Memorials
Each story shared here is a poignant reminder of the profound bond we shared with our canine companions. We invite you to join us in celebrating the lives of these extraordinary dogs and the profound impact they had on our lives.
King
"King" came to us in 2011 from Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue. As if a message from above, we got the call he was available to adopt the day before November 5th, which was my birthday. We didn't like the name which he answered to, so it morphed into Koln, which like Sydney, was a place where went to play hockey (Cologne Germany). He wasn't always the best behaved or most cuddly dog, but he was everything dog owners could ask. He was playful, happy, energetic and friendly. We figure he demanded of us over 13,000 walks so he did his part getting us up off our butts. Aside from eating (by only a slight margin) his favorite thing was fetch. Almost every day he got to show us how quick he could retrieve a ball. I figure that was 200,000 tosses over his life, and it included parks all across the country including Love's gas stations in Georgia and little pocket parks under the "El" tracks in Chicago. He got us through some tough and challenging times too, basically by telling us life is good, now get up and let's go walk for a drink at Denver Beer Company. We had Mr. Kolner for over 12 1/2 years, but his hind legs just couldn't keep him up anymore and we didn't want him to suffer. "I loved you every day of your life. I will miss you every day for the rest of mine" Dave & Marc
Kona, formerly Pancha
We rescued through you at the beginning of January 2012. Kona was the absolutely best dog we’ve ever had, and we had almost eight terrific years with her. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with a moderately bad type of lymphoma just before Memorial Day this year. We did do one full course of chemo, but did not continue because she had bad side effects with all of the medications. The lymphoma was in remission throughout the summer, but it came back with a vengeance in the last few weeks. She crossed the Rainbow Bridge this afternoon. Thank you so much for all that you do, and for pairing us with the perfect dog! Chris and Nancy Furnish
Konda
Konda’s life started out a little “rocky” which many rescue dogs experience. But his life with me was filled with numerous soft beds, daily trips & walks in the park, special “touchdown” treats, home cooked gourmet meals, lots of ice water (he preferred it with ice cubes or so he told me) was a constant companion with unfailing love. I really miss him.
Kramer AKA Charlie
I’m sad to inform you that our sweet Charlie will be crossing the rainbow bridge today. He was diagnosed with lung cancer last year, and he is telling us now that it is time to let him go. We’ve loved him since the day we met him and our hearts are broken to have to say goodbye to this sweet little boy. I wanted to thank you so much for the opportunity to take care of him and love him for the 9 years we’ve had him.
Lady
12 years ago I adopted Lady from RMLR. Unfortunately due to extreme arthritis, liver disease and senility it's time for end of life. I would like to thank RMLR for providing me with many years of companionship. I think she was the only black lab in the world that did not like the water. I always said she was a hound dog in a black labs coat. - Todd
LadyBug
In July 2012 I went to visit Lady at a foster home in Highlands Ranch. The foster mom was calling her "LadyBug," and I thought that was perfect. LadyBug rescued me that day, walking over and putting her lovely head on my thigh. We were together until October 4, 2018, when my vet told me that her symptoms and very sudden decline indicated probable liver cancer. She died with the gentle help of the vet and with her head on my leg. I miss her so much, and the entire neighborhood misses her. She is particularly missed by her best 4-legged pal, Miss Rocco, another RMLR sweetie, and her housemate Christopher the tuxedo cat.
Lemon
It’s hard to put into words how special Lemon was to me. She was so much more than a pet. She was my best friend. She was my constant companion, particularly these last four years as my job transitioned to fully remote. She was my reason to get out of bed when the weight of my depression and anxiety was almost too heavy to bear. I adopted Lemon after two long years without a dog and following a period of intense personal struggles. She was a stray from a shelter with an unknown past, and the risk for failure was high. To say that Lemon was perfect for me from the day I got her is not an exaggeration. She was truly the most sweet, gentle, trusting, loving, friendly, calm, quiet, easygoing, adaptable dog I’ve ever met. She moved from Denver to DC and back again without any indication of stress or discomfort. The reality of losing her hasn’t fully set in, but her absence has already left an enormous void in my house and my heart. I know the grief will ease over time, but right now I’m heartbroken. She was, and always will be my soul dog. I know I will never be able to replicate the relationship we had, but my deep love for dogs will undoubtedly bring another one into my life when I’m ready. I’m forever grateful to RMLR for pulling her from a shelter in TX and bringing her to CO. Thank you to everyone who loved Lemon. She loved you too. For those who never had the opportunity to meet her, just know you would have loved her too. She truly was the best.
Leroy
It's with a heavy heart that I tell you that Leroy went to heaven last night. Last month, we learned that Leroy had cancer. He battled for about a month before losing his fight last night. Leroy came to us in September of 2011 with an abusive history. We smothered him in love to relieve the pain that wasn't visible. He was like a puppy again, and maybe enjoyed a puppyhood innocence because he was denied that earlier in life. Leroy was a true leader in our family pack. On walks, he demanded to be out front and would often hop around if my wife and I and our other dogs weren't walking fast enough. He would subtlety ask for attention by bringing our shoes into the living room from another room and just drop them one by one on the area rug until we paid attention to him. He just brought them to us as props for love and attention. He would go grab his bed by the edges and pull it into the living room if that's where we were hanging out, position it on the floor, and lay down. Leroy found a lot of joy in pleasing us in the simplest ways. Leroy was a cuddler! He loved being close to us, would stare at us from the edge of our bed until given permission to come up, would often share the same bed with his brothers, and would let his brothers rest their heads on his back as they laid in the front room. We are so thankful to RMLR for allowing us the honor and privilege of being his parents for the last 4 years. Respectfully, Chad & Becky