In Memoriam

About 10 years ago, I fostered a pit mix named Baby, whose tail wouldn't stop wagging. Despite months of adoption events, nobody ever took her home. Eventually I realized that I had fallen in love with her goofy grin and snuggly personality, and you let me keep her forever. She became my beloved Bailey. Over the next decade we had more adventures than I could possibly name, but there is no question that she made me a more patient, kind and thoughtful person. Bailey won the hearts of so many people, including some folks who didn't like dogs but insisted she's different. She GETS me. She even learned to speak a few words. She developed specific noises for specific needs. To request assistance retrieving a ball that had gone under a couch, for example, she made a noise that sounded like a dinosaur. To everyone's amazement, she never mixed up her words. She was easy to love. Over the years, I jokingly referred to her as my Mercedes because I had spent enough on her to buy a luxury car. She was worth every penny and more! I knew that I would marry my husband when I saw how lovingly he cared for her when she got intestinal cancer. Every four hours after her surgery for weeks. We took turns medicating her, walking her, and coaxing grilled chicken into her. She rebounded, and defied the oncologist's post-surgical prediction that she had six months to live. Without any additional treatment (they had told us it wouldn't really help), she thrived for another two and a half years, and joined us at the bed and breakfast where we held our wedding. We knew she was on borrowed time, and were thrilled when she kept enthusiastically demolishing squeaky toys and hopping into bed for snuggles. For a while, it was easy to forget that she had cancer. This tenacity shouldn't be surprising, given her history. When you rescued her from the shelter, she was half her normal body weight, and she had an ingrown collar that needed to be surgically removed. My precious girl was almost certainly doomed; but someone called you, and you agreed to pay for the surgery. I can never express to you how grateful I am that you saved her. From the bottom of my heart: thank you, thank you, thank you. I would have done anything for her, but she needed you to save her first. For that I am forever grateful, and I have made a donation to Ace of Hearts in her memory. Sadly, this summer our tenacious, intelligent and agile Bailey suddenly lost the ability to move her back legs, and a trip to the neurologist revealed that the cancer had reappeared in her brain. We tried to keep its progress at bay, and she regained the ability to walk; but ongoing diagnostics revealed that the cancer was rapidly spreading throughout her body. We knew that this time, our sweet girl was beyond medical help, and it gutted us. We had just bought a home with a beautiful yard and screened porch, and had imagined how much she would enjoy it. Indeed, she did enjoy it in the final weeks before we said goodbye. Even with her reduced mobility, she managed to corner a few crickets! Her last moments, like the life we tried to provide, were filled with love. As we laid in the sun-dappled yard, I held her head as she slipped away on her favorite quilt. Our hearts are beyond broken. I know everyone thinks that they had the best dog in the world but she really was. Thank you for saving her, so that we could make so many happy memories together. I'll treasure them forever.

This email comes from a very heavy heart and is extremely hard to write., but I felt that you needed to know, after all Dallas was also loved by you, and if it was not for you and Ace of Hearts I would have never of known Dallas. I lost Dallas to lung cancer on 3/4/18 at 12:15 PM. There are dogs and then there is Dallas, for those of us who knew Dallas know exactly what I mean by that. I know that we all had our doubts when he was young and out of control, and he was a lot of work, but through training, love and respect Dallas became a very good boy, well socialized, got along with everyone and everything, he even lived with a patriot that cruises around on the floor with Dallas and he was fine with the bird. Dallas loved with all his heart, held back nothing. He was one amazing boy, everyone who had the privilege in meeting him were in total aww about him. Dallas was my heart, my breathe and my life. He was not a dog, he was my best friend, better than any human friend could ever be. I cannot find the light to move forward, and I do not know if I will ever breathe again. I am very broken up over this and finding it extremely hard to carry on without my better half. Abby is also a survivor of Dallas my 80 pound black lab. The two of them were a team and there was a deep love between them, Abby always looked out for Dallas and would clean and take care of him. As of now Abby hangs her head in deep sorrow. The two of us are taking this lose very hard. I attached a few pictures of our boy, in there is him and his Grandma how he would sleep with her when she would spend the night with us and also a couple of the two of them together, along with showing how he got along with the bird and the other dogs. Christmas when he had all the wrapping all over the place, me and him with a doll showing him how to like kids he was saying really. I also included my black lab to show you how sad she is, and others, please enjoy. Sorry that there are so many but what can I say I loved him, and he ws a ham. Take care, Lenora

About 10 years ago we adopted a little dox/beagle (we think) mix from Ace of Hearts. She was called Isabella then, and she was fostered by a woman down in Orange County. We brought her to her new home in Tucson, AZ, and we changed her name to Evita. She loved it here. Our baby girl was the light of our lives. She died suddenly, but peacefully and without suffering, just yesterday afternoon here at her home which we called �La Casa de Perrita� � The House of the Little Dog. We wanted to thank you for your role in bringing her into our lives. You do noble work.

I wanted to say Thank you for bringing Nellie into my life, I was her foster mom, but really I was her Mom. I took her to her adoptions, and I hated watching her in that cage, but was hoping someone could give her a better home, than my small apartment. She would come back, so happy to see me, no one interested, just her and I . I began to wonder maybe she was supposed to be mine, but how could I keep her in my small apartment where no dogs were allowed. I would sneak her in, no one ever knew, she was such a good dog, curling up in her bed, or mine:) Chasing each other in my apartment, her barking and hiding, and she and I would play . She came into my life when I seemed to be at my most lonely. Bounding onto my bed, and into my heart! Then came the heart wrenching decision to leave LA, I could no longer afford to be there, but didn't want to leave Nellie, knowing she had been left in the past, but did not have a choice. I cried for a week straight, and hoped she would be adopted, hoped she was enjoying her life with wonderful people. I was wrong. I received a devastating call from Kai, one I will never forget. Nellie had cancer. She had maybe months to live. I cried for days, I felt like it was my fault, did I miss something, the thought of her little soul suffering killed me. She was like my kid, and I wanted her back. I decided to take Nellie in the last of her time on earth. I knew she didn't have long, and was going to call Kai that Monday the 15th to talk about options. I didn't have to. Nellie passed away in her sleep the morning of the 15th, she looked so peaceful, I always told her go when your ready, let me know when it's time. She did. I felt a sense of peace, knowing she was not suffering, and she only had 2 really bad days, and I am glad no more than that. My mom and I did a ceremony over her body, and I thanked her for all the love and joy she gave to me. I miss her so much, I only had her for 9 months, but it might as well have been 9 years...I always thought she would get adopted, that she was someone else's, but she wasn't. She was always mine.

As you may have heard we lost our Ace dog Billy last week after battling cancer with him for almost two years. Although we expected this outcome it still came as quite a shock that we still have not recovered from. Thank you, Jacky and Ben

It is with epic sadness that I inform you that my 16 year old dog Dylan passed on August 18th at 3:14am Pacific Time. He was my best buddy, my partner in crime, my confidante, my baby boy, My Dylan Dog , my soul mate and THE MOST LOVING and AMAZING DOG anyone ever met. He peacefully slipped away from this world at home in my arms, where he took his last breaths. I am devastated and saddened on a epic level. He was my everything. I am truly at a loss for words, but there's no place for words with all this crying. A letter to Dylan: Dylan, I just want you to know that wherever you are now, I will find you again one day and when I do we can Rollerblade and run freely in the clouds forever. I don't know right now how I am to live a life without you in it, but I wanted to thank you for enriching my life, teaching me to love and being the very best and most unwavering friend anyone could ever ask for. Sleep well my baby boy.......... I will always love you and I will NEVER forget you. Love your human, Allan

We fostered for your organization in 2003 and as a result were able to adopt a sweet frenchie girl by the name of Eloise at the time. We changed her name to Lulu. In 2005 she ruptured a disc in her spin and had surgery. We were relieved that she made a full recovery and was able to walk again. We loved her dearly, she was such a mellow and sweet girl. Always well behaved and loving. She made us laugh many a times through out the years and was a complete character. Today December 10th, 2011 we lost our lovely girl at the age of about 11. She lived a happy life and was very loved. We are heavy hearted and have not been able to stop crying through out the day. My 5 year old is really having a hard time, but then again so am I. Lulu was such a special dog. I would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to have her in our lives, our hearts will forever be filled with her presence.

In March of 2003, I rescued Chase, who was renamed Stein, from Ace of Hearts. Or rather, he really rescued me and quite literally saved my life. We had almost 13 wonderful years together. He went on several cross country trips with me, happily moved from California to Texas, and endured me bringing a new sister into the house. He was my companion and my protector. He's the best decision I ever made. Thank you Ace of Hearts for bringing me a lifeline off the streets of South Central LA. Stein passed away on December 27, 2015. Thank you,

It is with deep sadness that I tell you my first baby, my Daizy girl, left us last week. We adopted her from Ace of Hearts back in 2004. She was almost 16 years old. I always said that when I rescued her, she really rescued me. She was the most joyful, playful, sweet, and loving dog. She had a way of making people smile and fall in love with her. She made people scared of dogs trust her, and she made people terrified of pit bulls rethink their fear of the breed. She was very good at communicating with us, almost like there was a human inside her. She still acted like a puppy until she was 13 when she had her first episode of Vestibular (old dog vertigo disease). She was so frail and not herself the last few months, but she played even on the morning of her death. She died suddenly at home while I was sitting next to her. I wanted to share some photos with you of the fun times we had during her long doggie life. She will truly be missed. She was one of a kind.

I dont know if you will remember me, but I was a casting director who you placed the most amazing shep/rottie/malamute mix with about 8 years ago. You named him Elmer Blue, because he stuck to people like elmer's glue and he had the most beautiful blue eyes. We just called him Blue. He and I had 8 amazing years together and we just had to say goodbye to him due to cancer and multiple strokes... he had a great life.. made my life so worth living .. and loving and caring for him was really the greatest gift I have ever known... and I am ever grateful to you for the light, joy and love you brought to my life.

It has been many years since I wrote to you about our Marley, but I wanted to give you a final update and thank you once again for saving his life. In the summer of 2001 our son Stuart was studying at UCLA. One day, he happened by an adoption fair your organization was sponsoring and there he saw a big red dog named Hudson. When Stuart decided he wants something, he usually gets it; and he wanted the big red dog. Probably against your better judgment, you decided to let this young college student adopt Hudson. Stuart renamed him Marley ( Marl, as Stuart liked to spell it.) At the end of the year, Stuart decided to return to Ohio for college. He packed up his car and , with Marley riding shotgun, set off across country toward home. I remember spending those days researching accommodations that allowed pets, making reservations for the two of them as they drove east. To be honest, I wasn't happy that Stuart had taken a dog because he still had college to complete. Clearly, this dog would be the responsibility of my husband and me for a while. But such was life with a kid like Stuart. Truth is, my husband and I quickly fell in love with Marley and he became the family dog. He was so special. He walked into our lives and it felt like fate had put us together. The story of how close he had come to being euthanized had it not been for Ace of hearts was both heartbreaking and transcendent. I can only speculate about his life before being rescued, but he always seemed to understand that something very unusual had changed the course of his life. He had a wonderful disposition. Nothing bothered him -- not the cats, not other dogs he encountered when he walked, not sometimes having to be patient with his people, not anything. I don't what you saw in him that made you think he deserved another chance in life but you were very perceptive. As the years passed our Marley began to slow down. In june, we desperately tried laser treatments on his joints hoping to buy a little more time. But, on Monday, June 23 his little legs went out from under him and he could not get up again. I could see in his eyes that he was done. That night our son Stuart, now out of college and living in Cleveland, joined my husband and me to say goodbye to our precious boy. His going has left a huge empty hole in our lives that can not be filled. Thank you again for saving his life and giving us 13 plus years with him. I know what you do is incredibly hard and takes unbelievable emotional strength. Sincerely Brenda B. Pflaum