Memorials

Picture	Name
	Baby Zoe /'March 2008 Baby Zoe was a 12 week old female puppy who was left at a vet's office by her breeder to be euthanized. Zoe was born with hydrocephaly, also know as water on the brain. The vet's office called us to see if we could help. After evaluating Zoe what we found was a spunky little pup who did not seem all that affected by her condition. Her back legs were a bit wobbly and she was a bit unsteady on her little legs but that didn't stop her from running around and being a puppy. She had the most adorable little "wolf howl" that couldn't help but make you laugh. Unfortunately a week into her foster care she suddenly became quite ill. She became disoriented, stopped eating, and would just lie in her kennel whimpering. It was very sudden and rescue decided that the humane thing to do was to let her go. Zoe went to the Rainbow Bridge on March 16th, 2008. All who met Zoe during her short time on earth fell in love with her. She was a very special little girl and I know she will not be forgotten by those whose heart she touched. She was so cute that God wanted her for himself...who could blame him? Special thanks to Lili and Robin for the love and special care they dedicated to this little girl. Rest in peace, little one.
	Chloe and Sybil /'December 2007 These wonderful little Boston sisters came into my life at 8 weeks of age. On Dec.10, 2007 we made the decision to let Chloe go to heaven as she was the tender age of 12 yrs and after very great attempts to help her feel good and get around well, she couldn't anymore. That same night while playing with Sybil, she ran across the room and collapsed. Sybil was 11 years old. We found out the next day she had an inoperable tumor and failing heart so we again made the decision to let her go to heaven just 2 days after Chloe. They wanted to be together we felt because of the way things happened. Chloe and Sybil were "velcro sisters" and they also followed Mom and Dad around everywhere we went. These girls will always and forever be my best friends. We miss them every day but they are in our hearts forever. Now Chloe is eating her favorite Beggin' Strips and Sybil is eating everything!! See you again little babies. Chloe and Sybil loved going for walks together, playing with their toys and their backyard. Now they are happy and healthy and doing all that they loved. Love, Owners Linda and Phil Dalton
	Ramon /'December 2007 Little Ramon was a 10 yr old male BT who was on the E-list at the county shelter. An older dog is always a challange, but AZBTR President Meghan Thomas could not leave him shivering on the concrete in such an awful place. When we got him into foster care we realized he was completely blind and was potentially suffering from a minor neurological problem. He was confused and a bit stressed. We decided the kindest thing we could do for Ramon was to let him go peacefuly. He spent his last couple of days feeling the warm sunshine on his fur, sniffing the air, napping on a warm blanket, and feeling the touch of someone who cares. He got a nice warm bath and manicured nails. We are glad that he had the chance to leave this world with the dignity all dogs deserve. Ramon crossed the Rainbow Bridge on December 17, 2007. We'd like to think maybe he and Dino met up and crossed together. Rest in peace, little one. A special thank you to Sheena and Alan for caring for him.
	Roger /'November 2007 Roger is a sweet and small 7 yr. old male BT that was pulled off of the Euthanasia List at the shelter by a rescue volunteer...whew! Roger was turned in by his owners with a Min Pin and a Rottie, as they were moving and decided to leave their pets behind. HE maybe weighs 15 lbs. He sems like a GREAT little dog who just needs 10 baths to wash all the county dirt and dust off of him. He has a very flat face with a little gray on it, big brown eyes and small, kinda droopy ears. It seems that Roger's foster dad has decided to make Roger a permanent part of his family. He is so cute and sweet that we don't blame him a bit. From the Euthanasia List to a safe, loving home... a very very happy ending! April 2008 - Sadly after a long battle with severe seizures and deteriorating health, Roger's dad decided the kindest thing to do would be to let him go. We thank him for the patience and love he showed this little guy. Rest in Peace, Roger.
	Dino /'October 2007 It is with great sadness that am writing this memorial. Dino was approximately 8 yrs. old. He was rescued from the county shelter by AZBTR. After being placed in his new home shortly before Thankgiving, Dino began to get aggressive with his new owners, to the point of biting his new mom. His unpredictable aggression forced us to make a tough decision. A hard lesson we all learn in rescue is that we can not save them all. Some Bostons are just too damaged. We can not know what happened in the first 8 years of his life to cause this behavior, or what demons tortured his little mind. Special thanks to Meghan for pulling him from the shelter and, in the end, making the very difficult decision, to Sheena and Alan, and Tim and Karly for opening their homes and hearts to him. Dino crossed the Rainbow Bridge on December 17th, 2007. Rest in peace, little Dino.
	Winston /'November 2006 Many of you know our dog Winston. Today, November 24, 2006, was Winston's last day. He came to us as a stray 10 years ago this past March. He had an inoperable tumor that we discovered about 6 months ago. Every day with him was a gift. The Kidd Family Winston, you are missed by all those who knew you and couldn't help but love you. All of us at AZBTRescue
	Fergie /'May 2006 May 24, 2006 - Fergie was our first adopted rescue Boston and our introduction to big, naughty Bostons. In her prime, she was inquisitive, an enthusiastic hiker, and a rambunctious companion. As an old lady, Fergie continued to be capable of mischief, but was also a calm, good citizen and a great buddy to Baxter. Fergie was probably 14 years old, a good run for a Boston Terrier, and for 10 of those she was part of our family. She suffered from the effects of hip dysplasia for the past several years but, with treatments of glucosamine and anti-inflammatory medication, we were able to keep her mobile. She rarely missed a meal or a treat to the end. Fergie was a tough cookie, but she had become very frail in the past few months and we finally admitted to ourselves that it was time to let her go. Her final moment was spent doing her favorite thing: she fell asleep happily eating a stick of string cheese. We loved her and will miss her. Melanie Magisos and Peter Lehman
	Penny /'April 2006 April 18, 2006 - Penny was a blind little one that no one wanted until we came along. She brought so much love, laughter, strength & sunshine to our lives. She loved playing tug & keep away & would run circles thru the house trying to play chase. She would also sing to us when chewing her bone, just to let us know we should pay attention to her. Walks were her passion & a delight. She would grab the leash & pull us out the door. Though she could not see, she confidently ran along with her sister Betsy, enjoying each outing. She is loved & missed so much. Her independent spirit taught us much & will remain with us forever. Sleep well our precious little "baby girl". Mom, Dad & Betsy
	Josie /'January 2006 Josie came to me through rescue as a 3 year old the end of December 1997. It had been over 30 years between Bostons and when I was given the chance to have another I was quick to go down to Phoenix to pick her up. I fell for her right away. She was so happy and active, loved her yellow tennis ball, and would let you have it a couple of times before demanding you play tug of war with her. Her favorite treat was Milk Bones. I'd throw it toward her and she would grab it and throw it all over the house before killing and eating it. When her tennis ball got too dirty and ratty looking I'd give her a choice of it and a new one. She would always take the new one. Her favorite perch was on the sofa back cushions so she could watch what went on outside and guard her house. And a wonderful guard she was too. No one came near us without her letting us know. She also let us know when the phone rang or the dryer bell went off. She didn't care that we could hear it too. She did her best to protect us from the vacuum cleaner. When Josie was 10 she was diagnosed with Cushings, a horrible life shortening disease that I'd never heard of before, only to find out that Bostons are in the top 5 breeds to get it. We fought for almost 2 years before realizing it was time for her to go as problem after problem began taking her quality of life away. Losing her at the young age of 12 was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but she will always be with me in the videos I shot of her and the photos I took. She was my baby and I miss her so much. Josie owned and is loved by Kathleen Chaney
	Mimi /'December 2005 December 13, 2005 - Mimi came to us from Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, an old Boston that someone had brought in as a stray. She seemed so loving and friendly that we just couldn't leave her there. She was with our rescue a long time because so few people are willing to take a chance on an old dog. Finally, she was adopted by Barbara Seese, who thought Mimi was the perfect dog for her. When Mimi passed away suddenly, Barbara wrote: "On the morning of December 13, 2005, Mimi the Boston Terrier suffered a sudden, fatal seizure. She was only a member of our family for a short four months, but we like to think they were the happiest months of her life. We know she was the sweetest dog we have ever had the privilege to love. It's been almost three months since her death, and we still miss her 5:00AM wake-up calls, her "smile," and her companionship." Mimi ended up with the loving family she deserved. She was a special girl. Thank you, Barbara, for opening your heart to this sweet, old dog.
	Melvin /'July 2005 July 24, 2005 - Melvin was the biggest little dog. He adopted us in April 2003 and spent the rest of his life loving as many people as he could – especially the ones who had cookies. He spent a lot of time with his uncle Keith and his buddies Bubba (another adopted Boston) and Zeus (his big Rottie pal). He loved to play with his spaghetti bone and his adopted Boston brother Willie. He loved to ride in the car with his people and get little puff kisses on his face. We are grateful to all of the people that brought him to us, cared for him, and loved him back. Kim and James
	Yoda /'July 2005 July 27, 2005 - Yoda was a sweet girl with a great dispostion. She loved to lay in my lap and have her ears scratched. She was a good companion for Trooper. She would play with him and keep him entertained. Even after she got sick, she would still play with Trooper. Both Trooper and myself will miss her greatly. Mike Taylor
	Maxie /'June 2005 Maxie was turned in to us as a stray, found in the desert close to Anthem with no collar or tags. The finders looked for his owners in the area, but didn't find them. Obviously an old guy, we took Maxie to the vet and learned that he had a raging prostate infection and possibly something more serious. He had arthritis in his back legs and walked with pain. We put him on antibiotics and one of our kind foster parents gave him around the clock care for several days, sleeping on the couch so she could monitor his needs during the night. Poor old Maxie continued to urinate blood and it became clear to us that he wasn't going to be getting better. We gave him peace the morning of Tuesday, June 21. Perhaps someone dumped him in the desert to die because he was a sick, old dog. We're glad he was found and was able to spend his final days in a loving home.
	A1895641 /'May 2005 A1895641, 3 y/o male, was turned in to Maricopa County Animal Care and Control after having bitten a child. While only sketchy information was available to us about the history of the dog or the circumstances of the bite, we evaluated this dog and felt he was a normal Boston. There was strong potential that, with training, he could be made a safe member of society. Some dogs cannot be rehabilitated and must be euthanized for the sake of public safety, but our experience is that some dogs simply have not been taught that biting is unacceptable or have been exposed to circumstances in which biting is a normal and understandable response. Unfortunately for A1895641, the county's policy is that any dog that has bitten, no matter the circumstances, must be destroyed. No training, no second chance. If you have a Boston that is showing signs of aggression and may bite, please get help from an experienced trainer before the dog hurts someone and likely loses his or her life. Most of these sad stories can be avoided if owners take responsibility for their dogs and get help before something bad happens.
	Catherine Zeta-Jones /'March 2005 In Loving Memory of Catherine Zeta-Jones November 28, 2004 to March 5, 2005 You will not be forgotten Little Angel. I will hold you in my heart forever. There are not enough tears to tell you how sorry I am, you left us so soon and so sadly. You were so special. I love you. My Dear Boston Family and Friends: Say a prayer for Catherine and her family and hold your little ones a little closer. Catherine came over to visit today. She had grown a bit and was so beautiful. I was so proud of her. Renee and Catherine played and were having a great time. They were the same size though Renee was heavier. I took pictures of her, like a proud Grandmother. She was sitting on the sofa with Tiffany, her new Mom, I was sitting across from her on the big coffee table. She either jumped or fell and I heard a bump. Looked down to see her on her back and picked her up, and saw that her eyes were strange like very large and not focused. She was completely still so I started to give her breaths and started CPR. Some blood came out of her nose and I knew she was dead. I had tried to get a hold of the vet and he called 5 minutes later but said (I can't remember exactly) she must have hit her head, damaged her brain, or broke her neck. Nothing could be done. My heart goes out to Tiffany since she loved her so much and had trained her so well. Catherine loved Tiffany and when she was out of sight all Catherine could think of doing was looking for her. Catherine and I had spent a lot of time together when she hurt her eye. We had become very close even though she hated getting her eye drops. It was hard when she left for her new home but I knew that it was love at first sight when she met Tiffany and they were meant to be together. Gary, who got Catherine for Tiffany, was more icing on Catherine's cake. I just did not know it would be so short. Everyone who met Catherine knew she was special. I can only think that she was just too good for this world. I will miss her dearly and never understand why this had to happen. Goodbye, Sweet Catherine. Nancy, Hermione, Harry, Joie, and Renee
	Spike /'February 2005 "Unknown", a 2 y/o male Boston Terrier, was a stray in the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control west side shelter. We arranged to take him into our rescue under the New Hope program and named him Spike because of his goofy underbite. He was evaluated the next day by a supervisor at the shelter who noted that he had shown some aggression to other dogs and that he had an upper respiratory infection. The supervisor ordered Spike euthanized immediately, neglecting to call us to discuss the matter. Rest in peace, Spike. We wish we could have given you a chance at the good life you deserved.
	Lucky /'February 2005 Lucky was an emaciated older Boston who showed up on the doorstep of a kind woman in a rural area of the Valley on Wednesday, February 9. Nancy could tell he was in terrible trouble, so she rushed him to her vet. She had him put on IV fluids and had blood drawn for tick fever and Valley fever tests while she figured out what to do for him next. Later that afternoon, after she called us, he had a seizure. By Thursday morning, it was known that he had tick fever. The vet told Nancy it was possible to treat him, but the prognosis wasn't good. Nancy and we decided that the kindest thing we could do for this poor little Boston was to take away his pain. We'll always wonder how this sweet little guy got in such trouble. Did someone dump him in the desert, or did he wander away from a loving home where someone is missing him? We can only guess. We just wish Lucky would have found Nancy in time for us all to have been of more help to him.
	Brodie /'January 2005 Brodie represents one of the biggest heartbreaks there is in rescue. Brodie came from a family that loved him dearly, but never taught him any manners or made him do anything he didn't want to do. As a result, when he came to us at the age of 6, he thought it was acceptable behavior to bite if he had to go in the car, in a crate, or have his leash put on. Brodie weighed 30 pounds, solid muscle, and he was capable of inflicting serious damage if he decided to bite. We had him evaluated by a professional behaviorist to learn if he was capable of learning new behaviors. The results were positive. We found an adopter who was willing to learn how to work with him and teach him what he needed to know, and thought she had the time to do so. Unfortunately, she called a year later with bad news. Her life had changed and she was too busy to spend the time with him she knew he needed. After a time of improvement, Brodie returned to being out of control in her home. There was a physical complication in that he had a slipped disk in his neck. Perhaps pain was causing some of his behavioral problems. While we continued to believe Brodie's behavior might be salvaged, we were out of options for him. He was dangerous in this condition and it was unlikely we would ever find anyone who could safely adopt him. With great sadness, we made the decision with his adopter to have him euthanized. The really heartbreaking part about Brodie's story is that with a little obedience training early in his life he could have been a great dog. It wasn't his fault he ended up becoming a monster. Rest in peace, Brodie. Melanie Magisos
	Magnolia Louise /'November 2004 Magnolia came to me in August 2002, through a phone call from the Phoenix Boston Terrier rescue folks. An alert office worker at the Riverside County, California animal shelter (which is a high-kill facility, housing hundreds of animals), contacted the California branch of boston rescue... but days and then weeks went by with no one coming to fetch the little Boston, who was ancient, at least 13 years old, having advanced cataracts, arthritis, and possible other health issues. I made the phone call to the shelter within minutes of hearing the little dog's plight, on a friday afternoon at 4:30 only to find the Boston already on the PTS list for that night. Ii lived 4 hours away and the facility closed at 5 p.m I talked the shelter in holding her overnight with the promise I would be there first thing in the morning. Phoenix Boston rescue helped immensely in putting this together, with assurance I would be there, and the use of their non-profit number. I was on the doorstep of the shelter before 8 a.m. that Saturday morning greeting workers just arriving, even before the doors opened. ....and my life changed forever..... I wish I could tell people just how special it is when you adopt the older dog... so much more so than the cuddly frisky pup bouncing all over the place. We called her Magnolia Louise, and from the start she was grateful for the second chance at life, but more than that she added life and laughter, and much love to our home. We had her for a little over two unforgettable years, to which my life was blessed with her presence, her companionship, her devotion, sence of humor, intelligence... and not the least of these, many halarious antics and full-of-fun personality. A vet visit confirmed the numerous health issues, but all were addressed and for not very much money. Magnolia lived a happy life, accompanied me to my office as a newspaper editor, wrote an advice column all by herself, had her picture taken with many high-profile individuals within our city, carried her own press pass on her dog harness along with tags and license... and always seemed to command respect and gather a crowd wherever she went. She loved car rides, guarding all the toys, and barking at the stray cat that took up residence on our back porch. She slept in bed with us, tried in vain to nudge her way into the refrigerator any time the door was opened, quickly secured a place as alpha dog among the rest of the pack, and especially liked the long naptimes laying in the southern california sun shine of the back yard. Magnolia was a delight... and a treasure... and Ii will never forget how she touched my life. And if I could say one thing, it would be this... giving an older dog a second chance at life really is the greatest gift one can give oneself. The love, companionship and devotion that is returned... will be found to be in excess of tenfold, and you will carry it in your heart for a lifetime. I know. Magnolia gave this to me. Magnolia Louise was owned and loved by Lyn Johnson.
	Penny /'September 2004 Penny, a sweet 10 y/o female, was surrendered to us by her owner because she ate her poop. We never observed that behavior, but we noticed quickly that she wasn't in good health and probably had Cushing's Disease. While she wasn't adoptable because of her health, she was comfortable with her foster family. They grew to love her and decided to keep her for the rest of her life. She suffered kidney failure and her foster mom had her put to sleep on September 3, 2004.
	Martha /'June 2004 Martha, a lively senior female, came to us from Maricopa County Animal Control. We took care of her medical needs and placed her with a nice woman who lived alone. Martha and her new owner were crazy about each other, and Martha followed her "mom" around everywhere. Unfortunately, Martha followed her into the garage on a brutally hot day while she did some laundry. Martha got trapped in the garage and by the time her mom noticed she was missing, Martha was dead from the heat. All of us who knew Martha are devastated by this tragic and avoidable accident. Please, please, please be careful of your pets in the hot weather! Because of their short noses, Bostons are especially prone to suffering from the heat, and they count on us to keep them safe and cool.
	Sam /'February 2004 Sam, a 9 y/o male, came to us from the Humane Society. He had been turned in at their shelter, but he had problems with his eyes and they feared no one would adopt him. We had his eyes and a case of giardia treated. He found a home with an elderly gentleman in Green Valley. He lived comfortably with his new owner for several months before passing away suddenly on February 13, 2004.
	Leah /'August 2003 Poor old Leah, a senior female, was left at the Maricopa Animal Control shelter as a stray in Fall of 2002. We were told she was 9 y/o and pregnant. We pulled her from the shelter and made plans to deal with a high-risk pregnancy, but it turned out she wasn't pregnant at all. Instead, she had a badly distended liver, probably due to Cushing's Disease. She was cared for by a loving foster family, then adopted by a kind woman who saw her through her final weeks. Leah lasted until August. Everyone who met her was touched by what a sweet, loving girl she was.
	Roscoe /'January 2003 Roscoe's elderly owner moved to an apartment that doesn't allow dogs. Her sons kept him but felt they weren't able to care of him adequately because they also had large dogs. We noted that Roscoe was an especially gentle and loving Boston. We found the perfect home for him with a young couple in Tucson, We discovered immediately after his adoption that Roscoe had Valley Fever. Everyone expected him to recover fully, and he seemed to be making good progress, but he died suddenly on January 6, 2003. He is sadly missed by his new family. They had him for only 14 days.
	Jack /'August 2002 Jack was pulled from the Maricopa ACCS East facility on his last day. He was estimated to be about 9 years old. We thought he had a few good years left in him. We had a great home lined up where he could live out his days. Jack was provided the best of foster care where we treated his infections, removed hundreds of ticks, and thought we may have him on the road to recovery. Despite the best of TLC, and a brief turnaround, Jack started to decline. We don't know if it was cancer or an infection of some sort but in any case his heart was failing. When nothing could reverse his decline, we made the hard decision to let him go. Jack was a sweet old boy that deserved better from life.
	Gipper /'November 2001 We pulled Gipper out of the Maricopa ACCS East facility and treated his intestinal parasites and kennel cough. Gipper was estimated to be seven years old. He was placed with a couple who provided him with a loving home and a canine companion. Gipper exhibited some aggression problem; his adopters worked with him, but it grew worse. He was only with his new family for two months when he suffered a serious seizure. His worsening aggression problems coupled with the seizure suggested a serious medical condition. We decided the kindest course of action was to spare him further suffering by having him euthanized. Gipper was given the best chance we and his adoptive family could offer him. We are comforted knowing he was among friends in his final weeks.