Max has crossed over the Rainbow Bridge

I know throughout our life we experience so many things. We go to school, we graduate, we go to college. We meet the man of our dreams, we get married, and someday have children. Then along our journey we may choose to be blessed with one of God's furry creations. This I experienced on Memorial Day weekend 1999. This is the day that Sir Maxamillion Stetson Fire put his paw prints on my heart. We had been contemplating getting a dog. Oh, we looked at the humane society...to no avail. We thought we would get a Dachaund for Krystal since she loved those dogs. Well, we were at Doug's brothers house for the holiday, and there was an ad in the paper for Miniature Schnauzers. Well, it just so happens Doug's brother and wife had two schnauzers, one of which was just a little doll. So, we made our way to Bellville, Ohio to see these pups. Oh my gosh, how cute they were. We picked up a few, petted them, most of them were sqirmy, until we picked up Max. He was the runt of the litter, he layed there in our hands, and was just as calm as could be. Well, that was it, he had caught my heart, we bought him. He was so cute. Slept in the backseat of the blue truck, and was right at home from the time he became ours.
We went through so many learning experiences with Max. From feeding a puppy, to potty training, to teaching him not to chew on many things that he wasn't suppose to. Oh what a joy he was to watch him grow up. He filled our house with so much love, so much joy that you couldn't help but smile when you saw him.
As the years went by, Max grew into a beautiful black and silver handsome little guy. Strutting his stuff everytime he went anywhere. Not paying any mind if another dog was bigger than he, he would tell them in short order who was the boss of our home, his yard. He loved to play. He had a hedgehog that he absolutely loved. We had to buy him more than a few to replace ones that he chewed up. He loved this stuffed animal. It became his buddy. He would lay on the floor with his head resting on this toy almost as if they were friends, and he was protecting it.
Max went everywhere with us. When we would go to Columbus, we would take him. We go out to eat, we would take him and leave the car running so he would stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. He was even a snowmobile drag racing fan. He loved to go for rides and stick his head out the window to smell that wind as we drove down the road. There was a farm that we would pass on Rt 19 going to Galion that always had cows, all we had to tell him was "get the cows" and he would jump up and look out the window and bark and do his doggie dance telling the cows he was the boss.
He stole a piece of my heart when he became a part of the family. Max didn't ask for very much. He was not your typical dog...one that has to have all your attention...no...he would give you permission to cuddle, pet, pat his butt (of which he loved), scratch behind the ears. He did not like it if you made him do something that wasn't on his terms.
He was very independent. He loved to curl up on the couch, on the landing at our old house, in front of the patio door in town and at our house now. He loved to lay under my dining room table and put his head on one of the claw feet of my oak table. He had a special place in our kitchen, where he would lay between the bar stools at the breakfast nook. I remember many times I would take a nap on the couch, and I would wake up with him curled up behind my legs...on his own terms.
Max became a constant with us...he would ride through parades with us in the BF festival. Anyone who knew us, knew of Max.
As the years went by, we obtained another schnauzer...Oakley. Max and him became buddies...but when Oakley came along, is when Max stopped playing with toys. They were together for a little while until we obtained Oakley's sister Courtney. Now our furry family became three. We couldn't take Max to as many places as we did before. It was difficult to take three...not that I didn't do it, but it was hard. Max enjoyed trips to the bank. The ladies their spoiled him each and everytime we went there. And if we didn't take Max, they would send a treat for us to give to him when we got home...Vicki was the main one who loved the babies.
The years went by, and God provided us with a wonderful home in the country. I prayed specifically for this home...right down to the patio door, that I was wanting for the dogs, but mostly for Max...because he loved to look out the door over his property so to speak.
Oh, how wonderful it was to be in the country, and Max did love it so. He could run, and sniff, and enjoy all the wide open spaces that were at his paws to enjoy...and that he did. Sometimes I would just take Max out and walk in the backyard with him. I would sit on the front porch with him, and he knew he had to stay on the porch, not to leave it...oh he attempted to go down a few times to mark his territory, but all I had to do was tell him no and he would stay right up there with me.
Well, we managed to obtain another schnauzer...a white one that we bought for Krystal. Oh, now Max was not really thrilled with her. She was to high spirited for Maxes layed back personality. But, he would just let her do her thing, and just keep walking. We were hoping to breed him to her, so that we would have little Maxies running around.
Max many times would come to where I was when he wanted some attention, I would pet his head, scratch his neck, or rub his butt just above his tail, and he would be in heaven. He would give his little growly thingy that told me that he liked it. Then when he got what he wanted he would go back to his spot in the house, in the kitchen, dining room, office or bathroom and go back to sleep.
I could always tell where Max had been. If there was a rug, and if it was all messed up, I knew Max had been there. He would root around to mess up the rug to lay on it.
Well, next came along another schnauzer, a male that we rescued. Now, this little guy...who soon was bigger than them all, Max was not very fond of. But, Max didn't care, if they wanted something he had, Max would be like oh well, take it I don't care. That was a part of his layed back nature.
Yes, we had 5 mini's, but only one of them truly stole my heart...the one that I called Max, Maxie, Maxers, Fuzzy Butt, Fuzz-Fuzz, Stud Boy, Angel Boy...I had a lot of names for him, and he knew them all. He was my boy. My ray of sunshine if I was having a bad day. Don't get me wrong the other kids are special to me, but Max had a hold of my heart like no other. We had a bond, I loved him, and I could tell he loved me. He would listen to me when I called. He would come next to me when I called, he was there when I would get home, and be excited when I saw me. He did this for the rest of the family, but I felt a special bond with him.
He would start throwing fits when we would leave to go somewhere. He would bark as if to tell us don't go, please stay...I know all we would have to do is tell him "let's go bye-bye" and he would come running.
Well, on February 28th, my girls and I decided to go to the $1.00 movie in Mansfield. Doug had basketball games to cover for our paper. For some reason that night Max really threw a fit when we left. He was barking as if to really tell us please don't go, please don't. I thought it was strange that this time he was even more adament that he didn't want us to go.
Well, the girls and I enjoyed a great time together. We got home about 11 or so, and something wasn't right. Doug has just gotten home just before we did. Simon was still in the cage, and the other dogs were upstairs. We walked in, and Doug was at the base of the family room stairs and Max was laying on the floor breathing kinda heavy. Doug said he took the dogs out, and Max was fine, until he got up to the door and inside, and he collapsed, legs twitching and he was howling like he was in pain. At that time, the other dogs tried to attack him. We called the vet and the vet said that it sounded like he had a seizure. We were told to keep an eye on him for a week and if there wasn't any improvment to bring him in.
Well, we kept watching him, the next day he seemed a little drained, but went out and did his duty with no problems. I had to force him to eat, but I got him to eat. He had some teeth issues so at times it made it hard for him to eat...so I got him some soft food to help him be able to eat ok. On the Sunday after this episode, I stayed home with him, and Doug and Krystal went to church. I even gave him a haircut, bath and nails clipped. He did so well, and seemed like he was feeling pretty good. His breathing seems a little heavy but otherwise not to bad.
Well, a few more days went by, he seemed like he was doing better. He showed interest in Oakley and Courtney, and was actually eating ok. There was a few times he acted like he wasn't feeling well, but I contributed it to what happened the other day, and he was just building back up his strength. Well, Thursday came...he seemed to be having a good day. Wouldn't eat for me though, but he was active, was being his pervy self with the two older dogs, and was just Max. He even ran when he went outside, of which he hadn't done for a few days. He rested most of the day in his dog bed in our bedroom. I would go check on him periodically...I checked on him about 8 or so that evening, I layed next to him on the floor as he was curled up, and talked to him, told him I loved him and petted his head and back.
So, I went back downstairs and watched TV waiting on Doug to get home from the basketball games. Doug got home, went into the bathroom, and Max, Oakley and Courtney came in and sat with him...he said Max seemed fine.
Well, he took the dogs out for their nightly duty and all was well. Max did his duty, came in but did not want his treat. Krystal and I worked on trying to get him to eat...to no avail...he just did not want to eat today for some reason. As we were trying to feed him, he fell over and bumped his head on the coffee table, stiffened his legs, and howled in pain. He gasped and gasped for breath. I picked him up and rubbed him, talked to him, Krystal blew in his face, and we kept talking to him. Doug told us to keep him alert as he talked to the vet on the phone. He gasped a few more times, twitched a couple of times and that was it. My furry baby, whom I watched grow up into a beautiful boy was now gone. He lay in my arms lifeless, with nothing anymore...no glance, no bark, no breath. My Max was gone. I held him for a while, petting him, kissing his forhead, and crying...asking God why, why did he take my furry boy. Now my sweet baby was now an angel in God's house.
I didn't sleep well that night. I kept him in my room wrapped in a blanket till morning. I would wake up and go pet him, and tell him I loved him. We buried him outside the kitchen window. I can look out and see his grave. He was buried with his blanket that we had since he was a pup, his hedgehog and a photo of him with all of us, and some notes of love for him.
Max, I miss you terribly. When you left us, you took a piece of my heart with you...nothing will ever replace that emptiness that I feel. The house isn't the same without you. Yes, we still have four other dogs, but they don't fill that void that I feel.
Max, you were special, one of a kind, loving companion. I will miss you terribly. I thank you God, for allowing us 10 years with him. Many happy memories are stored in my heart. Love to you my sweet angel boy.

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