A TRIBUTE TO MINNIE, OUR BEST FRIEND. In July of 2011 we adopted Minnie, a beautiful German Shepard from a rescue centre. Minnie was around 9 to 10 years old. She was given up for re-homing because her family moved overseas. Their loss was our gain because Minnie was the most gentle, loyal, intelligent and protective canine I've ever had in my life. I say she was a beautiful dog because she truly was beautiful outwardly and inwardly in every way. Owning Minnie and having her as our best friend and loyal companion was an honor to us. We felt honored in every way to have her in our lives every day for the last three years. To say that we loved her and she loved us back was to underestimate our feelings. It was more like a love affair between man's best friend and human. Each day was a joy in every way to have her by our sides. She was a dignified dog who behaved in the most graceful way around other people who also grew to love Minnie. Minnie's previous owners owned a quarter of an acre of land and from what we were told she lived her life there and was never off the land. When the rescue people collected Minnie, the owners didn't have a lead or collar for her because she was never walked. I don't know the whole story about them but when we took her she didn't know how to walk on a lead and she hadn't been socialised with other dogs. So, it was our job to start at the very beginning and teach Minnie. Being an intelligent dog it didn't take long before she made friends with other dogs and walked on the lead like she was an old pro. Minnie was afraid to get in a car. This was something else that she hadn't experienced very often if at all. When we collected Minnie she was so upset and would not get in the car. The rescue person and my husband lifted her in, much against Minnie's will. She was so afraid. After several runs in the car she was no better until one day I rolled the window down to see what she would do. Bingo! She loved to stick her head out and enjoy the ride with us. After that we couldn't get her out of the car because she wanted to go for a ride. Her joy was our joy and I relegated myself to the back seat of the car so Minnie could enjoy a 'front seat view' while sitting next to my husband whom, I must concede she somewhat favoured. People found it amusing that the dog was in the front while I was in the back. On the other hand I sat in the back and enjoyed watching the pleasure on Minnie's face whilst we drove along.....and so a love affair between dog and car began. All we had to say to her was the word 'car' and she was up in a shot and out the door heading straight for the front seat door. Okay, people may think we were nuts but we had one very happy dog who's biggest joy was a ride in the car and we would take her every day just so that Mininie could enjoy a run. Her pleasure was our pleasure too. We are broken hearted and our lives will never be the same but Minnie's memory of all the time spent together throughout the last three years are memories that we will treasure forever. They are written on our hearts and on our minds. Minnie is in our soul and each day without our beautiful girl by our side will never be the same. I wish our canine friends had a much longer life and because they don't, the time spent together is a gift between dog and human. Aren't we all lucky to have experienced the love and loyalty of our muched loved canine friends. Minnie, today we honor you for the beautiful dog that you were. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for letting us share our lives with YOU. It was a great honor and pleasure and the love you gave us left us better people than when you came into our lives. You'll never know how much you gave to us in so many ways. Goodnight darling MInnie. May you be happy and free again in doggy heaven with our other pets. You will live on in our hearts and minds. We will always love you. Minnie, you were Simply the Best! "No Longer By Our Sides but Forever In Our Hearts." xxx