Miniature Schnauzer Rescue of Houston

Mr. MAGOO McCONNELL

Nietzsche said, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”  My question is, how much strength can we bear?  Almost two months to the day of losing Web on December 28, Mr Magoo and I took our last trip together this afternoon.  As I held him, he crossed over “the Bridge” taking with him another piece of my heart.  If there is any comfort to be found, perhaps it is in Psalms 145-9, “The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.”

Our time together was far too short, but over the course of 21 months, this wonderful dog gave so much.  He was such a good dog.  Scratch that.  He was a GREAT dog whose huge love and courage belied his small size.  I could not have loved him more.  The pain in letting him go is tempered some only by knowing that he truly LIVED his last months as he should – a real DOG – in his own home; policing the squirrels, birds and varmints in his yard, with doors to guard, visitors to greet and carefree days spent in safety.

Magoo stands as a testament to the beauty and value of older rescue dogs that have so much to offer when given the chance.  Every family and every dog is unique, but I would ask, if you ever think about dog adoption to please not ignore the old ones just because of their advanced age and take into consideration the senior’s calmness, companionability and strong desire to please.  And never, ever believe that an older rescued dog can’t bond as strongly as a puppy.  That is a myth, for if anything the old rescue dog bonds stronger, as many have experienced fear, hunger, neglect, ill health, abandonment, abuse and loneliness.  That last is the hardest on them and though unlike humans, they are far nobler creatures without the capacity to harbor ill will or bitterness for the hardships and cruelties suffered upon them, I believe they never truly forget the loneliness and so, are forever grateful to have their own family.  And so not one day passed that Mr Magoo was anything but blessing and a joy.

Until we meet again.  With Much Love, Adele McConnell

Hunter Strouse

Our sweet little man Hunter passed over the Rainbow Bridge on 1-12-13.  We picked him up from the Huntsville Animal Shelter the day he was to be put down on Oct. 7, 2009.  He weighed 10 pounds.  What a sick little boy he was;  so sick we were afraid he wouldn’t even make to the vet.  After weeks of care from Sherry Eitel and ourselves we got him stabilized.  Dr. Dayton found several compressed vertebras in his back and neck.  He told us he thought he had been severely beaten.  He also had big scars on the top of his head.  But he was a very loving little man.  He loved to be held in your arms.  He would just melt in your arms, press his head to your chest and look up at you with his beautiful, trusting eyes.  We miss him so.  My very last words to him were “we love you”  He looked up at me and I could see the love he had for us in his eyes.  Rest in peace little Man.  We love you, tell Hans we miss him also.

With Love, Mom, Dad, Ana, Layla and Henry

Candy Lyn Plunk

Candy Lyn was born with a hepatic portal liver shunt and was very lucky that a kind animal service officer asked if she could try to place her with a rescue instead of putting her down.  Luckily MSRH responded, raised the needed money and had the corrective surgery performed.  After speaking with Karen Coleman I had the special opportunity to adopt and make Candy Lyn a part of our family in Dallas.  We did not change the name she came to us with as she was simply made for her name.  She was very regal and dignified throughout her short life and we always felt that we needed Candy Lyn more than she needed us.  We nicknamed her the Princess;  I know she really was royalty and we loved spoiling her even more.   We traveled in the car everywhere together.  She loved riding more than anything else and her Schnauzer sisters knew not to get in the Princess’ space in the back seat.  We made many trips to Houston during her short life and she received excellent care from Dr. Dayton and his special team.  However life is not always fair and Candy Lyn was tired and in her very dignified manner, simply decided she did not want any more needles, pills or yucky, bland food.  She died in my arms on New Year’s Eve.  I so wish we had more time together, but I am thankful for having her in my life and would give anything to simply rub those velvet ears once more.  We will miss you Candy Lyn.

With Love, Sandra & Don Plunk

BG & Angel Harrington

It’s been hard to lose two of my best friends within a month.  The photo on the left is BG whom my husband brought home as a puppy. She so looked liked an old, muddy buffalo that we named her Buffalo Girl or BG.  She only loved Ben because I was the one who did all the horrible things to her such as bathe her, brush her, or perhaps cut her toenails.  On Friday afternoons when Ben came home, she would get up on the back of a chair and stare at the driveway when he was about ten minutes away.  It was uncanny how she knew he was almost home even though the times of day could be different.  BG died on April 30th.  On May 25th, I also lost Angel.  Angel came to us as a package deal in 1996 – she and her buddy Sable.  Angel was always the enforcer in our household.  She kept all the other dogs in their place.  If one of them became too playful or loud, she would stop them immediately.  But to us, she was a really lovable, little dog.  It’s hard to lose a four-legged companion.  To lose two, within such a short period of time has been all the more difficult.  I miss them very much.

With Love, Carol Harrington

 Vincent      Boomer (Ocho)

VINCENT & BOOMER (Ocho)

Once in a while, things don’t have a happy ending.  Vincent and Boomer weren’t with us very long.  There were unforeseen issues and they now wait at the Rainbow Bridge.  But as Vincent & Boomer look down on us, they’re smiling.  They know there were those who took very good care of them while here with MSRH.  Those who made their last days fun and comfortable.  Those who made them feel loved.  Marilyn Malaney, an MSRH officer had the biggest heart of all for both these friends.  And Boomer can’t forget Jane & Gary Stephens who cared for him the last two months of his life.  In memory of both Vincent & Boomer, Marilyn made a contribution to MSRH.  And Marilyn, Jane & Gary continue to tirelessly march forward to help additional Schnauzers. Another reason for Vincent & Boomer to smile.  There’s help for another.  On behalf of Vincent & Boomer….thank you Marilyn!

FICUS BORLING

My little boy Ficus died Monday, March 5, 2012.  He was 14 years old.  In his last 7 days, and in 2009, he endured more pain than I have ever seen any human endure in all my years working at hospitals.  During the day, he was like a puppy, but at night, seizure-like pain episodes wouldn’t let him rest for more than 2 hours at a time.  We tried everything.  In 2009, he had neck surgery.  In his last days he was taking 200mg gabapentin 3 times a day, 50mg tramadol 3 times a day, and prednisone, but the pain episodes continued.  We kept hoping he would get better.  His last few hours Monday morning were pain free, as he was awake, and we were all around.  I held him in my arms against my chest and heart and I smelled the top of his head, and he licked my nose, and fell asleep.  I smelled him all around me all day long, and I like to believe that he runs free, and then, as he always does, comes back to me and licks my nose to remind me that he loves me, and then runs again.  He loved to run, and he loved to run fast.  I still talk to him, but most of all, I hold my arms in a circle and hold him against my chest.  He rests his head on my arm, and I smell the top of his head.

And then,  all is right with the world.

With much love, Mia Borling

FELIPE FERRIER

My boy, Bud, Meester…just a few names he was loving called.  I found Felipe or should I say, Felipe found me.  At that time my heart and apartment were so empty. My daughter and her dog had just moved out and I was experiencing that empty nest syndrome.  Felipe filled that emptiness and brought such great happiness.  He was such a cute little bundle that day I just had to adopt him and bring him home.  Since he was the first male I have had, I named him after my dad, Phillip.  I gave his name a Spanish spelling and a French pronunciation.  Being a German dog, that made him all American! He was with me on several trips to southwestern Colorado and went hiking in the mountains. He was a pin-up (Mr. May for the 2005 MRSH calendar).  I have so many fond memories and pictures of him.   He didn’t like to be held until toward the end when he could not see but he was always beside me wherever I went.  He was my shadow.  If I was in the bathroom putting on my makeup, doing my hair or taking a shower, he always laid across the door step. He never met a stranger and loved all people and dogs.  He was such a big part of my life.  If you knew me, you knew him.  We watched many a TV show and movie together on the couch.  He liked to lay on the arm of the couch with his fanny in my lap or if I had the foot rest up, he would wiggle his way between my knees.  I miss him so much.   Little Mitzi has some big paws to fill.

With much love and sadness, Debby Ferrier & Mitzi

MAX & PRISSY REDMOND

We became the proud parents of Max in December of 2003.  I was browsing online one afternoon and opened the MSRH website, where we had found Prissy a couple of years before.  I saw Max’s picture and knew immediately that he, too, belonged with us.  He apparently thought so, too, because when we went to get him he jumped into the truck and parked himself in the back seat as though he’d owned it all his life.

While Prissy was white and petite (10 pounds), Max was black and quite large for a mini, about 30 pounds of solid muscle.  Prissy never hesitated to get up in Max’s face, giving him hell for any (or no) reason.  He, on the other hand, ignored her unless he thought she was in danger.  Then he became the first to jump to her defense and woe to the man or beast that Max thought might be a threat to her.  She never appreciated that he would lay his life on the line for her, but rather seemed to feel that he owed her at least that much for sharing her comfy life with him.  Prissy crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2007, and Max joined her twelve days ago, on February 10, 2012.  The pain we feel is indescribable, but we’re comforted in the belief that our precious babies had a wonderful, loving reunion and are at peace as they wait for us to join them.

We are so grateful to MSRH for the work they do and for allowing us to share our lives with these two wonderful, funny, devoted, stubborn, loving, lovable critters.

With Love, Bev and Art Redmond

BUDDY ALLI

With The Fondest of Memories and Much Love, Paul Alli

ADA MALANEY

MSRH received Ada from Harker Heights Shelter. A breeder had turned her in. Ada was thirteen years old, no longer of use to the breeder, and it was painfully obvious that she had endured a very hard life.  From something as simple as unclean teeth to an access to an extended stomach that was thought to be an enlarged spleen or liver to signs of Cushings Disease it was clear that poor Ada had never seen a vet in her life.  Shame on that breeder!  Ada will never hurt again. But more importantly, Ada saw kindness, maybe for the first time in her life, from MSRH.  Besides myself, volunteers like Michaela, Jana, Ann, and Dain showed her love and affection.  Thank you ladies for caring for her and showing her that some people do care and love unconditionally.  Our arms may have been the only arms that held her.  On behalf of all of us, I’m making a donation to MSRH in her name.

With Much Love & Sadness, Marilyn Malaney