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.

Our beloved Ruby
Ruby
- March 12, 2009

Ruby, Ruby Ann, Rubes, Ruby-Tuesday, Ruby-Gal. Our “red” Golden. Some say dogs are special, man’s best friend, your partner and your defender. Ruby was in a class of her own. Even those that are not “dog-lovers” loved Ruby. She will be missed by so very many.

A gift to Danielle from her daddy when Dani was 7, Ruby became part of our lives. Back then Ruby fit in a tote bag and we could take her to visit daddy at work. That did not last long and Ruby later took on the roles of horsey, blankey, dolly, therapist, playmate, pacifier (to our cat, no-less!), buddy and many others.

While incredibly intelligent, Ruby was not the most disciplined dog. She certainly had a mind of her own. The first time we took her to PetSmart she grabbed a pig ear right out of a woman’s hand. The woman just looked at her and smiled as did everyone when they met Ruby. But when she wanted a treat at home she was more than happy to sit, shake, and speak, for it. Ruby would sometimes run out of the house and down the street and it took us (not so smart) humans a few times to realize that she would always outrun us and not to chase her. We learned it was much easier to get in the car and offer her a much-loved car ride. Boy did she know how to get what she wanted!

Ruby was so very polite. Our cat Sammy would “nurse” off of her and Ruby-Gal would just lay there and let him. When our other dog, Joey, came along she always let him go first. Ruby could be at the back door asking to come in and Joey could be on the other side of the house and he would beat her in the door. This also applied to going out. It now takes Joey some time to get outside as he keeps coming back in looking for Rubes… He misses her so!

Ruby could always tell when you weren’t feeling well. When Danielle had surgery on her toes, Ruby laid with her head carefully positioned between her feet for hours. When Joshua had his operation last year, she watched over him for days. At night Ruby would lie in the hallway between the kid’s rooms in case one of them needed her. She could not possibly choose between them. She licked away many tears and was so very attentive to all of us.

Ruby has been through a lot over the years. She endured two torn ACL’s, cancer, hypothyroidism, meat allergies, becoming deaf and slowly going blind. What a trooper! She handled her many surgeries, being forced into vegetarianism, wearing a cone far too often, and taking daily medications better than any human could. Thank you, Ruby for going through so much and handling it so well. It is so greatly appreciated.

When we found out Ruby was so very ill we knew we must let her go but wanted to bring her home so we could spend one last night with her. Our veterinarian gave her something for the pain and we got Ruby her favorite (non-vegetarian) steak treats and tried to make her as comfortable as possible. Ruby spent the night consoling us as she knew that we were also in pain. She barely slept even though she was tired and sore and medicated. As always, she was the one doing the nurturing…

Thank you, Ruby. We love you and miss you so very much.

Heaven goes by favour. If it went by merit,
you would stay out and your dog would go in.

- Mark Twain