We lost Lori yesterday.

[Jack]

I am sorry for your loss, Adam. It is never easy to lose a family member.

[Adam Helmer]

Jack,

Thank You for the reply. No, it never is easy.

Adam

[FIJI]

"Between Two Breaths" By Lu Hart

They slip into my hands
Sputtering, gasping at the shock of air, muzzles questing blindly.
Scent and touch are their world:
Mother's scent, human scent, milk scent.
Warm mother's flanks, warm human hands, warm bedding.
Plump and sleek and golden
They breathe my scent and I breathe theirs;
Lovers from the first breath.

They slip out of my hands.
Muzzles grey now with age, nostrils widening softly at my familiar scent.
Their eyelids close gently while I stroke their flanks.
My hands are cold this time-- or is it just that my heart is chilled?
Their scent segues to death, and mine to weeping.

And between the first breath
and the last breath
There is never enough time.

[Adam Helmer]

FIJI,

MANY Thanks for that wonderful poem. My latest best buddy is gone. Just yesterday, a friend advised his Blue Healer female will welp on July 11 and I have first dibs on a female pup.

After 12 years with Lori, I do daily miss my buddy. I soldier on because her replacement will be here by Labor Day. The way I figure, we will BOTH depart this farm together and Rest beside Webley and Lori.

Adam

[FIJI]

Ive been a professional dog trainer for over 40 years

trained several hundreds personally (including 200+ dog guides) and bred over 4,000 puppies for the Dog Guide school I worked at (no thats not a typo)

I'm personally addicted to Golden Retrievers and have two sleeping on my feet as I type this

Dogs>>>>People