Benpaws

Dear Friends,

I have not been posting lately but wanted you all to know that Dan has said his final goodbye to his beloved companion Kobe who was only 5 years 10 months old and lost his battle with cancer. He was a much-loved little puppy and lived every moment of his life with this loving family. He left with dignity and the same unconditional love he gave in his brief life. It was the same unconditional love that Dan and his wife and children gave to Kobe and especially at the end when it so difficult to "say goodbye to a treasured best friend."

Apparently Kobe was peaceful and calm in his last moments and Dan and his wife are grieving, but knew their decision was the "right one for Kobe." They made it as everyone of us who has had to make that decision "out of a deep love for our loyal best friend who loved unconditionally."

I will be lighting my candle in memory of yet another precious dog who has lost his very brave and this time, short battle with cancer. It is so unfair and Dan and his wife Rosemary and their children are sad but knew it was the right decision for Kobe. This "decision" is always made out of "great love" for our furry best friends.

It came to my attention from someone I quite admire that once you have lost your dog to this disease, your presence is no longer required or needed on this site. I foolishly let myself believe that to be true. However, this afternoon I received a most touching note from Dan who said that the support and comfort which I gave to him and his family DID MATTER.

I would never assume knowledge or impart any knowledge re: use of supplements or nutrition for a puppy with cancer, but I merely reported what worked for our Benny and suggested that everyone need to take the advice of their own particular vet and read the various posts and see what others found to be helpful.

As for myself, I get great comfort reaching out to others who have just had this devastating and shocking revelation that their beloved best friend has "cancer" and the need to share and they need to "lean." I have "strong shoulders"having taken that terrible journey myself with a very unique little 6 year old schnauzer named Benny, who filled my heart and my life with abounding JOY and will FOREVER FILL MY HEART and MY MIND because he is not really "dead" but alive in those parts of me.

I sincerely apologize to everyone here for discontinuing my posts. I NEED you as much as you NEED me. We have all become like a "family" and are there for one another in the good and the not-so-good times and share and cry and find joy together because of the common bond we have, our precious puppy has (had) cancer.

I would ask that you light a candle for Kobe and for Dan and his wife Rosemary and their children and keep them in your heart. This is a very rough stage of the "cancer journey" and they need our support and love.

Thank you all for being part of my life when I needed you and still need you.

I have a wonderful new friend Shadow who brings daily joy and unconditional love into our home, but he did not"replace our Benny because Benny was irreplacable.". Shadow is our new friend and another "gift from God." He helped to heal our hurting hearts and fill the empty spot in our home when Benny left this earth.

God Bless you all and Special Blessings and Prayers to Dan and his family,

Joanne & Shadow and Family

rockytola

Hi Joanne:

So glad to see you back and I too would like to add my thanks and appreciation for your support when I was going through Rocky's final months. I started to write a journal of all my memories of the two of us together and that has now become a full blown book that I will be publishing shortly. I have a book signing scheduled in a few months and it will be available on-line. A % of the proceeds will go to a cancer fund that I am in the process of setting up for people who struggle paying their bills. I will post on here when it is available. Take care and welcome back!

alyson

So sorry to hear that Kobe has lost his battle, hes free from pain and hopefully now playing with my bill and your benny! my prays are with Dan and his family as the pain and loss there going though is unbearable. I have also lite a candel for them.

I did wonder where you was and why you wasn't posting! i dont understand why somebody would have said that your support and experience isnt needed here anymore? i couldn't have coped whilst billy was ill and after he gone to heaven without the love and support from you and everyone else on this site! nobody understands how you feel or what to expect! without the support of people who have had to watch there beloved pets go through this horrid disease i would have felt lost, alone and very helpless, when i recd the news that billy had cancer my head was spinning, i was clueless of what to do and what to expect! a small miracle happened when i found Teds book, then he introduced this site, i posted for the first time for some help, i was so overwhelm just the thought that someone, somewhere cares enough to offer there comforting words and advise, sharing there experiences and trying to help! is like a comforting cuddle, somebody saying your not alone in this fight! and now i can look back and take comfort from knowing that I DID try everything possible for my boy and if i can help just one person not feel alone and isolated then the loss of my billy will not have been in vain, if you know what i mean!!!! so Welcome back!

Alyson

Ps Wow, cant wait for the book! what a wonder idea....

Benpaws

Dear Friend,
That is just amazing news that you have written a book based on the memoirs of your precious "Rocky" and that a percentage of the proceeds will go to "cancer" enabling people with little money to be able to afford some of the things necessary when fighting cancer in their pets. This is just AWESOME NEWS! Everyone here will be SO PROUD OF YOU!!! I sure am!!

This is a great tribute to your best friend and must fill your heart with joy!!


Good luck with the sales.

Blessings,
Joanne & Shadow

Benpaws

Thanks Alyson for your encouraging words. I too don't know how I would have managed without this site and all the wonderful and caring people I have met here.

I too think that book idea based on Rocky's memoirs is just awesome and what a way to pay tribute to your precious best friend who lost is battle with cancer.
We will all look forward to reading it.

This shows that something good can come out of something so terrible as "cancer."

Blessings,
Joanne & Shadow

Raymond

Hooray!!! Joanne is BACK! Thank you, you are the dearest.

Benpaws

Back at you dear friend! Glad to be back. I think we all belong here and have something to offer. Nice to be needed!
Thanks!

<<HUGS>>
Joanne

Kerri

Joanne

I have lit a candle for Kobe and my prayers go out to Dan Rosemary & family; know that you are not alone.
Joanne, I was saddened yesterday when I read your post that you were no longer required to continue posting on the site.
You bring so much to the site with your love, encouraging words and heartfelt sympathy for others who are beginning this journey.
Even when Benny crossed Rainbow Bridge you were still able to suggest and encourage others who had just joined the site. Please continue your posts.
Although I have not replied lately due to projects I am working on and limited access to a computer I still visit the site when I can, to read your encouraging replies to others. I am so glad you are there for them. I know when I lost Goobie I would have been lost without you & the people on this site to get me through.
Every night I thank God for the miracle. No, I couldn’t save my Goobie; but for Ted and finding this site where I could talk to people who knew what I was going through so I knew I wasn’t alone.
Cancer is a deadly disease and when you receive the diagnosis it hits you hard and when you must make the decision to let your fur pal run free to Rainbow Bridge; I don’t think everyone is aware of the grieving process until they go thru it. Yes everyone grieves differently however it is comforting to know if help is required; by posting on this site on-line friends are there for you to vent, cry with you and provide the comforting words & poems.
A friend is someone special who laughs with you, cries with you, and advises you. The friends do so much for us that sometimes it becomes our duty to thank them with all the gratitude we have for them in our hearts.
Thank-you all for the support for myself and others on this site.

Here is a quote I found on friendship and it is so true”
"People say true friends must always hold hands, but true friends don't
need to hold hands because they know the other hand will always be there."
By Anonymous

This truly describes the Dog Cancer Care site.

Kerri

Benpaws

My Dear Friend,
Thank you for such beautiful words of encouragement and friendship. They have touched me deeply. I appreciate your friendship so much and that of everyone I have met here.
When I began my "cancer journey" with Benny, I was "lost" and I searched the internet trying to find HOPE! I found it with Ted's book which I immediately "downloaded" and then this site was born and I joined in October 2008 and the most rewarding journey began, for me and for Benny.
Here I found the best people with the most compassionate and loving hearts. I found an "outstretched hand" every single time that I posted something.I got valuable information and I knew I was not alone in this fight.
This became my "safe place", a place where I could come and share and cry and rejoice and have hope.
Just before Benny was put to sleep I whispered in his little ear that I would continue to help others if I could in any way and that his death would never be in vain. Then, it was over and my Benny was gone.
I think that after we lose a beloved pet or a loved one and our "grief journey" begins we continue to need others who understand, especially those who have never lost before. Grief is similar and different for each of us, but we DO GRIEVE when there is a deep loss of a beloved and treasured friend.
I will not give up posting or caring because that is who I am.
I am so grateful to everyone here and I am saddened to read more stories of puppies with cancer. I NEED to be here for them and I NEED you all. I so hope others will return as well and share.
As I wrote in the eulogy at my mother's funeral in 1999: " I shall pass this way but once. Any good thing therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."
That is why I returned immediately after Benny crossed Rainbow Bridge and for a brief moment in time I forgot to keep my promise to Benny and to all
of you.
Thank you for welcoming me back.
I find the "kindness" here is overwhelming and I am so grateful to Ted for this place to come.

God Bless You,
Joanne & Shadow

josie

Yes I agree with everyone that Joanne is VERY MUCH NEEDED.! I have said before that I believe she is the biggest angel on this site, and I mean it.
I think that it has helped her with her grief to help others, and I don't come everyday because I always cry here, but it has definitely helped with my grief as well. Yes I have thanked god for this site, the hope, the compassion, the tears, the UNDERSTANDING!
I cannot believe that ANYone could possibly suggest that she leave the site. Benny won't allow it!
Thank you Joanne- for being YOU
xo Josie