Our loving friend, Max

[WitcheyRed]

Today was the worst day of my life. one of my closest friends let us know that it was time for him to leave us. Max was the sweetest Rottweiler we have ever met. he had a rough life until we rescued him about 4 years ago. we nursed him back to health with lots of love and a number of surgical procedures. in the next few years he became very close to us both,along with our other 3 rotties, sam, panzer & mina. we shared many adventures in our motorhome traveling the coast of california,oregon & washington with him & sam. but as he grew older his poor breeding and abuse were taking over. hip displaysia made him walk with a limp for the last year or so. earlier this year he had a hypo-active thyroid condition that caused him to loose nearly 50 lbs. in a couple of weeks. with medication he regained 10 to 15 lbs. back, but his strenth was fading. after the last race at bakersfield he was diagnosed with cancer in his rib cage. it spread very quickly and looked to be in his lungs as well. he was having good days and bad days but didnt seem to be getting much worse, but we decided not to have any more surgery done, since it would only make him hurt and not get any better. his backbones were nearly all fused together causing him to be very ridgid according to x-rays. sunday we had some friends over and he was doing pretty well, but was having trouble walking too far. monday his other rear leg was giving out as well. around noon today i asked diane to email me a picture of max sitting in front of our cottage on the lawn in the sun. when she went out to take the picture all the dogs had escaped the yard (for the first time ever!) they had opened the gate and max, mina & panzer were all sitting on the grass by the cottage, with sam near the mailbox watching. what we think happened was that max wanted to say goodbye to his brothers & sister in his special place. diane found them all sitting there and brought them back inside, but max could hardly walk. he made it to the middle of the driveway behind the gate and decided to rest there. diane got him his bed to lay on and he spent the rest of the afternoon laying there until i got home from work. we had to carry him inside at this time because his little weak legs didnt work any more. he looked up to us as if to say he was ready to go now. we called the vet and made arraingments to go there tonight. diane, sam, panzer, mina & i sat around for a couple of hours on the living room floor saying our goodbyes. afterword we carried our friend to my truck and laid him on his bed. i crawled in the bed with him and talked to him and rubbed his fur as we drove to the vets office. we carried him in and had a little ceremony with him, some trinkets, locks of all of our hair, and a white candle to represent his pure spirit. diane had composed a poem for max and she read it to him while we petted and kissed him. we held his paws and rubbed his head until well after the end had come. Max is now in a better place where he can run fast, jump high, chew his food (he had very few teeth in life) play and lie in the warm sun all day without any of the pain his old tired body caused him to have. Max's spirit will follow diane everywhere she goes in her garden, just like he used to do, and he will always be there in my shop streched out in the doorway on his mat. He was a loyal and loving friend and companion and as i sit here crying while typing this letter, i know he is no longer in any pain. we will always remember & love you Max for all the wonderful memories you gave us. Tim, Diane, Sam,Panzer, & Mina Burns

[JD102175]

Max was a beautiful boy, and I'm sure his life with you was the happiest he had ever known.

RIP Max.


Jaime

[spiccers]

I'm sitting here all choked up after reading your post Im very sorry for your loss. You did all you could for him and his time with you was a gift.

[LynnS]

Bless you for giving Max a wonderful home...
He went to the bridge feeling loved and cared for...

I am so sorry for your loss...

[mmgy]

What a sweet sweet face! Till you meet again................

[AimeeMB]

What a beautiful tribute to your boy. I am so sorry for your loss. :( :( :( :(

[Shadowmama750]

Gosh.........what a touching story of Max You two were wonderful to have rescued and nursed him back to health. Sadly, everything we try to do just sometimes isn't enough. My heart goes out to both of you. It's ok to cry...........it's part of the healing process, so don't hold back. Max understands.

He was a beautiful boy. God Speed, Max.

Hugs to you and may peace be yours soon.

Vicki

___________

Zues - 6 y/o rescue Rott
Crossed the Bridge 11/15/03

[stevenc]

You are the wind beneath his wings.

[Birdie'sMom]

I'm sorry to hear about your Max. You gave him a wonderful, loving home and now he thanks you and waits for you at the bridge. Rest in peace, Max.

[thoradopter]

May peace be with all of you at this time of pain for the loss of your beloved Max. You gave him the best years of his life and he will love you and be with you always.

Linda

[rottie2mom]

God speed Max.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours at this time. Look to your other dogs to get you through.

RIP handsome boy.

Amy

[Sharon Marples]

What a wonderful tribute to Max. What wonderful owners you are! You could not have provided him with a better passing, what love and compassion you showed for him.

Our deepest sympathies to you in his passing.

[Helen B.]

I'm so very sorry for your loss of Max.

[Brooke&Ryan]

That was a very moving tribute to Max. I'm so sorry for your loss....

Brooke

[pbach]

Max may you be a peace. Your tribute to Max is such a loving one - I know that Max is looking down on you and saying Thank You for all that you have done for him. Until you meet again.

Patty:(