Reeses found us at a Pet Smart adoption event when she was about 2 years old. After a home inspection, her foster parent, Joe, delivered her to us and our love affair began. We never changed her name because she did, indeed, have the same coloring as a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup! She loved long walks and hikes in the mountains, chasing seagulls on the shores of the Outer Banks, snow, traveling everywhere with us and sleeping by our side. I swear she could spell because R-I-D-E sent her to the door with the tail wagging.
Reeses welcomed and mothered our second puppy, Brewster, and she had him house trained in two weeks. He wanted to do everything she did, and she taught him all the ways around our hearts. She respected our Kitty and even allowed occasional up close and personal head nudges.
As Reeses' hips deteriorated, she was determined to keep up with Brewster, Larry and me; however, we adjusted our pace to match hers. She showed no signs of pain until one recent afternoon when she began to cough and bring up blood. Emergency radiographs showed lung cancer and her decline was swift, shocking and heartbreaking. Reeses' spirit stayed strong and ever so loving. Her last breath was taken in our arms as we whispered our love and good-byes.
Thank you, HART, for bringing her into our lives. We will mourn the loss of our girl for a long time, but we know in our hearts that she is still looking out for us and waiting on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.
Carol
The VanDyke Family
Herndon, Va.