If you have a story to tell that celebrates the life of a beloved pet, we'd like to share it with others. As funeral professionals, we are educated to understand that by sharing the life story of your pet, you not only get to honor its life and preserve the memories, but you yourself will receive much therapeutic benefit. Thus, we offer this service to our entire community at no charge. Please take a few minutes to share photos and Create your own Pet Tale to tell other pet lovers about your companion, or page through our memory album below to read some of the tales shared by others.

A Pup for All Seasons
Angus
- 10 July 2010

Angus was already a year old when he became a member of our family. At the time we lived in Vermont, Angus was assigned to a pet adoption program and was currently living on a farm in Northern Vermont where his main pastimes included rolling in the new mown grass, chasing ducks and racing with his sister. A Border Collie/Labrador mix, Angus was well suited for the Vermont winter that was fast approaching.
Angus had not quite abandoned his puppyhood and still had a bit of growing to do. His sparkling brown eyes were full of mischief and he soon proved to us that, as young as he was, he had a strong will of his own. As the colder weather drew on, his sleak black coat covered a layer of fluffy wool beneath it, which kept him warm during all the fun days to be had playing in the snow. And he loved the snow! He would sniff the air, anticipating the impending storm.
One of his favorite pastimes was snowboarding. He would take the lid of the garbage pail and slide up and down the drive with my daughter, Helen, alongside. Whey would have snowball fights and where the snow had drifted into deep mountains, Angus would dive into the drifts, jumping and pushing a trench through them. After hours of play, both Helen and Angus would come inside, hair and whiskers covered in icicles, ready for a steaming mug of hot chocolate.
In the spring, Angus would spend hours in the woods, sniffing the sweet new smells - and sometimes getting tangled up with briars and the occasional porcupine. And, of course, there were encounters with the ever present squirrels who would run down the trees, taunting and teasing him,then scamper back into the leafy canopy whenever he made a run for them. The squirrels brazenly stole his biscuits and toys and as fleet as Angus was, he could never quite catch them. Once, I heard him barking and when I looked out I saw a squirrel pulling Angus' blanket out from his kennel.
In the summer, Angus and Helen would fill a backpack with water and treats and hike up to nearby Stirling Pond where Angus would have a refreshing swim. There was the annual trip to Maine to look forward to, paddling in the sea, ice cream cones and lobster sandwiches. What a dog's life.
The fall in Vermont is particularly beautiful and a cause for celebration. There was Angus' birthday party, of course, and the annual trip to the apple orchard, organizing the pumpkin carving and bringing out his Bat-Dog costume ready for Hallowe'en.
As the nights drew in and we made our Thanksgiving and Christmas preparations, Angus was an indispensable helper. He had his favorite turkey dinners, helped us trim the tree, hung up his stocking and even went shopping for Christmas gifts.
But that was Angus - a puppy for all seasons, and how he made every season seem that much more fun and alive for us all. Thank you, our darling friend, for the years of play and looking after us. We will always love you and you will always be with us.