Beloved pets

1. Hera - German Shepard, RIP
2. Lickety Split - Black/white cat
3. Kenya - Border Collie mix
4. Shema - German Shepard
5. Muffin - Rabbit, RIP

All of these animals are significant to our family, but by far, my favorite was Hera. She showed up on our doorstep, emaciated, and after years of saying no to pets, what else could we do? She found US. After posting signs and asking around at the local vet clinics, we decided to add her to our family.

She was so beautiful and such a gentle soul, the perfect family pet. About 7 years after she found us, she grew a tumor on her belly. We took her in for surgery, but the cancer was too far gone and the tumor grew back within a few months. We set a date to have her euthanized and we all said our goodbyes. It was heart wrenching. We all cried as Glen and Hera drove away. The weather matched our moods: rainy and gloomy. Glen stayed with her the entire time, petting her and talking to her until she passed.

As the story goes, as he drove home, the rain stopped and he saw a rainbow. I don't know if that's true, or just something he told the kids. I never asked, and I don't want to know. Whenever we see a rainbow, we still say that it's Hera looking down from Heaven on us. :-)