My most beloved friend, soul-mate and love of my life. FOREVER IN LOVE.

 In loving memory of my most precious Duke who we love so much. Duke is, and always will be, greatly missed and be in our hearts forever.  WE LOVE YOU DUKE.

We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.
-Immanual Kant

 THE GREATNESS OF A NATION AND ITS MORAL PROGRESS CAN BE JUDGED BY THE WAY ITS ANIMALS ARE TREATED.  Ghandi

    I AM IN FAVOR OF ANIMAL RIGHTS AS WELL AS HUMAN RIGHTS.  THAT IS THE WAY OF THE WHOLE HUMAN BEING.  Abraham Lincoln

THE ANIMALS OF THE WORLD EXIST FOR THEIR OWN REASONS.  THEY ARE NOT MADE FOR HUMANS ANY MORE THAN BLACK PEOPLE WERE MADE FOR WIHITES OR WOMEN FOR MEN.  Alice Walker

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.  For me they are the role model for being alive.  ~Gilda Radner

Gilda Radner, Immanual Kant and Gandhi , Lincoln and Alice Walker could not have put it a better way.  It is so true, so real, so perfect!

"I aspire to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am."

Duke was and is the most precious, invaluable gift God has ever sent to me.  You brought so much to my life dearest Duke.  Our heart to heart connection will last for all eternity. Until we meet again my dearest love and companion.  My heart is broken without you, but I promise to take excellent care of my other fur children as you would want me to.

Sending you lots and lots of kisses and hugs.  I loved biting your ever so soft cheeks and smothering you with affection.  We understood each other so much, and it was so very hard for us to let go, especially me, but the time came where I had to put my own feelings aside to allow you to experience the peace that you so desperately needed.  Please forgive my human frailties Duke, and thank you so very very much for staying around as long as you possibly could, and thank you for giving me the courage to set you free.  I didn't think I'd survive, but I did.  Even you stated through the animal communicator that you thought that I was doing much better than you had anticipated.  I'm wondering if you had something to do with that.  You were a God sent Duke!  Continue to watch out for me  through God until we meet again.

You are the love of my life, and the man of my dreams.  No human male ever has, nor could they ever replace my love for you.  Although different species Duke,  we were/are in love, and that is what matters than, now and forever.  Oddly enough, I may have been your mommy in a sense, but over the years and your many critical illnesses that we conquered, our relationship took on a new meaning.  A very deep heart to heart connection on a "pure perfection" emotional basis developed.  It will last for all eternity.  I can't wait to be with you again.  We can manage the entire fur babies family like we did when you were alive.   

I was reminesing about the days back in 2000 when you spent a week in the intensive care unit at Southbay Animal Hospital doing whatever needed to be done to save your life.  You were at death's door.  We came to learn later on that you had two forms of auto-immune disease; one involving the skin, and the other involving your platelets.  The latter particularly is what nearly killed you b/c your platelet count dropped to a deadly level.  Joan and I will never forget it b/c we did not know if you'd make it to the next day.  Taking you to the hospital on Monday morning saved your life. If we had waited until your Tuesday appointment, you would have never survived.  I did everything in my power to save you, and it worked.  I particularly wanted to mention that one afternoon that I came to visit you, and I brought my lunch and a slice of meatloaf for you.  We sat outside; it was a bright, sunny day, and I will never forget your smile when we sat down.  You were smiling from ear to ear with all your teeth showing; it actually looked funny.  I've never seen a dog smile that big (oh, and you didn't know about the meatloaf yet, so I knew it was b/c of me).  I think that is when our relationship started to take a turn, and our heart to heart connection developed that went beyond "mommy".  It took over a years worth of treatments to save your life, and a life time of Prednisone (which doses were gradually decreased to a safe level), but you lived!  Thank God, you lived! 

You know Duke, several people mentioned your being in love with me, I didn't notice it like they did.  I guess you use to look up and stare at me when I was speaking with someone.  I think of us Duke, and I imagine you as a human person.  I am rather free-spirited, non-traditional and very high energy person, and you were a serious, non-goofy personality.  One vet, and my sister Joan, called you an "old soul"; very wise beyond your years.  I was extremely affectionate toward you, constantly showering you with hugs and kisses throughout each day, but you were more of a reserved personality, not gushy and showy like I am.  However, like my other sister Gina said, you and I were attached at the hip, and we were.  We showed our love in different ways, but all in all, our love was true, devoted, ,and everlasting.  Thank you for loving me Duke.  It is the greatest love I ever knew from any man, including my own late father, and my brother.  It is the greatest love I have ever known in my life period.  Thank you, thank you, thank you dearest Duke.  

"Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies"~Aristotle.