Tonight I lost my boy. Our wonderful dog Buster was hit by a car tonight and they didn't even stop to see if he was O.K. We have had a lot of vandalism on our street and he saw a person fixing a flat on the ourside of the road and ran to check it out. He was very protective of our family. He knew how scared I was of anything suspicious on our road. I feel as if my heart is breaking. Just last week he had kept some punks from enetring our home. Ever since then he has been sleeping downstairs on the couch instead of in bed with me. I think it was his way of protecting me, since my husband works nights. I always felt safe with him in the house. I don't feel that way anymore.

Buster was special. I found Buster coming home from school (I was finishing college) and he ran out onto a busy freeway. I noticed he was limping. So I stopped to see if I could help. I opened my door and he jumped in. Can you imagine a ninety pound dog sitting in the back of your car, reaching over to lick my face?? He seemed so happy to have been found. He was such a great dog and I tried really hard to find his owners, but no one answered my ads. So he became a part of our family. He was such a tease and a flirt. Shortly after we found him he demolished a Lazy Boy chair. I still remember comimg home from work and seeing stuffing all over the house. We almost got rid of him, but who could turn away those big brown eyes. He settled in and became one of my boys. I have another dog, a Springer named Seager. I would call home on my breaks (I teach) and ask, "How are my boys?" I can't imagine not being able to do that anymore. I don't know how I am going to tell my students. He is also a part of their lives. They always ask how the boys are doing. The man just finished taking him away and I was is to much shock to say goodbye, so in the morning I am going to say my goodbye to one of my boys. I miss him!!!!

I hope there is someone that can help us get throught this. We are both blaming ourselves for what happened. Please look at his picture and help us honor him.

Buster's Parents

I completely understand what you're going through. My little Italian Greyhound Sammy was hit by a car at 5:30 am on March 2, 2005. I feel so guilty...if I hadn't let him slip out the door he wouldn't be gone right now. My sister and my best friend came over and we held a small burial ceremony for him. I feel like I'm being torn in half. Sammy was the most wonderful animal I've ever had. He had many little quirks that I'll probably never find in a dog again. He liked to jump into empty bath tubs, bite his nails, chase his tail, stick his nose in your ear, and just run around the couch barking at nothing. I miss him so terribly. It hasn't even been 24 hrs yet and I feel like the pain is going to go on forever. I just thought you should know that there is someone else who knows the pain and the guilt you feel. I know it is something I will never really get over. But I have 3 other dogs who can feel his absence and my sadness and I know I'm going to have to try and be strong for them. Already they have not eaten all day. Anyway, I guess that's all I want to say right now. I attached a picture of my little angel...please send him a prayer

Hi Buster's Parents, I am so sorry for the loss of your precious Buster. I will pray that those people who did not stop will be miserable for a long time to come. The picture of him is so sweet and it sounds as though he always took good care of you. He was indeed a very special boy. I always felt safe with my Snookie but now I too feel unsafe without her. I know how much it hurts and you will cry for a long time to come. When I thought I had the crying under control another batch would come at odd times.
Hugs, Ann

Sammysmom, I am sorry for the loss of your baby too. He was a real doll. I will pray for you and yours. I know the tears and pain that come with losing our precious babies.
Ann

To the parents of Buster...I just replied to Sammysmaom, and again to you I need to express the fact that we are not in control of everything. It is hard to not feel guilty, but try and remember the good things you did for him. He was very lucky to have you pick him up and lived a very happy life. I imagine he and Sammy are getting together right now to find a way to send some comfort back. Try and remember some good things and give a try for alittle smile. You will get through this and Buster's memory will become a happy one. I know that is hard tobelieve now, but it is true. No matter how many time we go through this, we are devestated every time. But that will never keep us from loving them! Martina

To Buster's parents--
Your Buster boy was certainly a beautiful dog. I'm sorry for your loss and angry that whoever hit him didn't at least stop and try to find his owner. I know guilt can eat you up afterwards and a thousand "what ifs" will go through your mind. In 1998, my precious baby Mariah was hit by a garbage truck. I had just let the dogs out for the morning ten minutes before it happened and I lived on a dead-end street. I was getting ready for work and didn't even hear it. Thankfully, the driver stopped and went to my neighbor's house. I will always love him for that. My neighbor came over and held me while I cried over my little girl. Please know that my heart goes out to you. You WILL get through this, and it WASN'T your fault. I say that because those were the first things I thought when it happened to me. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. And please let me know if you need to talk more.

You are in my prayers. Looking at Buster's picture you can see his loving sould through his eyes. Tomorrow my Penni will meet Buster. I know that Buster knows how much you love him. I know Penni know this too. I also know that there will always be a hole in our hearts that Buster and Penni left.
I can tell by looking at Buster that he has left you with many joyful / adventuresome memories. I pray that as time passes that your tears will be shed with a smile at all of the joy he gave you.
Penni's Mom

Let me start by saying that I am not a "dog" person.
All that changed on the driveway of a friend in May 1993 when I met who would become my bestest friend ever. She was a "spur of the moment" purchase by my future husband during a time when we were newly ****** and not in the market for a house let alone a dog.
At first I did not live with her but when the relationship I had with her owner became one that we could no longer live apart, she became a part of my everyday life. We had a young baby when I moved in and she took to our "human" baby as if she had borne her herself...a maternal bond was formed.
A week after I moved in, I was home ill with laryingitis from work and she started to dig with her large paw (by this time she was a year old) at the chair that our 11 week old daughter was sitting in. She had never done such at thing, so I scolded her and told her to "lay down and be a good girl!" She tried with all her might to lay down but she could not. She got up and ran through our living room into our kitchen area only to return and scratch at the chair again.....I scolded her a second time...at which point she (at about 140 lbs) ran through the living room and kitchen and threw her body against the back door. Well, I figured something was up, so I put got up and walked to the kitchen where there was smoke coming under the back door (which was connected to the hallway connecting the entries of the apartment upstairs to ours). I went into "Oh My God" mode and called 911 while bundling the baby and guiding the dog out the door (no time to look for a leash). The fire department came and put out the fire in the upstairs unit and told me how amazing my dog was to sit next to me the entire time 14-15 firemen went in and out of our home without a leash on and also noted that had the fire gone another 15 minutes, the house would have been a total lose because the fire would have traveled into the walls!!!!!!!!!!!
From that day forward, I had a "Mommy" connection with my best friend!
We added a human playmate to our family the following year and she again took on the "Mommy" role with him all the while being the most gentle, patient, obedient dog God could have blessed me with.
I entered college in the fall of 98 and eventually created a "computer/dog" room in my house where we would have our deepest chats. When the children were tucked in their beds and hubby was fast asleep, the dog and I would embark on completeing my many hours of assignments and typed papers. I come to depend on her to break the solidarity on the room and to keep my feet warm while I typed!
During my last semester of college, September 26, 2003, I had completed a day of student teaching, picked the kids up for school, and was on my way home when my hubby called. He said not to bring the kids home but to come home as soon as possible, she needed me. I called the sitter (always faithful as well) and dropped the kids off. When I arrived home, my dearest friend was very ill, she was listless and tired. She had a high fever. While my hubby tried to get her to drink water, I called the vet. We carried her to the car and took her to the local vet who said that she had a high fever and gave her a strong antibiotic shot and said that her fever should cease by morning.
During that vet visit, I told hubby that our dearest faithful friend was sicker than we and the vet imagined and that the outcome would be grim. Unfortunately, I was right.
Within 3 hours of the vet visit, our dear friend began to hemorrage and had to be euthanized because she had the advanced stages of pyometra. (Pyometra is an infection in the uterus that makes the blood toxic to the major organs). After 9 1/2 years my bestest friend was gone.
We were fortunate enough to have a place to bury her, in a beautiful field where we have planted flowers and placed a sitting stone but we have not been fortunate enough to feel less pain or to forget out beautiful, faithful, and loving friend! To this day, I have not been able to visit the beatiful site because I miss her too much...I have planned to plant new flowers this spring in celebration of her April birthday and of her love for running in open fields of wild flowers at the local park.
To all of you who have lost your bestest friend, time will make it easier but I will be brutally honest and tell you that life will never be the same. I had to change the computer/dog room, attempted to have another dog, but my heart still aches for the one who is with Jesus today.
For those of you who feel guilt, I am a strong believer that to everything there is a season, and to every living being there is a time when you are called to be with the Creator who will see to it that happiness and peace lasts for all eternity. Don't spend time blaming yourselves, it is hard not to but, spend time celebrating the life you shared with your best friend.
I will tell you to share your stories and pictures, share your memories, and hold your friend dear because when the truth be told, our dearest friends would not want us sad but happy remembering the happy times.
Her name is Athena, (NiNi for short) and she is still my bestest friend!