MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO ZEEK, A TRULY REMARKABLE DOG

I don't recall the exact day I met Zeek. I live in Florida and Zeek lived
with his "Mama" in New Hampshire. I didn't get to see him as often as I would
have liked. He was an absolutely adorable weimaraner puppy with an amazing jest
for live.

The second time I saw him I was surprised at how much he had grown, and
grown, and grown. Now he was a handsome, young-adult weimaraner who, to me, looked
like he was nearly the size of a great dane. I had only known a few
weimaraners in my life, but I had never seen one as tall as Zeek. He was soo beautiful!
They're German you know. And true to his German heritage, Zeek had a gentle
aloofness about him, and a heart as big as they come. He had attitude! "I'm a
dog to be respected," he seemed to say. Everyone who loved dogs knew Zeek was
special. We loved him for his gentle, loving nature and his high level of
awareness.

De De, that 's Zeek's Mom and my sister, said he might give me a kiss if I
asked him for one. Well, I was a little hesitant. I love dogs, but I'm one of
those dog lovers who has never learned to appreciate slobber. My sister saw my
reaction and explained that she had shown Zeek a unique way of giving kisses.
She asked him for a kiss to demonstrate and what I saw truly amazed me and made
me laugh. Zeek's "kisses" were a gentle brush of his whiskers against your
cheek. I got lots of kisses from then on.

One of my fondest memories of Zeek happened during a trip I made to New
Hampshire for a family reunion. I stayed at Zeek's house and on the morning of the
reunion De De was making a big pot of beef stew. I was helping her by
scrapping lots of carrots. Zeek sat close by and patiently waited for me to give him
some of what I was preparing. I said, "Silly dog. These are carrots. Dogs don't
eat carrots." Well it was silly me. De De told me that they were one of his
favorite things to eat. I almost didn't believe her. "I've never heard of a dog
that eats carrots before," I told her. "Try it," she said, "you'll be his
friend for life." Sure enough, he was as happy as could be chomping away on
carrot shavings. He ate them all and begged for more! I have him a whole carrot and
laughed out loud at how delighted he was. It still tickles me to recall this
delightful memory of Zeek crunching on a big carrot. And De De was right, he
is my friend for life. I will never forget.

When my Dad called to tell me of the tragic loss of Zeek, I was shocked.
"But...he is still so young...and I thought he was healthy." "He was," Dad told
me, "he died of something called stomach bloat."

I sat down and cried. I cried real hard for Zeek and for my sister. I had
secretly hoped that someday I could have a dog just like Zeek, and I could not
imagine how terrible De De must be feeling. I wanted this whole thing to go
away. I didn't want it to be true. I did not want my sister to suffer this loss. I
wanted Zeek to be there when I came for my next visit.

Zeek meant so much to her. When he was sad because De De had to work all
week, she found a good day care. Now Zeek could go and make friends and play while
she was at work. When she was sad he knew it and tried his best to comfort
her. Others came and went in her life, but Zeek was always there, her best
friend, her constant companion.

Then De De met Keith. She knew he was someone very special. But the real test
would come when he met Zeek. It was love at first sight! Yeah! De De and
Keith were married last August. Zeek slept in the bed with them. (They had to get
a bigger bed.)

On Novemer 13th, 2003 Zeek woke in the middle of the night. De De thought he
might have an upset stomach. She got up and took him outside. They went back
to bed and a little while later Zeek woke them up again. Keith took him out
this time. Zeek lay in the yard, the rain pouring down on him when Keith came
rushing in to say, "De De you better get out here." If you knew Zeek at all, you
knew he hated rain. He would rather hold it for days than go out if was
raining.

De De rushed in to call the emergency veterinarian. "Get him in here right
away," the vet said. "It sounds like he has stomach bloat. There may be only
minutes to save him."

De De rushed outside, tears pouring down her cheeks. They couldn't lift him.
"Zeek," she pleaded, "you've got to get up! Please, Zeek, do it for Mama!" The
look in his eyes said, "it's too late." "No, Zeek, we've got to try. Please!"
It took a monumental effort, but true to Zeek's nature and his enormous love
for De De, he managed to get to his feet. He collapsed into the car and within
10 minutes after arriving at the vet's office he was in surgery.

Now we believe that Zeek's stomach had already exploded when De De and Keith
begged him to get up. It was his last gallant effort to please the ones he
loved so much and the ones that loved him with all their hearts.

Zeek is our hero. He was brave, loyal, loving and loved. In addition to all
the love you remember giving him, De De, in addition to all the things you did
to make his life happy, and in addition to all the wonderful memories you have
of him, there are many more that he remembers. These are the things that
filled his heart and made him the truly remarkable dog, and the special companion
that he was.

Zeek's greatest joy was seeing you happy. Grieve for awhile, because you
must, but then, perhaps slowly, let go and let yourself feel joy again. Somehow I
know he will feel your happiness and that will bring him joy as he waits for
you at Rainbow Bridge.

Good bye, Zeek. You are loved and we will miss you.