Our house is so quiet, too quiet. No crazy barking fits, no sweet dream sighs …….no pitter patter of paws across the floor. But we are comforted to know she is with her sister, Kelly Belly and they are playing and running pain-free again.

Rebecca

Kelly Belly

December, 1997 – March 24, 2012

We adopted Kelly on September 8, 1998. We walked into CARE’s adoption center and then it happened. I walked by Kelly’s cage and it was love at first sight. She looked so sad, so scared and sooo sweet. We took her out of her cage and she never went back. We learned she was named Kelly because she was found as a stray in Kelly Park. We brought her home to surprise my daughter, Stephanie. Steph was gone for the weekend and we couldn’t wait to see her face light up when she saw Kelly.

Kelly settled in to her new home life though she was very shy and skittish for a while. It was weeks before we heard her bark. We discovered her little personality traits and wondered where they came from. She was scared of spoons all her life. As much of a beggar dog she was she would not eat anything offered on a spoon or with a spoon in the bowl. She was a professional beggar and especially had her daddy wrapped around her paw. For most of her life she begged by sitting up and balancing with her tail. She would tap your leg with her paw if she felt she was being ignored.

Kelly loved her walks. She loved “popping” puffy dandelions. She would run up to them and bite at the cottony tops scattering them everywhere. She also loved playing with magnolia tree seed pods. She would pick them up by the stem end and carry them like a little cigar. After a block or two she would drop it and then walk a few feet. She would run back and pick it up, carry it for a while and repeat, over and over again along our walk.

We would always have to walk by the “lizard fence” which was a long sun-soaked stretch of chain link fence covered with a think growth of ivy. All the little neighborhood lizards hung out here. Kelly knew when we were approaching the fence. She would slow down and almost tippy toe along the ivy, slowly walking, listening, looking like the big hunter stalking her prey. “Shhhh……I’m hunting lizards” or “Here lizard, lizard, lizard” is what we would always say with a smile. Kelly would sneak up on any sunning lizards and dash after them if they dared to move. Thankfully all the little lizards were able to escape her supreme hunting skills.

Most of all Kelly Belly loved her family. She protected our house, warmed our hearts, comforted us when we were sad, and brought us such joy every day. She was our angel, our sweet soul, our dear sweet Kelly Belly.

Rebecca

Venus

I adopted Venus (aka Venie Benie) from CARE in San Jose in March of 2002. She was a somewhat shy and hesitant little girl at the time. It is hard to believe more than 10 years have gone by. I can barely even imagine my life without Venus in it. Venus grew into a wonderful, sweet, hilarious and loyal dog…all 110 pounds of her. She loved walks, her stuffed toys and definitely her meals.

Venus was responsible for a friend of mine getting over her fear of dogs and adopting a rescue dog of her own. She really made her mark on the world.

We had to say goodbye to Venus yesterday.

Right now, our hearts feel broke, but they also feel so much richer for having Venus. Venus had many fans, including her companion dog Mars, who is also feeling the loss.

Thank you CARE for letting me have Venus: The best girl dog in the world. We are having that statement engraved on her memory box.

Robin and John