Over
time I will post all of Kumba's little stories
I have written about over the years, his love, his
funny side and the way he touched so so many people,
I understand that Kumba wasn't just my dog, he was
everybody's dog, everyone who met him, fell in love
with him, he didn't do anything special, no tricks,
nothing naughty like jumping up or barking at them,
he was just Kumba and we loved him the way he was.
The background for the picture was taken while
I was at The
Oasis, Lake Travis Tx in 2001. I thought
at the time when I snapped this shot over 5yrs
ago just how beautiful it was.
Below are a collection of just
some of the Kumba moments in my life. I apologize as some of
them are larger, but most are nice and small :)
09/11/06 Kumba passed on to
the rainbow bridge, after his bone cancer just got too much
for him. He was hobbling bad, but it had gone to his lungs.
He wasn't gasping (I would never allow that) but it was time,
he lived with such dignity, he deserved to go to the bridge
with dignity. We went for our last walk that morning in the
woods, Kumba got to pee on all his favorite trees, and with
assistance we went down to the spring fed creek, where he loved
to drink from, the sun was shining through the trees and ferns
casting little shadows in the water, Kumba saw the shadows
and looked at me, so I crouched down, and he laid in the water
(only around 2" deep at this time of year) and I 'made the
shadows dance' using my fingers and he scratched and 'pounced'
in his own way into the dancing shadow into the water, where
it splashed up, Diva and Kiss came running down, and they
played too, then Kissy licked Kumba's ears, and Diva gave
him her famous little butt wiggle in the face, Wicket came
down and kissed Kumba and then he got up and we all walked
(hobbled) up the bank together - it was a beautiful moment
that I will forever remember and even now, even though I
remember it with tears, I also smile, it was so so perfect.
Kumba passed away in my arms, with me telling him how much
I loved him, and how much he meant to so many. He gave me
a kiss and went gently to sleep. He passed with the same
dignity in death as he lived his life. Gentle and loving
to the very end. God Speed BooBoo.
Thanks to Terry & Gary Dyck for letting Kumba live his
final year in Doggie Paradise (no stairs, no city fumes and
lots of love), I was with Kumba for approx 2 weeks a month
(in between my own chemo treatments), and he was so happy,
loved his walks in the woods and Gary spoilt him rotten,
they were buds.
On Saturday, Pete (my first hubby) drove down to Terry & Gary's
and Gary and he went golfing and then came back to the house,
where we had BBQ'd chicken and a bottle of champagne and
toasted Kumba, To his 'family' that loved him and he loved
back ten fold.
Farewell gentle boy, even though you aren't with us physically,
you will always be with us in memory and spirit.
Kumba was a therapy dog, certified service animal and the
best ambassador for Rottie Rescue I have ever known. It gives
me comfort to think he will walk among the souls of 9/11
and will continue to give comfort and love like he did when
he visited the children's hospital, schools and cancer wards.
While we were in the waiting room, a 18mth old child was
there and came over to BooBoo as he was laying down, with
his head up, and as the child came (crawled) over, Kumba
rolled onto his side and the child hugged him, and Kumba
gave him a kiss, forever the gentleman, forever the ambassador
- that is the way I will forever know him in my heart, he
was not just my heart dog and the love of my life, he was
everyone's dog, everyone that met him, fell in love with
him.
May he find the rescues that have passed before him, but
passed away in loving homes, because of him, and how he represented
the breed and the species. My vet (Dr Reeves) said to me, "over
30yrs in practice, and I have never known a dog like him,
and I don't think I ever will, he wasn't one in a million,
he was one in ten million."
God Speed and may you find all the shadows to pounce on
that your heart desires and I know you will be well tended
until I can join you. I was proud to be blessed with you
for the time I was.
I choose a private cremation for Kumba, and he will be sprinkled
around a tree we will purchase at Terry & Gary's at Pup's
paradise. In the woods there are many trials, Terry's son,
Brad has asked if it's ok if he makes a sign like the ones
you see at National Parks, and have on it "Kumba's Way" and
it will be on the path leading down a slight hill, to the
creek that Kumba so so loved.
If you are looking for a pet, please consider
rescue, they make the best loving pets, and the good rescues
do more temperament testing of their dogs than 90% of the
breeders that are trying to sell you a dog. Never buy
a dog from the newspaper. If you want a responsible
breeder, contact your rescue group, they KNOW the breeders
who are responsible for their dogs, who will take their own
dogs back should they end up in rescue and who only have
the very best interest of their dogs at heart. I
am not against breeders, but those who deny their responsibility
for those they brought into the world, I have nothing but
distain for you, and I hope when your time comes that all
the dogs at the rainbow bridge pee on you!!
NEVER purchase a dog that supports the following
type of registrations , they are puppy mill dogs and
you are NOT helping the situation by purchasing a dog from
such a place, you are supporting puppy mills when you purchase
a pup from a pet store. Never get a dog from rescue
that has NOT be spayed or neutered, they are NOT a responsible
rescue group, and NEVER take a 'pet quality' dog from a breeder
that doesn't have a spay/neuter contract on it - they are
not responsible breeders!
To those rescues that want to charge $300-$800
for a dog, shame on you - you do NOT have the best interest
of the dog at heart, you are in it for profit. I would
rather find a good loving home for a dog rather than for
those who throw the money in up front, but don't back it
up with love and attention. For those who can afford
more for a rescue, I urge you to make a donation above and
beyond the initial adoption fee, I had several people who
would pay the donation for a dog for themselves, then pay
the same fee again (my fee was $150.00, dog was spayed, micro
chipped, vaccinated and in most cases the dog had their CGC
+ 6 weeks of free obedience training (plus a free CGC test
if the dog didn't have it already)
