Premium Pet Supply Store, Self Dog Wash & Grooming Services
Specializing in Quality Natural Pet Foods

Sage

May 23, 1999 - January 26, 2011

In Loving Memory

Our hearts are heavy with the unexpected loss of our beloved Sage on Wednesday, January 26th.  This follows the loss of our much loved Miss Penny on September 22nd.  Our grief is overwhelming to lose two of our family members so close together.

Sage, who was crowned King of Mardi Paws in 2006, was known and loved by many of our customers.  We wish to thank all of you who have been so very kind and generous with your love and support as we came to terms with the unexpected news that Sage had been diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma which could not be treated.

As a testiment to how strong and otherwise healthy Sage was, when initially tested, Sage's blood work was completely normal and had no real visible signs of being ill until he stopped eating.  A sign certainly to us that something serious had to be wrong.  Only after taking x-rays, did it become obvious that something had infected his lungs, although no tumors were detected with the initial x-rays. 

After tests for fungal infections came back negative, we consulted with Dr. Elizabeth Kergosien, an Oncologist with the Louisiana Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in Mandeville (www.lavrc.com).  Dr. Kergosien, who is a wonderful and compassionate Vet, delivered the unfortunate news that a tumor was found on Sage's heart and that the cancer had metastasized to his lungs.  As a result of the size of the tumor and the location, there was no treatment which would save our beautiful boy.  We were told that our Sage could have as little as a couple of days. 

Devestated by the news, we prepared for the worst, and prayed that some miracle would not take him from us so soon.  Our Sage was with us for another nine days after we met with Dr. Kergosien.  Those nine days were most precious and special.  Each one a gift knowing that the disease he was fighting could take him immediately.

When we knew the time had come to say goodbye to our beautiful and majestic boy, Dr. Kergosien and her Vet Tech, Jen West helped to make our last moments with Sage as comfortable and compassionate as could be.  We are eternally grateful to them and the wonderful staff at the Louisiana Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center for all of their assistance during this very difficult time.

We also want to express our thanks to Dr. Glen Dupree, the holistic Vet we consult with on a regular basis (www.homeopathyfortheanimals.com).  Glen also provided us with much needed advice, support and guidance.

Sage was the leader and Alpha of the pack and our girls are at a loss without him.  He was the rock, the silent but powerful leader who made sure all was well with his pack.  He was a joyful, handsome, happy boy who loved to run, was majestic as King of Mardi Paws, and who loved to be out on his deck enjoying the day.

There is a bridge that we walked over in back of our house on our morning walks together.  On the day that Sage left us, he cut our walk short, a sign perhaps to say, there was another bridge waiting for him, The Rainbow Bridge, with friends and loved ones on the other side.

We love you and miss you terribly......

King Sage with Lady Savannah and Lady Sophie

______________________________________________________________________________

  Miss Penny

1996? - September 22, 2010

In Loving Memory

Our beloved Miss Penny crossed the Rainbow Bridge on September 22, 2010.  She came into our lives unexpectedly and not in the way you envision a pet joining your family.  By shear divine intervention Miss Penny, at the age of 9 or 10 (we never really knew her exact date of birth), was saved from certain death at a kill facility. 

One day in June 2006, we received a call from someone who was a customer of ours at that time.  This customer had shopped with us for some time and would come into the store with their little Chihuahua and shower her with gifts.  Until that day in June, we never knew that she had any other pets.  Her call to us was to tell us that she needed to find a home for her golden retriever.  She said she moved and could no longer keep her.  Calls and e-mails went out to golden retriever rescue immediately that morning.  Later that day, before we had any real chance to coordinate a placement, a woman showed up at our store saying she was the sister of our customer who called about the golden retriever and that she had been told to bring her to the local kill facility.  We were stunned, confused and outraged and immediately wanted to know where the dog was.  The woman said she had her in her car and that if someone didn’t take her, she was going to be put down that day! 

There in the back of the woman’s car was Miss Penny, soaking wet, tail wagging, ball in her mouth and nothing but shear love in her eyes.  How could anyone even consider killing this beautiful sweet animal?  We immediately took Miss Penny, who was a physical mess.  Full of yeast infections, matted hair, covered in fleas and smelling terrible, Miss Penny was whisked away for an immediate bath and flea treatment.   

Now the dilemma, what were we going to do with Miss Penny if no one from golden retriever rescue could find someone to take her in on such short notice?  Our dogs, Sage, Savannah and Sophie were a pack and we weren’t sure they would accept a strange dog being brought into the house.  When it became evident that there just wasn’t enough time to get someone that day to take Miss Penny in at golden retriever rescue, we made the decision to bring her home, make introductions and hope for acceptance. 

Miss Penny came home with us that night for what was assumed to be a temporary stay.  Needless to say, she never left.  For the next 4 and a half years, Miss Penny lived the good life.  What better place to end up than with the owners of a natural pet supply store that would ensure she was fed the best, had a warm place to sleep at night, playmates and a guarantee to be loved and cherished for whatever time she had left in life?  Miss Penny knew how much she was loved by us and that she had a safe home.  She would look at us with those beautiful smiling brown eyes and wag her tail – just happy to be alive.  How could this sweet, loving animal have been deemed an inconvenience?  She never barked, never caused issues and just enjoyed life.  She was a testament to how simple and beautiful life could be.

Miss Penny over time became an accepted member of the “pack”.  She even mothered Sophie our youngest.  A special bond developed between them and if Sophie was ever feeling bad, Miss Penny would hover as we administered to her just like any good adoptive mother.  With a healthier diet, lots of love and care, Miss Penny glowed and flourished.  It was hard to imagine when you looked at her that she was over 10 years old.

We showcased our Miss Penny’s beauty and joy in several of our advertisements.  She joyfully went along with us dressing her up in costumes for her pictures.  She even participated in the Mardi Paws parade in 2008 and dressed up as Cinderella walking along with our Sage who was King in 2006.  She had a ball and loved all the attention.  She was the sweetest dog you could imagine.

Miss Penny was a wonderful addition to our pack and we are glad we were in the right place at the right time to save her and give her the opportunity to live out her “golden” years with love and comfort.  She is missed greatly.

 Miss Penny, Savannah, Sage and Sophie

A special Thank You to Paula and Terry of Sisters Studios (www.sistersstudios.com) for the beautiful photos above and others they have taken of our beloved pets over the past 6 years.  Their beauty, love and joy has been captured in each photo and helps us to preserve the most precious of memories.