Johnson family 
Judith Cummings
The LeTourneau Fur-Kids - in memory of our Fur-Angels
Shayna M.
| We have always been the foster home to want to help dogs with medical problems so when Harley was in need of a foster to help him through a leg amputation we didn't think twice. Upon arriving to pick up Harley we found a beautiful dog who was loved to death by a wonderful family. In the almost one year Harley was with us he faced problem after problem but like a golden he was nothing but happy! A few days ago Harley began getting sick and just didn't seem like himself. Today an Xray showed something in his belly and exploratory surgery was done to remove whatever it might be. As a foster mom you feel horrible because your foster dog has to undergo (another) surgery from eating something in your home. It turned out Harley had not eaten anything he shouldn't have at all. Food was what was in his stomach because cancer of the intestinal wall, bile duct, and pancreatic duct had caused a tear in the intestine and everything was leaking into his abdomen. With no way to repair it and only a life expectancy of a few days due to the infection it would have caused we decided not to wake Harley up and instead let him go to the bridge without any suffering. The thought crossed my mind to wake him and spend one more day with him to let him know how much he was loved but that would have been selfish and with the opportunity to let him go peacefully we knew there was no choice to be made.
Harley was a very needy dog - probably more so than all the dogs we have had combined so him not being here is so very obvious. He was my sleeping partner, the one who waited outside the bathroom door each morning as I got ready for work, and the one who would walk me to the door as I left in the morning. Hearing dog claws on the kitchen floor is sad without the funny noise only 3 legs of claws make. Nothing made Harley happier than snow so it was fitting that today it snowed and the tree branches were covered with fresh snow making it a very beautiful day. Sometimes we wonder how one amazing dog is dealt a horrible hand in life but I can say this amazing dog wouldn't have thought he had been. He had a love for life and showed it until he hopped out of the room for surgery this morning. I want to say thank you Harley's family for thinking of him and letting him come into RAGOM a year ago. The way he touched our lives cannot be expressed in words. You raised one wonderful boy! Thank you to his sponsors - without you it would be very difficult to address the medical needs of dogs like Harley. Thank you to everyone who opens their home to pets of all kinds. Losing them is one of the worst things to experience but the impact they leave makes it all worthwhile. I have attached a poem I send when people lose a pet. Hopefully this foster family will find comfort in it as well. And finally, a thank you to you Harley Bear. Thank you for being a wonderful companion for the last year. You touched many lives in your short 8 years here. You now have all four legs and can run like you so loved to do. Please welcome all other RAGOM dogs at the bridge the way you did when a new dog came into our home and know that someday we will be with you again. We love you so very much. Goodbye sweet Harley Bear.
I Stood By Your Bed Last Night I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear, "It's me, I I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea, You I was with you at the shops today, Your arms were getting sore. I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care. I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key. You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair. It's possible for me to be so near you everyday. You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew, in the The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning and say "good- And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide, I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see. |
