A Tribute to Pita - January 6, 1995 - May 27, 2011

Pita January 6, 1995 - May 27, 2011

For Jacob, family friends and all who have ever known our beloved Pita, this by far is the hardest thing I have had to do. Altough I have buried family members over the recent years and our two other dogs,LAYLA and TEDDY; our Pita was never separated from us by years and miles. She has been a constant, at our side for the past fifteen years.
Briefly, Pita has achieved more in her life span than most dogs that I know. From the day that she wrapped her leash around my legs and plopped her bottom on my feet in San Diego, fifteen years, ago, we have been inseparable. During her life, she achieved the Agility Course, been certified by the State of California as a Medical Assistance Dog, having been my life saver on more than one occasion, been on the front page of newspapers telling of her unique and unusual abilities, Received the Canine Good Citizen Award from the American Kennel Club, traveled extensively from California to Florida, Texas where she and I met our partner Jacob who has been with Pita for these past ten years.
She has eaten at 5 star restaurants with us, been to all the major film studios in Hollywood, even the Los Angeles Opera where she met and photographed with Placido Domingo having a 5th row seat to observe the opera.
She has rubbed shoulders with famous TV and Film stars, befriended thousands of dogs and their guardians, from around the world, on her personal site Dogster.
I was recently asked why I obsess over her so much because after all she is just a dog.
The answer is quite simple, over the years that we have been together she was so much more.
Guardian, protector, best friend who has been completely loyal, loving, forgiving, trusting and all of this was unconditional. Both Jacob and myself have learned very valuable lessons from Pita. She is so much more than "just a dog". She is sentient, has feelings, memories, is self aware, an incredible memory and to paraphrase William Shatner, in all of our years and all of our travels together, she was the most Human".
I do not believe I have ever run across anyone that did not fall in love with her almost immediately upon meeting and her gentleness and loving, nurturing nature made it so easy to love her unconditionally.
Mark Twain once said that "If there are no dogs in heaven, than when I die, I want to go where our dogs go." I agree.
Pita is going on her journey to the Rainbow Bridge where she will be welcomed by all who have gone their before her. Her in life friends, Layla, Teddy, Taya and so very many more will be there with that first biscuit and grand tour where they will romp together awaiting the arrival of their guardians.
Although I am profoundly sad today, I will continue on know that one day we shall meet again. Finally I do know that so long as we keep Pita in our hearts and memories, she will remain alive and be a strength for us to continue on.
She will now be our guardians from afar.
I thank all who have met Pita for your devotion, love and friendship of Pita. On behalf of Jacob and myself and Pita, our love to you all and thank you for being our friends.

Happy Brthday Jacob

Our beloved guardian Jake - Although we were unable to come and join you in your fun, we were absolutely there in spirit and watched all the high jinks and are sure everyone had a great time. We just wanted to let you know that we did not forget as you never forget us as you say a gentle love you to us everyday at our photos and memorial. We love you too and know that we will see each other again. Love Layla

TAYA has joined us in Heaven

My dads sister Liana, had a most wonderful doggy named TAYA. Unfortunately, she succumbed to cancer and left the family for the Rainbow Bridge where Taya is now friends with Teddy and me as well as so many more up here. We are becoming fast friends and showing Taya around the place. Taya is no longer in pain and will be watching over Liana and her family until that time when God has us all join up again. I have asked Bob to put up a photo of TAYA on my page and so if you look, you will see Taya with wings and with us. Love to all - LAYLA

It's Mommy day up here too!

We are just having a romping good time and each of us are sending an angel to our moms to watch over you on this special day! All of us at the bridge are spending some time with our guardians who have passed and their families as well. Love and Peace from the Heavens Gate! LAYLA

Like Teddy says:

We at the Rainbow Way, are spreading our wings to shield you and watch over all of you. We are having fun up here and although we truly miss our families, we know that one day we will all meet again. By the way, the Volcano in Iceland look awesome from up here : )
Love from Heaven to Earth - LAYLA & all your friends both large and small!

Lately, you have been in our thoughts and prayers

LAYLA - We did not miss your birthday, we held a candle mass and reminisced about our times together. WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU! Your family forever, Pita, Teddy, Bob and Jacob

From the heavens to Earth - Happy Brthday and Love from me, Teddy and friends

Hey Bob - We did not forget your birthday but we know that your mom came up here recently and she has kept us busy telling stories of when you were a kid and boy did she have some whoppers. We miss you and know that you miss us because from up here we can hear all and know that you talk about us all the time and are honored that our portraits are hung all together in the living room. Dogster deserves a thank you as well for letting us communicate this way as well. Love to family and all our friends both North and South. LAYLA & the Angels

My daddy has something to say after his silence to his- friends....

Dearest of Dogster and Catster friends: It has been a very long and trying time for me and my pets as well as happenings in my personal life. I apologize for not writing anyone however I had to take a vacation from the world considering my losses in life and love. As you know who have read my stories, I have lost my father, brother and most recently my mother to cancer and took a flight out to Minnesota to the funeral wherein I did the eulogy. This in itself was a trying and soul searching experience in that we have had an estranged relationship for many many years.
When all was said and done, I found myself breaking up more than I thought as I had repressed memories that I had not let go of for over 30 years. My sister, last remaining brother and nephew as well as my moms brother from New York came in for this. I was not prepared to deliver my "sermon" however spoke from my heart and then it all came out. I missed her so very much and spoke as one who lost so much time and years over misspoken words so very many years ago. My younger brother drove non stop 14 hours to be there on time but was a bit late. However he showed up. My sister was heartbroken and asked me to be the anchor for this event. I tried and did until the end of my speech wherein I broke down for the first time in 20 odd years speaking of my mother.
I have been devastated over the last couple of years due to my father's death and then my brother but not so much seemingly as that of my mother. She after all brought me into the world and words that I neglected to say were that she was and always will be a class act. She showed us the way and now I understood finally why she was harsh with us and why she said no so many times. It was all about us making our own decisions so that we could learn and be smarter. She and my dad came from war torn Europe of world war 2 and what they went through made our struggles, trials and tribulations in America look like a walk in the park. I finally got it.

My mother may have been harsh and hard on us but it was to teach us to be stronger than others. She taught us values that could not be learned on the streets of America 40 years ago nor through the text books of biased publishers.

My mother had spirit, heart and dignity till her dying day and taught us all a lesson that again, we could not have learned on TV or a book. We watched the history of the past coming to terms with the present and retaining the dignity and proudnes of a heritage that I am now gratetful for learning from an early age. I thank my mother and my family who have left this earth and earnestly look forward to meeting again in a time where there is now war, or lies just peace and love.
I want to thank my fellow dogster's for letting me back in to share my experiences and hope that your families are important to you as mine was to me but I neglected to see or earn their respect for so very many years.
Thank you all for letting me share and letting blast on Pita's personal page. Always your friends, Bob, Jake, Pita and Lalo

On a happier note, Jacob and I are back together again in a new place away from the past; looking on and moving to a greater future together forever again, with Pita and Lalo!

When do you know it is time....

Dear Friends: I wanted to first of all let you all know that I will duplicate this on LALO's page. We received many letters recently from LOUIE, PENNIE, THE TATER TOTS, DANTE, RILELY, NELLY, FLICKA and others. One of the letters was moving in that this dogster also has a 4 legger that may be on the way to the Bridge. The question was posed; How do you know when it is time.

I suppose the best answer I can give is after watching the demise of a couple of my best friends, and one on the way (Pita), I can best tell it by talking about Pita, who has been with me since she was a pup and is now over 14 and a half years old. She has been my faithful companion, friend, never judgemental and always there for my sadness and happy times.
Pita has experienced more in her lifetime than most dogs might in 3 lifetimes; being a service dog, she has traveled everywhere with me, been to the finest and worst restaurants around the country. She has been to the movie studio sets, met many famous people and had her portrait done in oil by an extraordinary artist. She has been to the Los Angeles Opera and met Placido Domingo, and many many others. She has had a full life and a wonderful life.

She was well taken care of when she required surgery and was always loved and never scolded. She was always there for me and I for her.

The time is drawing near when we will have to part company soon. I am not blind nor is she oblivious to the inevitable. I truly believe that she knows that her days are numbered and she understands that my taking in other rescues were a combination to calm my heart and give her a companion and friend that could be with her during her winding down years. She is a very intelligent dog.

Pita once upon a time, chased golf balls, completed agility training and chased squirrels (her many videos tell her tales). Over the past year or so she has gotten so much slower and grayer. What used to take us 10 minutes for a walk now takes half an hour. I am patient with her and always and forever, loving her and reminding her in word and action that SHE is number one because I was number one in her life.
Her muzzle has gotten completely gray. She walks slowly. She still loves her car rides and I many times sleep on the floor with her as she is no longer capable of jumping up on the bed and sometimes has great difficulty climbing her assistance stairs to the bed. Not a problem. She gave me her best and now I will return the favor.
She watches me closely and carefully forever with that smile and pant. I know that she loves me and appreciates the life I gave her and she gave to me. We are one.

It will soon be time to let go and let GOD to His thing and bring her home. I will of course miss her and my life was forever altered as a result of her "adopting me".
You know however, that the time is drawing near when she looks to you and comes to you just to be close. You know when she says nothing but just wants to be held and if that means sleeping with her on her terms - do it! You know it is almost time when you have to help her eat and when she won't go to the food, the food has to come to her!
You know when she gives you that look of thank you and wishing it could last forever!

Treasure your dogs as they love and treasure you! I know that after losing Layla and Teddy etc., losing Pita will be the hardest thing that I will ever have done in my 50 plus years on Earth and I will give her the best send off that LA ever saw.
Remember always, that although their bodies leave us, their spirit and souls remain forever within us and what they taught us will give us the spunk to carry on. Knowing that one day for sure, we will join them again in another realm, another dimension or however you may perceive the afterlife. I myself, know that I will be once again with Pita, Layla and Teddy when it is time.
I hope that this answers your questions and remember that it is only my opinion of what happens but this is the best I can do.
The signs to look for are as described above. LOVE and HOLD your dog close during their waning years as they have loved and held you in their hearts for all the time you gave them!

Bob, guardian to Pita, Lalo and my two in heaven, Layla and Teddy!

I heard that and saw it....

I, too am watching after Lalo, Pita, Jake and Bob. The flight will be OK and we will pray for Bob as he talks over the grave of his father.