The Heart of the Pack

Some dogs leave paw prints on the floor. Others leave them on our hearts. Keirra was one of those dogs. She was full of joy, personality, and that special spark that made every day a little brighter for the people lucky enough to know her. Keirra loved her family deeply, and it was clear they loved her just as much. The bond they shared was the kind every dog hopes for, a life filled with love, laughter, and countless small moments that become treasured memories. While most delivery trucks earned a bark or two, Keirra made a clear exception. Our van was always greeted with excitement and curiosity as she waited to see what goodies might be inside. It was one of those little traditions that made everyone smile. Keirra crossed the Rainbow Bridge surrounded by the love of the family who meant everything to her. While her paws are no longer padding across the floor, the happiness she brought into the world remains, in the memories she created and the lives she touched. Dogs like Keirra never truly leave us. They simply run ahead, tails wagging, waiting for the day we meet again. Run free, sweet Keirra. You will always be part of the Heart of the Pack.

Luna was the sweetest and most loving companion, and was truly the heart of our family.  She was raised like a sibling to our two sons. Luna went everywhere with us, with countless trips to the OBX of NC and the NC mountains.  She never tired of walks around our neighborhood, daily sunrise walks when at the beach, mountain hikes, and playing fetch as often as anyone was willing!  When walking on the beach, she would always, every single walk, find a shell to carry in her mouth.  It had to be a big shell.  Once she found her shell, she would carry it the entire way, stopping ever so often to try to bury it, but would pick it back up to continue on our walk.  She received lots of attention from people we passed by and would eventually carry the shell all the way back to the house,  usually dropping it at the end of the driveway. Luna will forever hold a prominent space in all our hearts.  We will cherish our memories of her and are so grateful for all the love and joy she brought to our family.

Beamish the Mastador is quite the dog to adore. Black with an undercoat of brown, weighing in at 125 pounds, Is probably one of the more famous dogs around. Big head, ears, and jowls attract most of his calls, And when he walks away, you can’t miss his giant balls. Unaware of his size, he will use your lap as his seat, He is able to charm any man, woman, or child with a heartbeat. He loves to stand in water, as he cannot swim without a life vest, And will drown you even while swimming your best. Every dirty pond, lake, river, or creek— It’s a weekly bath because of his constant stink. He will dig holes and destroy the garden in the yard, And is too slow to catch the rabbits, bumbling like a goofball guard. He gets joy out of scaring other dogs and their folk, As he will sneak up and bark just once, as if it's a big joke. He takes large sh**s, sometimes five or six a day, Eats fifty pounds a month—a shit-making machine, I say. He also sheds a lot, drools, slobbers, and leaks. Cleaning the house every day is a chore, And it's dirty again seven days a week. He is now twelve years old and has started slowing down. Thinking about him leaving us is a bummer and really makes me frown. As there are never any bad days with Beamish— None. Zilch. Zero. Beamish is the best dog, and will forever be my hero.

Arabella was my hiking buddy and then she broke her leg. She had multiple surgeries to repair it but nothing took. The surgeon said amputation was the only option. I was so afraid we would never hike again. That was 5 years ago and we are still hiking at age 9. She just loves it. And through all those surgeries she never complained and just carried on. Dogs are so resilient.

My mother found Beaujohn when he was just a pup wandering around the apartment beaujohncomplex they lived in. Beau has been with her for 17 years, lived the majority of them in California. Unfortunately he was not home when my dad passed, he had had emergency surgery and was still in the hospital. I was so glad he was there for my mother during her grieving time. Him and my mom are now living in Texas with me. Beaujohn has had his health problems that most Dalmatians face, including kidney stones and Pancreatitis. He has a third lid problem with his eyes, but until recently this was never a problem. I! know make sure he is on the bed with his mom, and come home at lunch to take him down for him to go outside for a short period then back up on the bed. He is deaf and blind now and dealing with arthritis. He has always been a gentle dog, tolerating the other critters in the family. – Katy Waterman

Duke is our rescue dog from second chance adoptions. we have had him for 7 years. He is the most awesome dog a human could ever ask for! He loves his Pet pantry food and his peanut butter dog treats and his favorite spot in the house “his leather loveseat!! – Jack and Kim Legault

This is Finn & Ford and they are our furry heroes because they love and protect our 9 month old daughter Sutton! they love to just sit and watch her play, eat the food she drops, and sneak in a giant lick across the face. They are obsessed with her and she loves them so much.

Some dogs come into our lives by chance, but the love they give feels like it was always meant to be. Carlos came to his family when he was just two years old, rescued from a kill shelter on what was supposed to be his last day. Instead, that day became the beginning of a beautiful new life, one filled with love, safety, and twelve wonderful years with the people who would become his forever family. Carlos was a truly sweet soul. He loved his people with his whole heart and had a playful spirit that never faded. A good game of tug was always welcome, and no squirrel in the neighborhood was safe from his watchful eye. And if there was a mud puddle nearby, Carlos believed it was simply there for him to enjoy, preferably with a big splash. He had that rare kind of personality that made people smile the moment they met him. Everyone who crossed his path felt his warmth and gentle nature, and it didn’t take long for Carlos to win them over. Carlos lived a life every dog deserves, full of love, adventure, laughter, and the comfort of a family who cherished him deeply. Though his paws no longer run through the yard and the house feels a little quieter without him, the memories he created will always remain. Run free, sweet Carlos. You were truly one of a kind, and you will always be part of the Heart of the Pack.