Author: Carole

In September of 1994 (born 1988) my life changed forever.
This was around the time that the rodeo was in town (as noted).
And at this hotel I was staying at in this small town….
the rodeo was right next to us…
well there was this horse with and injured leg and a stray Calico
or abandoned which I think she was.
She had been kicked by the horse and thrown over a high fence
( which the people at the rodeo did).
So I started to feed her this and that..
She didn’t trust me yet but I knew she would eventually …
finally she let me pet her and pick her up so I brought her home
( after letting the vet check her out for the weekend) ….
and I guess you could say she lived happily ever after
and she did …. until March 15 2001

In Loving Memory of Callie

Rest in Peace

Visit Callie on the Web @
http://www.geocities.com/petsburgh/2327/callie.htm

Freddie I will miss you !!!
Thank you for almost 9 great years you helped me get
through alot. As we were about to celebrate you and your
sister 9’th birthday this year there will be a void.
This Time Yesterday you were fine I remember talking with you
and you seemed to be happy which is all I wanted you to be.
9pm rolled around and obviously there was a problem I reacted in
the best way to take you into the Vet last night.

It was revealed by X-ray’s and other test’s that Freddie was
in the final stages of lung cancer. I am not one use to death and
had never lost a loved one –human or animal since 1994
and it did come as a shock.
Freddie was indeed suffering and was recommended
she be put to sleep. . forever.
It is indeed a difficult decision to make and I do not wish
it upon anyone even my enemies.
But Freddie was suffering and I did not want my last memories
of her being that way.
Now she is in a a better place.
Free of Pain Free of worries.

Freddie I will watch over your sister now that you are gone.
Never again will you keep me company on those cold raining nights.
It’s not going to be easy to get through this.
Freddie you will always be part of me and indeed
I will always remember you.

Till meet again!

Tony

Let me tell you about a little Abbsyinian Guinea Pig named Swirls.
We brought him home in January of 2001
after the death of our beloved female rabbit Zorro
(cause she looked like she had a mustache).
She died of cancer and my son Michael saw Swirls the next day.
 
He was at our local feed and seed store and
had been for a few weeks
cause he was the runt of the litter and a little ugly
they said and no one wanted him but Michael did.
So we brought him to live with us.
 
Let me tell you being the runt a little bit ugly
as they said was not the case.
He grew into a beautiful little piggie
always squeaking for his carrots and timothy hay.
He loved to go outside and eat the fresh grass.
He loved to ride in the car.
He loved to get in the bed with Michael and
snuggle up and go to sleep.
We always knew Swirls (Whirly as we called him)
had a little something wrong with him.
He never got as big as most guinea pigs do.
Last year in 2001 December he got to where he couldn’t eat
and was not able to stand and walk
but we pulled him through we fed him mashed bananas and grapes
and I mashed his pellets with a little water.
 
The vet said he had a congenital heart problem and
he was surprised he survived at all
well he didn’t survive this time I tried so hard
but there was nothing that could be done for my baby this time.
He died here at home of congestive heart failure at 5:00 pm May 1 2002
in the arms of his beloved boy Michael.
He is being cremated today so we can spread his little ashes
over the field he loved to go to with Michael
and walk on his little leash.
 
He is in heaven now with our beautiful girl Zorro;
my heart is so heavy my furry babies.
Swirls your mate Carrot misses you
but no one cried harder than your boy.
Someone said to me he’s just a guinea pig
but I can tell you that little boy taught me more about forgiving
than any one ever has.
And how to live life the best you can no matter
what your limitations and he wasn’t just a GUINEA PIG
he was my child and Michael’s best friend.
 
Run Run Run my little piggie your heart is well now.
Run with Zorro tell my best friend Shirley
to save a place for me too
She’ll feed you till I come and Michael comes wait for us.

Whirly man please we love you forever Whirly bell.
 
Margaret
 
 

Muppy (cat)

I have had cats all my life but she was the best.
It did not matter how hard my day was she was always there
to welcome me home. She went through so real tuff times
of my life and was always at my side wherever I may
have been in the house.

She did not think she was a cat.
She loved to lay on a blanket with her paws in the air while
the fireplace was going. She couldn’t wait for her daddy
to lay down in bed before she jumped and laid in the
crook of his arm.
She always waited for me to turn out the light and she
would stand on her back feet for me to pick her up
and carry her to bed.
She was the best.

She became sick a few weeks ago and I never dreamed
when I took her to the vet she could not be healed.
I brought her home one last time before I had to put her to sleep
just so she would not have her last memories be of the days
at the animal hospital.
She laid with me in my lap and on the bed and all
through the night I would touch her head and no matter
how bad she felt she would butt my hand to let me
know she loved me.
The next morning she was so weak and so I told her I loved
her very much and that mommy would
make it all better.

She is buried in the pet cemetery.
I can still hear her walking in the house and seeing her
in her favorite places.

I can’t wait until we are joined once
again in Heaven.

Pam

I would like to share the story about my cat Alex’s
life with everyone.

He was the best cat anyone could ever ask for and I’m lucky I had him.
I am now 13 years old but I was 9 when Alex died.
He was a kind of a fat cat and when he got skinny and
stopped eating we knew something was wrong.
We were right…Kidney Failure.
But I don’t like to remember him that way.
I like to remember all of the happy times my family and
I shared with him.
I remember how he would lay on my bed with me at night
and stay until I fell asleep.
I loved him so much I guess it was because he was the only
animal that I had ever had when I was younger.
I used to think he was boring because during the day he
would sleep and he was scared of almost everything.
I remember one day when my older sister Nikki held him
near the ceiling fan that he was already scared of
from the groung so you could imagine how scary it was
for him to be so close to it.
He clawed Nikki in the face and on the arms and it looked
like it hurt..bad. She was okay though.
I had been exposed to Alex all of my life since he was
older than me.
He was about my sister’s age at the time.
When Alex passed away it was because of kidney failure.
There were many signs that he was sick but we couldn’t
understand them at first.
The first thing that happened was that he jumped up on the
kitchen counter a place he never went and had his paw under
the faucet.
The second sign was that he wasn’t eating.
Now Alex was a pretty good eater.
When it was time for him to eat he cleaned the bowl.
So that’s when we started to wonder.
He had also gotten really skinny and normally he was fat.
One night he came into my room and started to meow.
Normal behavior to me but then he collapsed on my floor,
near my bed.
He wasn’t dead he just didn’t have enough strength to
move anymore. The next day we took him to the vet.
A I was sitting in the waiting room I started to
cry hysterically. I knew it was the worst for him.
In the back of my mind I sort of had a feeling it was time for
him to go and that he was going to die there.
When my mom came out of the room that Alex was in
crying I knew it was bad.
I went in and saw my cat on the table and they said they
were going to have to put him to sleep.
I gave him a hug and a kiss and said good-bye
and fell into my dad crying.
I went to my godmothers house after that.
My parents told me that my dad held Alex while they put
him to sleep and that my dad started to cry.
It was very hard on all of us.
We buried him soon after that in my grandmothers back yard,
in the woods near my dad’s cat Sam.
When we got home Nikki was crying and she was upset that
no one had called her and told her about Alex.

We will all get over it in time but his memory
will never be forgotten.

I LOVE YOU ALEX!!!

LOVE ALWAYS AND FOREVER

Jessie

We got Buddy at the Humane Society and she was 3 mos. old.
She was grey and very obedient however; we lived on a street
where the cars were frequent.
She saw a man walking his dog and dashed away
after a futile effort to stop her.
My grandsons and their mother witnessed it.

We loved her very much she was such a nice dog was 9 mos. old.

Travis Collin and their Mom and Dad.
I’m so sorry that he got hit by a car.

We will miss him very much.

Love

Nanny

I bought Pebbles (my kitty) at the pet store.
She was the cutest little kitty.
She has gray and white fur and big green eyes.
Her belly was all white with a gray design
that looked like the shape of Minnie/or Mickey mouse – sooo cute!
She was very petite.
Even at four years old everyone would comment on how small she was.

She was there through a rough year of my life.
I am sure she seen it.
She was a very loving courageous and unique.
She brought joy to life.

She was Daddy’s little girl. My fiancé and her grew
so close the past three years.
She would sleep on his lap.
We could always count on her waiting for us
at the door when we got home.
She had this favorite big brown teddy bear
she would always sleep on too.
She also loved laying next to the fireplace.
We could also play fight with her and she would fight back.
I used to chase her in a room and
she would chase me into the next. She was unique

She was 4 years old when she passed away.
She still had a lot of life left to live.
She loved to play outdoors.
One night we did not bring her in and the next morning
we found her small body.
She was attached by either a dog or coyote.

This day we lost our beautiful little girl.
A part of our family.
We love you with all of our hearts.

Forever missing you,

Mom and Daddy

Billy Bob Sue was so sweet. He loved to sit on my finger.
I came up stairs and he was gone that was so sad.
I miss him.

Becca

{Still With Us}

Bradley a tricolour Border Collie
(named after an S club 7 member…of course).
He came to us 6 weeks ago after quite a search and
is everything a doggy lover could wish for a soft coat,
floppy ears that new puppy smell and oh!
those gorgeous eyes!!!
Brad is now 15 weeks old and into everything
mostly everything in Mel’s room
(when he can get in) much to her annoyance.
We haven’t got a pencil between us and
all the pens have their tops chewed right off and
shoes are never where you left them
“BRADLEY!!!…”

Before Brad we had Luke and
he was with me for nearly 14 yrs and ALL of Mel’s life.
Last December he died and we were devastated.
I lost my most faithful friend and Mel lost her best buddy.
Luke was her dog in later years and never left her side and
as she would tell you he was the best finder in Hide and Seek
(even if he sometimes looked in the same place twice!).

Every morning he woke her up and every night
he lie by her bed until she was asleep and
everyday he ran to greet her from school.
He meant so much to both of us and
we never dreamed we’d be without him.

So after a few months without Luke we decided
we needed to fill that void and
started to search and along came Brad.
Mel has put a photo of Luke in her room and it is still him
that watches over her at night and
she still cries and says “why mum why?”
when she needs him.

It’s not quite the same with Bradley yet he is not so kind
when he wakes her up
he steals her toys and plays too rough…
but last night I heard her teaching him
how to play Hide and Seek!

Elaine

DEAR JAKEY,

WHERE OR WHERE DO I START MY HEART IS SO HEAVY
AND MY EYES CRY ALL THE TIME.
HOW I MISS MY DEAR SWEET FRIEND NEXT TO ME
THE NIGHTS ARE SO EMPTY WITHOUT YOUR COMPANIONSHIP.
I LOOK DOWN WHERE YOU USE TO LAY BY THE T.V. AND
I SWEAR I CAN SEE YOU LOOKING BACK AT ME.
I GO TO BED AT NIGHT AND ALMOST FEEL
YOU BRUSH AGAINST ME GOING UP THE STAIRS.
MAYBE YOU ARE STILL HERE WITH ME GOD KNOWS I WISH IT WERE SO.

YOU WERE MY CONSTANT COMPANION AND FRIEND.
YOU WOULD ALWAYS BRIGHTEN UP MY DAY
WHEN I WOULD COME HOME FROM WORK ALWAYS
WITH A TOY IN YOUR MOUTH
YOUR LITTLE DUCK MAN OR DADDY’S SLIPPER.

GOD WHY DOES THIS LOSS OF YOU RIP AT MY HEART.
JUST WHEN I THINK I’M GETTING BETTER I FEEL
YOU EVEN AT TIMES I SMELL
YOUR SCENT AND I JUST FALL TO PIECES.
YES TO SOME YOU WERE JUST A DOG.
BUT OH TO ME YOU WERE MUCH MORE.
THE HARDEST THING I’VE EVER HAD TO DO WAS MAKE
THE DECISION TO END ALL YOUR PAIN AND SUFFERING.
GUILT OH I FEEL IT EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE WONDERING
QUESTIONING IN MY HEART IF I DID THE RIGHT THING.

ONLY THE GOOD LORD KNOWS UP ABOVE
I WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE NEEDLE FOR YOU
IF I COULD HAVE STOPPED
ALL YOUR ANGUISH.
OH JACKEY I LOVED YOU SO MUCH .
I KNOW WHEN I LAYED DOWN ON THE FLOOR
WITH YOU THE DAY YOU DIED
AND BEFORE THE VET GAVE YOU
THE FINAL DOSE TO END YOUR VERY PRECIOUS LIFE
I KEPT WHISPERING IN YOUR WARM SOFT EARS
HOW MUCH MOMMIE LOVED YOU AND
THAT YOU WOULD SOON BE SEEING MY MOMMIE
WHO WOULD TAKE CARE OF YOU
AND I KNOW SHE IS DOING JUST THAT..
SOME DAY MY JAKEY IT WILL BE TIME FOR ME TO FIND YOU AGAIN .

PLEASE JUST KEEP BARKING
TILL I FIND YOU…
I LOVED YOU SO MY HEART WILL
FOREVER BE MISSING A PART
AS IT WENT WITH YOU
WHEN YOU TOOK YOUR FINAL BREATH.

“BORN A DOG DIED A FRIEND”
LOVE YOU ALWAYS,

MOMMIE
{ Louise }

Jiji was a shelter rescue.
After my younger (and only) brother died of cancer in 1992
decided that having a cat would help me
shake my lingering depression.
I went to the shelter
since I had always known
that I would have a rescued cat.

In a room full of cages Jiji was the only older cat.
There were several kittens
some of which tried to reach out and
snag my arm as I went past.
They were all adorable
but there was something special about Jiji.
The tag on her door had a “hold date”
after which they would have her put down.
The date was 3 days from that date.

I slipped my fingers in between the bars and called her over.
She immediately ran over and
bumped her head into my fingers.
I knew immediately she would be my choice.

She was with me when I would sit and cry over my brother’s death.
It didn’t matter where she was — the moment she heard a sob
she would come running.
Gently she would put a paw on my arm or
leg to get my attention
then curl up in my lap until I was over my cry
purring until she drooled.

She survived with me through an abusive boyfriend
a rescue named Frankie
another rescue named Emma
and a wonderful husband
(who brought three new cats into her life)
and we survived with her through three bouts of hepatitis
and one thyroid tumor.
After her radiation treatment we called her
“The Glow-in-the-dark Cat.”

She could be stubborn and had a thing against carpets.
I can’t tell you how many times I scrubbed cat pee out of carpets.
But whenever I needed her whenever I felt depressed
she would always be there —
with her gentle paw and the deep drooling purr.

Today my husband was removing the carpets that she had used
as her personal scratching pad from the stairwell
when Jiji brushed past him and rubbed against him.
She leapt from the stairs to the floor
started into the kitchen and collapsed.
She was dead instantly.
My husband was there in less than a minute
and she was gone.

Jiji you will be missed you ornery little beast.
I lived with you for almost ten years
and you had a good 14 or so here on this earth.
I’m sorry that your first owners didn’t keep you
but I’m so glad you found your way into my life.

You were worth every carpet I had to scrub.
I can never ever thank you enough.
And when it’s my turn to pass on
I expect that you will be there waiting for me
with a gentle paw and a purr to welcome me to heaven.

Blessed be Jiji.

Kathy

I need a right puppy so.
I went everywhere to find her.
2 hours later I found my dog at a SPCA!
She was just a playful puppy.
After awhile when I went to school I would leave her home
alone with the door open to get outside
but one day I went to school and Angel jumped the fence.
She ran into the street then BOM.
She got hit by a truck and went to the vets right away.
We found out she had puppies!
She had them then when the last came out she stopped breathing.
I cried the whole day when she past away and
realized I had to get another.
Her name was Princess
but when she died I put her in the ground and
put a stone on it and it said

” TO A DEAR DOG AND NEVER WILL BE FORGOTIN”
THE END!!

Liz

Brandy was a good dog.
She was about 12 years when she died.
She had cancer.
She would come to when you called her once.
But then she became deaf.
Then that is when she would bark all the time at night
when we are trying to go to sleep.
She wouldn’t eat so we took her to the vet and
they told my mom that she has cancer.
And that is when we put her to sleep. .

I know she was in pain and
didn’t want her to stay in pain so I let them.
I wouldn’t let them do but they did when I was at school.
I got home and I went to go check on her and she was gone.
My mom told me she ran away at first then when my sisters
left to go somewhere then they told me
when I was alone and my mom and dad.
I started to cry and
they started to cry and my mom showed me the papers
of the euthanize of Brandy by dog.
She was the best dog that I ever had and
maybe ever will have.

No dog will take her spot.
She was a lovely girl.
I miss you and will always will miss you Brandy.
With hugs and kisses

Jessica

26 May 2002 6.40pm the day and time Lady gained her
freedom from the twice daily dosage of insulin.

Lady a black Dachshund she was about 13 years old when she left us.
We do not know the exact date of birth as she was dragged from
underneath a pickup truck near my parent’s home.
Someone who responded to our lost pet notice had informed us that a
black dog was seen hiding under a trunk.
She was covered in engine oil when I pulled her trembling body
out from darkness. Though we didn’t intentionally want to keep her
she naturally became a part of our family very soon as she got to adjust
to our lifestyle and we came to accept her in the family.
I did not pay much attention to her in the first couple of years
and often take her for granted.
About 8 years back she had a really nasty cut under her right eye
and both my sister and me had to diligently clean up her wound
daily for 6 months.
It was during this period that we developed stronger relationship
and bonding with her as we witnessed how strong and sensible she
was as she quietly let us cleaned up her open wound
(a painful process) and fed her with her medication.
In the following years she was warded in the animal hospital multiple
times for tooth extraction and cyst removals.
Never has she once rejected her medication and expressed
her suffering and pain. At 2001 year end she was unfortunately
diagnosed with Diabetics. We took extra care in watching her diet
and in giving her 2 dosages of insulin a day.
Until today I still cannot bring myself to give her the injection and
it is all thanks to my Maid Tini and my sister for helping me out.

As we shuttled her to and fro the Animal Hospital beginning
of this year to work out the balance level of the insulin quantity to
her diet she was responding well when we finally worked out the
combination around early March.
Since then she no longer had to be caged up in the hospital due
to monitoring and was able to live her usual routine life at home.
I often made it a point to be home just to see her and to make sure she
is fine doing the typical things she does like waging her
strong little tail anxiously waiting for her dinner to be prepared,
tailing me whenever she wants a little pat and hug.
Every day without fail she would make it a point to welcome you
at the doorway (unless it is dinner time she will be in the kitchen mostly)
and could give her little acknowledgment by touching her
cold little nose on your ankle.
When I was down she would come to me and just lied around
my feet to tell me I have got her.
She had taught me how important it is to treasure and appreciate all
my loved ones when they are still around me and how to live
my life without regrets.
In the wee-hour of 26 May morning my sister called and informed me
that Lady is suffering from continuous seizure.
I rushed over and saw that she was lying on her favourite towel
as she let out soft moan. As I squatted next to her she wagged
her tail a little and I sensed she knew I was near her.
We quickly brought her to the animal hospital thinking that this
was just another usual fit due to low glucose level.
After the initial diagnosis the news was not good and we were told
that her brain could be affected due to the continuous fit that may have
deprived her brain from oxygen.
We could only hope the seizure was reversible.
At 2.15pm the hospital called and informed that she was sound asleep.
When we next received a call from them at 2.45pm we were told her
condition is not stable and we should pay her a visit soon.
My sister and I rushed down to see that she was wrapped up in
many layers of clothes as her temperature has gone down.
She was awake but not responding to us.
We were told these were signs that her brain could be affected and she
could be in a coma state. At 4.30pm the nurse removed the clothes
and checked her body temperature she was having a fever.
The vet told us that the body was unable to adjust itself to the right
temperature and she may not made it through the night.
Both our hearts collapsed.
Eventually my sister seeked my opinion to give her euthanasia to
free her from the suffering and possible pain.
The initial thought was unbearable and was simply unacceptable.
As I cried and looked at her weak body attempting to catch
each of her breath I gave my consensus and informed my other
sister to quickly come over.
While awaiting at around 6.30pm with myself and my sister
by her side she stopped breathing.
I cried hysterically and the vet rushed over the revived her
her heart was still beating weakly though her breathing has stopped.
My sister told them not to attempt to revive her and to give her
the injection to free her from the suffering.
I requested to carry her in my arms one last time before
the procedure begun. She seemed to choke a little when I lifted up
her head to tell her how much I will miss her and
how much I love her.
Thereafter the injection was given to her and she left us
after 1 min at 6.40pm.
The pain is tremendous as I feel a strong sense of guilt
not knowing if I have done the right thing.
Was the decision really to end her suffering or was it to end my
own selfish suffering?
I will not know the answer only God knows and I hope he will
give me the answer soon.

We miss you Lady and you will always have a very special place
in our hearts and we thank you for being such a
great companion for the past 12 years.

Forever miss by all who loves you.

Lin Fen

She will be cremated at 3pm on 29 June 2002.

I GOT TIFFANY ON MY BIRTHDAY SHE WAS 2 MOUTH’S OLD
AND WHEN SHE DIED ON MY BIRTHDAY LAST YEAR IT TOOK
MY HEART BECAUSE I HAD HER FOR 11 YEAR’S AND SHE WAS
MY BEST FRIEND AND MY SOUL MATE.
I LOVE HER SO MUCH I STILL CRY FOR HER ALL THE TIME.
I MISS YOU TIFFANY..
GO NOW PLAY WITH ALL YOUR FRIEND’S MOMMY WILL
SEE YOU SOON…
I NEVER OWN A DOBERMAN BEFORE
BUT THINKING WHEN I GOT HER SHE WAS GOING TO BE MY
BEST FRIEND FOR LIFE.
BUT THEN IT HAPPEN ONE DAY SHE GOT SO SICK I TOOK HER TO
THE VET AND I ASKED MY VET IF TIFFANY COULD DIE AT HOME
AND HE SIDE YES.
HE TOLD ME HE WILL BE OVER TO PUT HER TO SLEEP..
BECAUSE WHEN I GOT TIFFANY I TOLD HER SHE WOULD
DIE AT HOME.
ABOUT 3:00 MY VET CAME AND TIFFANY WAS HOLDING ON
AND I TOLD HIM IT WAS TIME TO PUT MY BABY TO SLEEP..
HE GIVE HER THE SHORT AND SHE WANT TO SLEEP
IN MY ARMS ON MY BIRTHDAY
SO WHEN IT’S MY BIRTHDAY I JUST THINK HOW I HELP
HER THAT DAY..
I CRY ALL THE TIME BUT I KNOW SHE IS HAPPY NOW..

TIFFANY YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MY #1 ANGEL BABY !
GOOD-BYE FOR NOW MY LOVE….
LOVE YOU TIFFANY….
HUGS AND KISS TO YOU
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

LOVE ALWAYS,
MOMMY & DADDY
MAY-29-2002

Toshia was a one of kind girl she was raised with my
cocker spaniel and she always thought she was a small also she was
such a good girl my whole family loved her so much she would stand
in her kennel and watch for me to come out each day and she would
whine and jump and make the fence rattle as if to say Hey I am
here what you doing ????
I would take her supper and she was always so happy to see me
Toshia was just a special girl in every way to me…
She had cancer and when I carried her to the Vet he told me the cancer
had spread to her leg and other organs and she would not make
it but about 2 more weeks and I had to the humane thing and love
her enough to let her go to keep her from being in pain
it about broke my heart into…
I held her in my arms as she passed to Rain Bow Bridge and I would
not take anything for being able to be with her until she drew her last breath…
Toshia lived a good long life and every day and I am just so glad
that Toshia was in my life for the past 12 years…

I miss her so much and I just would love to hear that fence make
that sound one more time….
I catch myself looking and listening for her each day…
having a loving animal like Toshia to love it a part of life that I would
not take anything for they bring so much joy comfort and love….
I know that my Toshia is having a good time now reuniting with
my beloved Briana she was my cocker spaniel and
she died 3 years ago with Cancer…

Briana and Toshia are running and having a good time at
Rain Bow Bridge with no pain and they are happy again
to be together….

Good Bye My Precious Toshia,
I love you ….

Brenda

The Wings Of Pegasus
by JDE 12/ 29/ 00

As an avid reader and lover of horse stories I often peruse the antique
shops for out of print horse books stud books of the various breeds
—-anything that is “horsey” that I don’t already have.
My most treasured book was acquired in this way.

It was in a quaint New England town that one store drew my attention.
This building seemed out of place among colonial and saltbox homes converted
into a row of collectibles’ shops along Main Street fondly called “antique
alley” in my area.
The two boutiques flanking it were pristine almost startling so
bright were their new coat of white paint and meticulously applied trim
of slate blue. In contrast this homely structure was drab weathered and
brown paint was peeling in strips from the siding.
What little trim still framed the doors and windows had rotted leaving
ugly black scars on the soul of this once family dwelling.
The ‘antiques for sale’ sign dangled precariously from
the front door and “old books” was written in black marker
on a shopworn cardboard placard that leaned off-center
against the glass window.

Upon entering the smell was musty and stifling. The proprietor well
over retirement age sat behind the counter. He was a short
dumpy man with a ruddy complexion.
Engrossed in some sports magazine he seemed oblivious
to my presence.

There did not appear to be any order or arrangement of the books by
category on the shelves. The old floorboards creaked as I moved
from shelf to shelf scanning the books.
It was a book on the fourth shelf that caught my eye.
Obviously very old as the binding was tattered the leather jacket was
mildewed and the size was unique. It was a small book.
Gently I slid it out from between two gigantic volumes.
Such a fragile book the pages dry discolored from age.
There was no title just a black cover with an outline
of a winged horse. Intrigued I opened the book.
The language was totally foreign to me but written under
each word a previous owner or someone from the past,
had translated in English.
My hands shook with excitement as I read
“The Wings of Pegasus” dedicated to
“Htaruma Giznad my beloved stallion.”

Upon examining the book further random notations were written
in the margins by the unknown translator.
Chronological dates with question marks some crossed out boldly
when eliminated with surety from the mystery of the
author’s identity and era.
Two dates were double underlined one in 1241
and the other in 1225.

A brief exchange with the proprietor concluded the sale of the book.
I could barely contain my elation as I left the shop the book tightly clutched
in my hand. There was no doubt in my mind that I would be
totally engrossed reading tonight.

The story was set somewhere in the Middle East.
I do not know the current name of the country as boundaries have
changed over the centuries. A young princess the only daughter
of the Caliph had a magnificent bay Arabian stallion.
His name was Htaruma Giznad. They were inseparable.
The princess was often seen on Giznad galloping over the sands
her veil flowing behind her laughing as they raced the wind.
Giznad too loved this as his tail was held straight up like a banner
as he ran his dark eyes intent on some distant finish line.
This familiar sight brought smiles to the Caliph’s
people as the princess was loved by all.

Than one day a messenger brought word to the Caliph’s people
that Giznad had become ill and died.
The princess had been by his side throughout his brief illness
and was now inconsolable. She wanted to know that life was not
over for Giznad and that Allah had a special place for horses.
Above all she wanted to know that she would see him again.
The Caliph sent envoys to all the surrounding countries
for someone who could put the princess’s mind at rest.
Great wealth would be bestowed on the one
who could answer the question.

I do not know how much time passed as those pages of the
book were brittle with age and crumbled into ashes
in my hand.

The book continues when the princess is very ill. In her delirium the
princess would call Giznad and relive their wonderful
times together.

One of her attendants was an ancient looking woman.
Her skin dark and wrinkled from age and weather.
She was not from the Caliph’s province but from another remote
country. It was she that was tending the princess when
she woke from a long period of unconsciousness.

“Tell me everything you felt when you last were with Giznad
when he died”
she said.
“I felt a gentle breeze” said the princess.
“Tell me everything you heard when you last were with Giznad
when he died”
she said.
“I heard the fluttering of wings as if a great bird was near”
said the princess.

The old woman smiled.
“Can you not see that your question has been answered?”
Pegasus was sent to Earth to bring Giznad home to the Creator
of all beings.
The gentle breeze was Pegasus breathing Life into Giznad.
The “fluttering” was the wings of Pegasus taking him home.

This little known book has brought me peace and
comfort as well.
For I too had the same question as the princess.
May this story bring solace to all that have loved and lost
a special horse.

In loving memory of Amurath Danzig ( Giznad)
AHR # 110678 who died Christmas Eve 2000
Baileraghnaill Arabians.
Newtown CT