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.

To my beloved Jacob

Hey there Mr 28! You have no idea how much Layla and I miss you and Bob but know that we were there in spirit for your 28th big one. We see that you had a lot of fun and are glad that Lalo and Pita are taking good care of you. We shall all be together again some time in the future meantime know that we look after you from up above and will never ever forget how you and Bob loved me and took special care of me. No tears please. Just know that we rejoice in your life and share it by sharing with our pals up here as we watch. Always YOUR doggy, Teddy

Diary of the Day and things

I heard through the doggy grapevine that I was a diary pick of the day and received many burgers, hotdogs and things from my friends Saphira, Flicka, Kiwi Boys and so many more. I am honored that you thought of me and my family and thank you ever so much for remembering me. Rainbow hugs and wags from all of us at the Bridge - Teddy

In Memorium - Our friend TAYA

Hello everyone - I wanted to share with all of our friends that my dad's sister, Liana, lost her doggy TAYA to cancer last night, May 24th. Daddy was in Minnesota in December to meet with the family and hold a memorial service for their mother. It was at that time that Bob met and had a lot of fun with TAYA which was very memorable for him. He told the family the stories of TAYA and his quirks and we heard it all up here at the Bridge. Unfortunately, TAYA left Liana and family yesterday but is now at the Rainbow Bridge where we have embraced him and made him a part of our entire family up here. He is being showed the ropes and no longer feels any pain. He will be spoiled by us all up here as he was a very special person to Liana and family. We are all waiting patiently for the time when our guardians will join us and we can be whole again. Meantime, we have taken in TAYA and hope that Liana knows that he is in a place that is safe, loving and will forever be watched over as he watches over his family back on Earth.
Grieve not, Liana - rejoice and celebrate the life that you two had together and know that TAYA will forever be in your heart. John and Eric will be watched over and loved from afar - but that distance is always and forever linked by a bridge to each others heart! Oh behalf of ALL of us at the Bridge, Taya is well and happy. Our love and heartfelt sorrow go to you and family. Love, Teddy, Layla and family.
Oh, I asked Bob to put a photo of TAYA on my page so that we can all share in the beauty and mischief that was TAYA.

Oh My Dog tails and things....Diary of the Day from way out- there on Earth.

I watched over them as they woke up today. Being up here with all our friends, we can see a lot and seem to know more and even before it happens. So, anyway, we watched as they got up took care of their morning needs and then took Pita and Lalo out for their walks. Daddy made some tea and opened the computer and was astounded to see that I made Diary of the Day. He was so very proud and called Jacob over to the computer and showed him too. He smiled and then they read our wonderful friends e mails and my doggy gifts. We also received a very very beautiful letter from a dogster named Droopy and the mom Lori. It made my dads eyes well up and was truly touched. I know that so long as we have people that give us all a second chance and not hurt us, all will be well and we after all, will be together again at some point. It's the in between time that is hard. So thanks again and my love as well as Layla's and our friends to all of you. Wags and hugs, your Teddy Bear.

We shall never forget!

It's mothers day up here too and we have great plans for our families by watching over everyone and making sure that today is an extra special and safe day for all of our guardians both on Earth and up here at the Bridge.
I am sending an extra Angel out to my two dads who were also my two mommies while I was with them and Pita too! We all miss our families but know that since we are all thinking of each other - eternity seems to be the happier place. Love and chow chow to all....TEDDY and my fellow Bridge friends.

Just wanted to let you all know...

We thank you for watching our pages and we promise that from up here we have a good birds eye view of all of you and keeping our wings spread, protecting you all from the tragedies of life. Love from all of us at the Rainbow. Teddy & Winged Friends.

Lately, you have been in our thoughts and prayers

Dearest Teddy - Jacob and I have thought about you a lot lately. We as you know from up above have your photos and stories up and whomever walks into our home sees you first and we tell them your story. We miss you terribly and love you forever.
We still hope that you forgive us for allowing a butcher to hurt you but we know that you are in a better place and we are there with you in thought forever.
Remember our Radio Flyer just for you....Love Bob, Jacob, Pita and Layla

To my earth bound family & friends

Bob, Jake, Pita and Lalo: I just wanted to let you know that Bob's mom has visited with us and told us some cool stories about you when you were a kid and then a hippie. What happened. When I met you, you looked like a cop! Oh well, life is unpredictable. We have been having fun up here with all the friends we have made that greeted us from Dogster, Catster and those that weren't too. We wanted you to know that our spirit lives within you and we will always and forever be together. Thank you for loving us all. TEDDY and 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!