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.
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
Levi
We adopted Levi in 2010. He was approximately 3 years old when we adopted him and he just passed away at the age of 14. He was the most loving lab one could ever ask for. Knowing his history of being abused before we adopted him, we gave him all the love he deserved and more. He loved his walks, his treats and just being with us. We will miss him dearly, and he will always be in our hearts. Donna and Rudy
Lilly
We adopted Lilly (the artist formally known as Aster) from RMLR in November 2011. We originally decided to adopt through RMLR because of a beautiful brown lab named Hershey. We have two cats, Kit Kat and Snickers, and thought it was meant to be. It wasn't - evidently Hershey wasn't a fan of cats or children. We through the website and decided to meet Aster. I was nervous at first because I had never had a dog as an adult but we decided to go ahead and adopt her. Lilly was the light of our lives. She was the most perfect dog we could have asked for. She outsmarted us when it came to getting to the litterbox, the trash, and food we thought was stored high enough. Once we even came home and found an empty bread bag in the pantry (the door was shut when we left and shut when we came home - I don't think we will ever figure that one out). In addition to being smarter than us she also trained us well. Thank you guys so, so much for doing the work you do that brought her into our lives. We might have initially been the ones to rescue her, but like you know, she ended up rescuing us.
Loki
We adopted Loki in March 2012, when he was about 4 years old. His background wasn't particularly clear, but it was obvious that Loki came from difficult circumstances. It took some time, but Loki was able to enjoy life and we took great joy in caring for him. Loki is just a very special dog. Loki was diagnosed with prostate and bladder cancer last July and was given 6-12 months to live. I am so sad to say that Loki passed away 3/18/16. I cannot put into words how wonderful Loki was. He was extraordinary and we are so glad that he could be part of our lives. Thank you RMLR for bringing Loki to us. We are eternally grateful. The McElwain Family
Lucy
We brought Lucy home in January 2016 after being captured by her big, happy smile in the RMLR photo. From the start she always wanted to be next to us (or preferably sitting on top of us on the sofa) for pets and cuddles. Lucy had been through a lot before being rescued from Missouri by RMLR and was a little unpredictable (like that time she stole the cheese off the counter when no one was looking or chewed through her leashes a few times) but in time she settled in and her true sweet and gentle nature began to shine. When she was snuggling on the couch she would make a snorting sound — that was her version of “purring” to let us know she was happy and content. We had to say goodbye to Lucy in October 2023 when she developed a cancer that was not treatable. It was an amazing gift to have her in our life and we miss her so much. Thanks to RMLR for making all the joyful moments possible.
Luke
On Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at 9:31 am, my Best Friend crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Luke, you were a special gentle soul on this earth. You were a blessing to have in my life. I love you and will miss you greatly. RMLR, In early 2008 I was so very fortunate to find your website and see the beautiful mug of Luke. I couldn't forget that face and soon he was sharing life with me. Thank you RMLR for the work you do and the introduction to the love of my life. They wind themselves around your heart and you are changed forever and for the better. Christine Landry Luke - Late 2006 thru 3/29/2016.
Luke
We adopted Luke on 10-15-2017. He had been heart worm positive and had a TPLO before we adopted him. He was a handsome lively dog and remained so at the age of 10 .He was different in personality from any dog we'd had. His past did not appear to have been good. Our goal was for him to find his "happy". He learned, he chased squirrels ,barked at deer , lived for walks and car rides, and learned to love cold and snow.Our Texas rescue became a "Mountain Dog". He was very proud to wear his red buffalo plaid fleece jacket in minus temps and grew a beautiful thick coat of his own.He was very treat motivated and loved to be told how handsome and good he was. He guarded the house from UPS (his arch nemesis ), birds in the feeder, rodents and mammals and any strange sounds the house made.He was our family member and best friend. I am heartbroken to say his time with us was all too short. He was euthanized on 2-01-2021. He is now free of pain and any limitations and will be missed beyond belief. He was a beautiful dog that deserved a chance. Darlene and Randy Hartford