Uno

1995-2006

Uno was originally my husband's Steves dog.  Steve got him from some friends of his after they had found him as a stray.  Steve would take him to work with him everyday where Uno would greet the customers and "work" everyone in the area for treats and hand outs.  When Steve met me, Uno decided that while he would still go with Steve to work everyday, but he was going to be "mommy's dog".  He loved the water and going with us anywhere we went.  He had his own lifevest and could be seen sitting in the seat at the back of the boat with his bright purple life vest on, just enjoying the day.

After my son Joel was born, I started volunteering at the Antioch Animal Shelter.  It was there I found out about fostering.  I fostered for Animal Rescue Foundation for about 2 years and then started fostering for NCBR.  Uno was wonderful about accepting the fosters into the house.  Even though we teased him about wishing he was an only dog again, he accepted the fosters and would even play with them in his younger years.  As he got older, he would just growl at them and tell them to let him be.

Steve and I knew that the time was getting short for Uno.  He was going on 12 and slowing down.  On Monday, July 3rd, he developed an absess on his face and the vet did a bunch of tests and some bloodwork.  It turns out, Uno's kidneys were starting to fail, his bloodwork wasn't right and he needed surgery for his abscess.  It was after many tears and heartache that we decided that it was time to send Uno ahead to wait for us.  It was one of the hardest decisions we've ever had to make.

Uno, I know that you are waiting for us at the bridge.  I also know that you can hear now (he was deaf since birth) and you are running on hips that don't hurt, kidneys that are working good and playing with some of your boxer friends that went before you.  I miss you terribly and still look down the hall expecting to see you laying there watching me. You went to sleep peacefully with your head in my lap and my tears dropping on your face.  Play hard, dear friend and wait for me.

Brownie

2003 - 7/27/06