Bama & Penny Grebs

 Penny was so pathetic looking when we found her at the shelter, and honestly I picked another dog, but Penny picked her Dad, and Dad said, No, Penny is the one joining our family. I will never regret my husband's decision to stand firm on Penny. We are truck drivers and I had Bama, our American Eskimo, and Jim had Penny. We lost Penny last year in 4/15/10, and just recently on 12/30/11, we lost Bama.

TRIBUTE TO MY FEATHERED COMPANION, BUDDY

My initial memory of you was in 2006 -- maybe 2005 --I can't remember exactly -- at a small, badly managed pet store in East Texas...I was  "getting my bird fix", visiting a conure when  suddenly I heard a terrible screeching.You were scrambling in three inches of sawdust in a clear, four sided glass container, snapping at some idiots grasping at you while a huge stack of cats loomed over the scene.  You didn't even have a perch for stability.I'm not one to stand idly by & allow an animal be bullied, so I asked the dude reaching for you what he was trying to do. He skulked off.
For the next several weeks, you became my focus. You were so thin and had a huge scab on your keel bone. I vainly lobbied for better food, location, and medical treatment for you . At some point, I bought you a perch so you could grasp something. Unemployed, buying a $1200 parrot was non-realistic.
I called newspapers, humane society groups, animal support groups. In East Texas, they claimed impotence at intervention. The staff became (understandably) less friendly; it was clear I had to purchase you in order to ensure your upkeep. I talked them down to $750 and made a down payment on you, thus ensuring I had a say about your upkeep while I paid you off. 
The opening of your pen was covered so customers wouldn't pester you any more.
The cats disappeared from your area.
I bought your food and feeding dishes instructing staff I was fully in charge of your care.
I begged them to take to the vet. They refused.
As soon as you were fully mine, I whisked you immediately to a vet for treatment of the sore on your keel bone. He warned me you were likely going to die because you'd stopped eating & had indicated by your lack of activity or interest a desire to die. I believed in that you'd survived the hellhole of a pet store so long (two years) you wanted to survive & only needed a chance.
At his request, I covered you for 3 days. On the 3rd day I heard movement & you were perched firmly above the bottom of the cage eating voraciously. I had to hand cradle & feed you to put weight back on you.
Hey, you know those moments when babies who are spoon feeding get muck all over their faces & bibs! Let's just say, you weren't any exception, and usually I stuck you in the shower on a special perch to wash off the muck. 
You lived & flourished.
And then one day, you let me touch you....oh, so sofly. And on another day, when I coaxed, "step up", you did! Little by little you allowed me to smooth your feathers, rumbling low when I moved too fast in my excitement. 
I liked to rub your poor little feet too, deformed from the days when the "other place" denied you something to stand ons...you liked that, rumbling all the time to remind me it was a privilege that might be revoked at any snap of a beak when you tired of it. 
Occasionally I tried to rub your eyelids which is supposed to be a favorite sweet spot on parrots! 
That never quite worked, so I settled to just giving you a foot massage every now and then or stroking your chest .. but never your face! That's what trust & respect are all about. Soon I was taking you on "walks", perched on my finger or palm - but never could get the hang of my shoulder - most likely because your feet were a bit messed up from your sawdust days. 
Blink. Hoot (I think you'd heard an owl at some point). Kiss. Ruffle the feathers blowing your image up to three or four times its size. Then blink, click of the tongue, hoot, kiss. If I pushed to hard & I got a hard peck, I made sure I apologized & ended with a kiss & a peanut or pretzel circle -not pretzel looking pretzel You had plenty of kisses even if with a low, throaty rumble .. sorta like a little lion club. I tried to imitate your "click" - I couldn't. 
You taught me patience, boundaries, and love .. and forgiveness while I learned the skills of owning a feathered friend.
You shared my life with four cockatiels and a dog in the beginning.
One of my favorite memories of you is when I moved to Florida & we stopped by the ocean to watch the sun set --me & a friend picnicking close by while you clicked your tongue (or beak?) from your perch close by..staring at the sun go down.
I remember sneaking you into motels when I went on a road trip to Tennessee & your full attention at the methods I used to attempt to encourage you to speak..which you chose never to do.
When I moved to China for three years, I had to leave you in the great care of my sister Pam. There you found true love with Zoey, another African Grey -- oh my gosh! You both were so sweet with one another.
Human disagreements separated you from your lady love & you were back with me, though I hated to do this so much. I knew my sister was a great caregiver, but you were my baby -- I wanted, perhaps selfishly I'll forever wonder & torture myeelf about for a time to come -- to reconnect with you, my friend & baby.
Buddy -- everyone who saw you on our multiple walks I took you on along with Angel, my dog from China -- always commented how handsome and sweet you were. And you were.
You loved peanuts, most recently round pretzels, raisins, sweet fruit, but not so much veggies. I loved how you'd stick out your black tongue to "taste" something new & if you didn't like it toss it careless about...or snatch it from me if you did like it.
Other bird owners often asked me to sell you to them! How can a person sell their friend?! Of course, that wasn't possible.
I remember your reaction when I took you to a friend's aviary and you remembered you were not the only parrot in the world. So cute!
I loved your lion growl, playing Snatch It with me, and puffing yourself to four times your size. I loved that you never talked actually. I didn't care about that so much. I only wanted you to be happy.
I loved how you'd automatically duck your head to catch the spray from a water bottle as I spritzed you daily while singing "Showers of Blessing". Bottle .. duck..it became a trained response.
I loved how you hooted like an owl when covered up for the night.
Most of all, I love watching you fall in love with a lady parrot & feeding & protecting each other. You were such a gent -- usually if not always allowing Zoey first dibs at the pickings before you ate!
Oh Buddy! How I will miss walking you along with Angel in the mornings & evenings. I'll miss watching you watch me do my stuff & particularly loving to watch TV with me (from a distance of course).
If I could redo a day or event that placed you in what became harm's way -- it would be to have found a way for you & your lady love to stay together. I'll always replay and wonder if there was something else I could have tried to do to insure your life with her & still be a part of your life.
Thank you for your hundred plus daily kisses. Thank you for trusting me enough -- not to pet & tickle you (that involved hands) but to caress you against my cheek. Thanks for your insistent clamor to go "on walks" with Angel & I. Thank you for your sweetness. Thank you for waking me up in the morning with your rustling or clicking of the tongue (or beak) & hooting. What a sweet sound to awaken to!
Thank you for your silent, watchful, stoic presence. most of all, thank you for showing me what wanting to survive is all about as you did eight years ago in a little apartment in Longview, Texas.
Thank you, Buddy, for just being you.
I love you. I will never, never forget you. I'm so sorry, my pet, for not being home to protect you on September 19, 2012, the day of your passing. 
Goodbye my friend.
Until we meet again,
Lisa

Trekker

You were with me for only a few days and I am still saddened by your untimely passing.

R.I.P. Trekker.

Otis

My beloved Otis will be coming to you this week for cremation. He was an adorable guy who shared the past 6 years of his life with us. He originally came to us as a beaten down, neglected bassett who was terribly ill and didn't care much for people. But after needed medical attention and love he was healed in both health and heart. He quickly became the darling of our family and we adored him. With his health again declining quickly this past year, it was soul crushing to let "My Guy" finally go. I took my last walk with Otis the day after Christmas and knew I could no longer make him endure the maladies that were now overtaking him. His absence in our lives and home is overwhelming. I only take some assurance that he now runs and plays again on the other side of paradise. Someday, when my time here is done, his ashes and mine will be mixed together and we will be together forever. You were a true blessing from heaven and gave a part of my heart a wonderful awakening!

 Dharma Jean Henchar-Lopez D.J.

Dharma Jean Henchar-Lopez D.J. for short was a wonderful girl. We adopted her into our lives and home in 1998. She was left behind buy her owners who would put cigarette butts out in here ear. Which explains why her one ear is up.

She made our home complete for fifteen years and she is missed buy all of us. Till we meet again Dharma Jean.

We love and miss you,

 Lilie 

My dearest Lilie passed away on October 14th 2012, She was the best dog that anyone could ask for almost human. I will never forget her, I know she was an angel, thank you Lilie for been there for me and thank you God for give me the opportunity of had her in my life.

Dusty Dawg

 In loving memory of our Sweet Dusty Dawg. 

Cha Cha

Cha Cha is now with her Dad in Heaven, best buddies hanging out.

Zackeroo

LUV U TO THE MOON ZACKEROO, U SURE WERE ONE COOL DUDE MISS U SOOOO MUCH 

Sparky

I lost my best friend and a piece of my heart. I will always remember this day just like I will remember the day he came in my life. You have to be an animal lover to understand. 17 wonderful years I was blessed with Sparky and his good personality. He was truly a great being with terrific athletic abilities and the warmest unconditional love. Sparky was the first baby that Cindy and I had. I raised him since he was a puppy. The circle of life is full of joy laughter and wonderful experiences as well as heart break and sadness. We all mourn the loss of him. I hated to see him in the state he was in in the last days my heart rests heavy he is not in pain. He knows I loved him and he lived a long and good life. I will keep him in my heart forever and am truly grateful for the time I had with him. May your spirit run and jump forever my friend.

Pooh

We lost our Pooh girl on July 7, 2016, the day our hearts broke. She was with us 20+ years (born June 15, 1996) and will forever be in our hearts. We love you Pooh and will ALWAYS! Forever! She now has her wings.