In Loving Memory of Casey Maiorana

August 19, 1999 – June 25, 2007

Casey brought so much joy and excitement into our lives.  She never begged at the kitchen table.  Instead, she would go lie down in her corner and wait until the first person finished eating before she would inch her way towards the table.  She loved her morning walks with her Dad and would wait patiently at the top of the stairs until he finished getting ready for work.  At night, Casey never stayed in one place to sleep.  She found enough time to visit all of us while we were still sleeping. 

When she was excited, her ears would perk up and she would get a line of hair that stood up on her back.  Casey was the sweetest dog anyone could ever ask for.  She kept us company when we felt lonely and gave us kisses when we felt sad.  She was always excited and happy to see us when we walked through the door.  Casey loved going for rides in the car and walks through the park near our house. 

Casey passed away on June 25, 2007 of this year.  We aren’t sure of exactly what got her so sick.  It all happened so fast.  All we know for sure is that she was in constant pain.  It would have been cruel to keep her alive and suffering just because we were afraid of losing her.

Casey, you were so much more to this family than you ever could have possibly imagined.  You were and always will be a friend, a companion, and a treasured member of our family.  On the day we brought you home, we thought our family chose you.  It turns out, you chose us.  You have given us a wonderful 8 years filled with so much happiness and love.  We will cherish your memory and the times we shared forever and always.  We love you, baby girl, and we always will.

Thank you to all the wonderful doctors and staff members who treated Casey as if she were your own.  We are truly grateful.

Thank you for all that you’ve done,

Tootzee was our miniature poodle, who we loved like a child, for almost 15 years.  She was funny, energetic and very independent.  She was always up for a new rawhide chewee in the evenings when we sat down in front of the television, or for a walk outside.  Her later years were mostly low-key, but the earlier years were filled with running after tennis balls, playing "chase" and even dragging my then 11 year old son on his roller blades.  We took her for many rides in the car (with a dog harness of course), which she loved just because she was with us.    

Nothing made this dog happier than when we walked back into the house after being gone for as little as 10 minutes, or a few hours.  It was all the same to her.  I have no doubt that the love we gave to her she gave back to us much more so, and added a joyful dimension to our lives.

Tootzee's health issues were always challenging, but we never gave up.  The good docs and vet techs at VHAH were most conscientious and professional about treatment -- and for that we will forever be grateful.

Thank you!

Marcia, Al, Russ & Sara Aronow

Libertyville, Illinois

Memorial for Patch Sanders

When we picked Patch up from Save-A-Pet he was seven years old. His former family dropped him off that same weekend, and he sat quietly looking at us as we looked at him in his cage. Little did we know that we would spend the next nine years with one of the best dogs ever.  Patch touched many lives and was a favorite at the groomer, vet, and nursing home; late in life he would visit Rosewood nursing home in Deerfield to visit with the residents there. Patch was there when we moved into our first house with the yard just for him. Patch was tough as nails when it came to pain and even had his leg repaired by Dr. Sneed at Vernon Hills Animal Hospital to keep him on his feet.

Ben and Diane Sanders

   Nickademus, aka Nikki, was our beloved kitty for 18 1/2 years. He came to my mom and I at only 7 months old in 1988. This little scared black cat that was so sweet and gentle and captured our hearts instantly - we couldn't say no to bringing him home. He fit in perfectly with our other kitties, Natasha and Sebastian, and our dog, Bentley. They were all great chums and had lots of fun running around the house  -grooming each other and giving us so much love. We lost Natasha in 1996, Sebastian in 1997 and Bentley in 1999. Nikki was the sole survivor of our menagerie.

(family of Nikki Rash)