Cathie and Sue-

 I know you said when I was ready I could send a tribute about Oscar for the Bridge page….I am ready.  Here goes-

 Oscar was the best little dog going.  He was old- tired-messy and alone when he was found roaming the streets of RI but that soon changed when Cathie and Sue took him in, cleaned him up, loved him and nursed him back to health. He was ready to find a home.   Wayne and I first saw Os at Sue and Chuck’s the summer of 2002- Wayne fell in love. Oscar came to him and rolled over for a belly rub.  Yorkie thru and thru.  Wayne was hooked.   I did not want a dog.  I was a cat person.  I did ask Sue about Oscar and she said he was already promised to a family and he was going to them the following Friday. I called Sue the Thursday before Oscar was headed to that home and asked her to call me if the home did not work out.  I had a feeling…That Sunday Sue called me and said the home did not work for him and he was coming back- did we want him?  I said yes and then started my love affair with Oscar, Yorkies, Yorkies Inc. and Cathie and Sue.  Oscar was a good little dog.  He was sweet and gentle and lovable.  He was an old man- in years and behavior- but he still had a love of life and us.  We loved him so much it hurt.  It hurt more, and certainty a different type of hurt, when he lost his battle with cancer and passed away on September 25, 2005.  He will always be in out hearts.  I think of him every day and still cry for him.  If I could only hold him one more time.  Just one more time.  I am no longer only a “cat person”….I am now a “Yorkie person”- so is Wayne.  Because of Oscar Wayne and  I have re homed 2 other Yorkies from Cathie and Sue- Harry and Chloe.  We adopted another Terrier type, Gus, on our own.  Oscar knew and lived with Harry and Chloe but we got Gus a month or so after Oscar left us.  I have no idea why I went to petfinders.com and found Gus.  I think maybe Oscar sent us to him.  Gus was in a shelter- in RI- old (13) tired and messy just like Os.  These two dogs are so similar in so many ways it’s uncanny.   I think Oscar knew I needed another dog to “care” for and mother.  Gus is that guy.  It helps me to be with Gus since I lost Os.  Oscar must have known that.  Even when he is gone he is still looking out for me.  I really believe that.  I believe he is my angel- he was on earth……..no need to stop being my angle once he goes over the rainbow bridge right??  It is his job and he does it very well. 

Thank you Cathie and Sue for giving me the love of my life.  Thank you for all the work you do and for continuing to bring these wonderful dogs to us……..next time you get another “Os” you know who to call…..we’ll be there without hesitation.

With love and thanks-

Lynda and Wayne Fitzgerald

(The attached photo is my favorite one of Oscar.  He was so cute and sweet and this picture shows that.  Look at the way I am looking at him….I was in love with this guy.  Sue and Chuck took this photo and I am so grateful they did.)

Sherman (Eddie)

   My little Sherman went to the rainbow bridge today.  His seizures had become worse, but we were working on controlling them with medication, and seemed to be making progress. 

  However, he started having difficulty breathing.  The vets were concerned that it might be pneumonia (from aspirating during a seizure) or a PTE (blood clot to the lungs).  The PTE occurs often in dogs with Cushing’s.  He was hospitalized and put in oxygen yesterday.  We had hoped he would get better, but was showing no improvement and actually getting worse, even though he was in oxygen.  He would do OK for a while, and then have really hard times struggling to breathe.  The vet said that she didn't think he was in pain, but that when these episodes happened, he became very frightened.  They felt strongly that, since oxygen and other medications were not helping him that it was in fact the PTE.  So, I held him, kissed him and we helped him slip gently off to the bridge. 

  Thanks so much for allowing Sherman to be a part of my life.  He was such a joy, and such a little love.   He taught me what the term “yorkie’ttude” was all about.  He once put a 70 pound pit bull in its place!  After that, we nicknamed him the Sherminator J.  He loved giving kisses, falling asleep on my lap, and dinner time!   Everyone who met Sherman loved him.  He was with me such a short time.  I am so sorry I didn’t have more time to show him how much he meant to me.

 Debbie

  Eddie was rescued this past winter 2004 when he was found abandoned in a snow bank. He was estimated to be between 10-12 years old.  He was diagnosed with Cushings shortly after coming into rescue and we knew that he would need a very special home. Debbie was that home! She is a very dedicated vet tech from RI and has helped us with her knowledge in the past. Debbie asked us to be that special home and we were thrilled that Eddie, whom she renamed Sherman, was going to get everything he needed until the end. Debbie loved and cared for him and saw to his every medical need. We thank Debbie for "being there" for Sherman and for us.  

Napoleon

Napoleon was a  little Pomeranian who I lost  two days after Christmas this past year. He was a "re-homed" retired show pom and quickly went from shy little guy to my best little buddy! (I brought him everywhere!) I used to call him my "little ball of sunshine" because just  looking at him would make me and anyone that saw him smile. We were inseparable. I feel so lucky to have had him in my life, although the time was so short.  His loss was devastating to me and I'll always hold a special place in my heart for him.  I would like to thank my sister Cathie from Yorkies Inc. for finding Napoleon for me and also being there for me on that  tragic night I lost him. I don't have children and he was my " baby". Cathie understood this better than anyone and that really helped me deal with my grief. I have since been lucky enough to have two new poms in my life, Pippin and Pia.  They are adorable and spoiled rotten...especially by their  "godmother" Cathie!

Kim, Keith, Pippin and Pia