"Those that bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it for themselves" - James Barrie

Remembering Tracey and the sunshine she brought to so many people.

For Tamale - the Original Snorkelface

Tamale lets Zinzi 'the mini pitpull' balance on her head.

My favourite picure of me and Tamale. It was a great day at the beach with great company and great hounds and a great mini dog!

Poor Zinzi - she tried so hard to make her little legs keep up with the hounds!

Me and Puss leaving no room for Matt.

Puss liked to eat in a particular way at our house - away from the others and with her bowl on a bed. As if anyone would have argued this point with the Puss.

They would have gotten the stinkeye real fast.

Puss taking my side of the bed quite happily.

Me and Puss sleepin'


Tamale with Cathy her first owner and Mat her first foster carer. Even after months appart she always greeted them with huge kisses. And Tamale was not a kissy dog so this was an honour bestode on few ( I must confess I did get a few Snorkels out of her....mainly through food).


Tamale - this was the look she gave me when she wanted something. And she always got what she wanted. Usually to be allowed onto my bed or to share whatever I was eating.

A sleeping Puss. Such a lady when she wanted to be....

A 'not happy having a bath' Tamale. She alwasy forgave me as she got treats.

"She dies as she had been born and as she had lived, in my care,

surrounded by those that love her." - Vickie W. Foster

Tamale was one of those dogs that everyone loved. I was lucky enough to share part of her life and to be Aunty Brooke to her and to Omo. Just before she left us for the bridge I was due to go into hospital so (just before I took them home to my house) I spent a few days alone with them in their house. We hung out, ate bad food, watched bad television and basically had hound time. I let her on the couch, the big red couch she is not supposed to be on and she loved it. The day I took them back to my house I had to vacuum it as it looked like a big red lamington.

They both stayed at my house with all of my hounds so that Matt could care for them whilst I was in hospital having an operation. The morning that I left the house I kissed them all goodbye. Tamale had managed to con her way into the walk in wardrobe in our room (this is a prized area and she must have not taken no for an answer because Iris does not really like sharing it with anyone), so when I gave her a kiss she looked very pleased with herself. She did not bother to get up off her bed, she knew I would bend down to her. She was like a super model, she knew she would get what she wanted. And no one ever complained because, well because, that was just the way she was and we loved her for it.

Sadly, two days after my operation I heard that she had decided to take herself to the bridge. I know that she did this to cause the least amount of trauma to Katy and Mark. Tamale was an independent old soul and she made her own rules. She would have hated the fuss of being sick so left on her own terms. She said goodbye to Mark and Katy and a few hours later left on her journey. She will be, and is still dearly missed by all of us. But there are so many good memories there will never be a moment that we can't think back and smile about her.

And thanks to a funny little Snorkelface hound, I have a dear and treasured friendship with Katy.

Banjo

For Banjo - my big beautiful yellow dog

2 July 2004 - 3 November 2009

Dogs have a way of finding the people that need them,

Filling an emptiness we don't even know we have. - Thom Jones

Bella

at peace 16/05/2009

When the time is right I will be able to post about my beautiful girl. Bella would have been 16 this year. She was such a huge part of my life that I am not able to put into words the loss that I feel. A broken heart is not a cliche. My heart is in a million pieces and at the moment I can not imagine life without her in it.

for Tracey

and for the people that loved her and miss her everyday

For Karma

At peace 2 April 2009.

Much love to Sian and her family who will forever miss their

sweet, beautiful hound.

For Kea

15 and a half years ago I took a tiny Staffy puppy home for Christmas. I put a big tartan ribbon around her fat tummy and presented her to mum who fell in love with her instantly.

This week Kea joined her best friend Roxy in heaven where together they can be free of arthritis and eat as much cheese as they want.

Our Sweet Kea loved everybody but she especially loved mum. When mum was in hospital recovering from heart surgery Kea was completely lost. She roamed the house everyday looking for her until she would sadly give up and go and curl up on mum's pillow to sleep and dream of mum coming home.

A visit to mum and dad's house will just not be the same without a silly Staffy jumping in your lap to cover you in slurps. Kea's other best friend Lousie the greyhound now divides her love between mum and dad and with a heavy hound heart must take on the role of the sole canine carer. Both Kea and Roxy know that Lou is up to it though because they were very good at teaching her to be a lap dog and how to sneak under the doona in the middle of the night.

Sweet Kea, you brought so much life and love and laughter to our family that there will forever be a space missing under the table at dinner time.