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Hailey Smith
Jerre Smith
Jan 13, 2023
Dear Friends and Family:
It is with great sadness to tell you of the passing of my service dog "Hailey". She was 13 years old and had been with me for 11 years. What a joy she was and what great healing she brought to me.
After all the Doctors, nurses, psychiatrist's, medicine, and therapist's, I was told that I could and would receive a service dog. For the first time I had hope, hope that I might get well. When I first saw her, I knew that she was going to lead me out of the darkness and into recovery.
Her trainers from Wichita came to Abilene for a weekend of intense training and testing. There she stood, regal, red and brand new. I could tell from the look in her eye that she took her job seriously and I could now feel safe. We had some challenges in the beginning but made our way through and became a team. She was never away from me, if I moved she moved.
I was proud to stand beside her and she was proud to be with me.
Six years ago she took on a new job. Train the new guy, Sammy, show him just how this job is done. After a year of Sammy shadowing Hailey she was ready to retire. She enjoyed her couch, walks, frogs, toys and eating. She would watch Sammy work making sure that all was well.
A week before she died, I was alone in the house, Sammy was outside and Mike was gone. I had an incident that left me on the floor in the hall. I called to her and she made her way to me with great effort and got me up and lead me to the couch. Blind deaf and crippled she would still work.
When you are out and see a service dog team, take a minute and know that a dog just like that help your friend live a better life.
A special thanks the Susan, Dr. Scott, and all the staff at Abilene Animal Hospital for taking such good care of Hailey and myself. Your love for these dogs and their families is the best.
Other memorial posts
By The Hafner Family
•
27 Feb, 2024
Harley was the the definition of gentle giant. She knew no strangers unless you were coming after her dad. Even then it was all play. Her little sister Tinker thought of her like mom. She lived a happy long 13 years and will missed deeply for many more. Fly high our beautiful girl.
By Alishah Budinas
•
23 Jan, 2024
Penny girl was my very first pet ever growing up. My mom surprised me when I was 10 years old and I was there for her very last breath at 24 years old. She was the best companion! We traveled together, tried new activities together, and in the end grew up together. I will miss this sweet girl every day for the rest of my life and would do anything to share one more pizza slice together!
By The Anderson Family
•
18 Jan, 2023
Maggie was my everything. She was best friend, my comfort, and a big part of my life. A wonderful birthday gift from my husband, she arrived in our arms in January of 2009. When we went to meet her, she was so excited to see us, she had an accident. My husband and I took that as a sign that she was the one for us and that we were going to adopt her. We were unsure how old she was at the time and knew before us she had a rough life. Found on the streets, a litter of pups left behind, skinny, and starving with scars to mark her strong heart, we knew we wanted to give her a good life. She's not any ordinary dog you see. She was unique with such a great personality, never a dull moment with her. Her heart of gold was so wonderful, that she could melt anyone's heart. This girl loved to go. Car rides, to a good walk in the woods, chewing on her toys, to playing with her little brother, Luke the Rottie. Watching her bounce up and down through the tall grass, running with the biggest smile on her face was the most amazing thing to see. She was one happy dog and a big part of our family. Maggie may only been with us for 4 years but I felt like we had her since the day she was born. She traveled everywhere with us. Moved all over the world with us and was always by my side. She was always excited to go but also couldn't wait for you to sit down and relax. She loved her naps. Curled up in her blanket was the highlight of her day. The minute you would hear her snore, you knew it was a great day! It's hard for me to know that she is gone. What's even harder is to put it into words how truly amazing she really was. She was special, she wasn't just my friend, she was our Rottweiler's best friend. She was our little blanket of warmth that loved her family. It brings me tears and sadness that I know she won't be the heartbeat at my feet. I know now that she is no longer in pain and once again happy. I will truly miss her wet nose kisses and her snuggles in bed. I miss her kooky personality that showed when she try to scratch her back and would do her little rub down dance on the carpet. She put so many wonderful memories with our family that she will defiantly never be forgotten. A poem to my beloved Maggie: Rainbow Bridge Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals that had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... Author unknown... Rest in Peace my love and will see you at Rainbow Bridge. Yours Truly, The Anderson Family
By Jerre Smith
•
13 Jan, 2023
Dear Friends and Family: It is with great sadness to tell you of the passing of my service dog "Hailey". She was 13 years old and had been with me for 11 years. What a joy she was and what great healing she brought to me. After all the Doctors, nurses, psychiatrist's, medicine, and therapist's, I was told that I could and would receive a service dog. For the first time I had hope, hope that I might get well. When I first saw her, I knew that she was going to lead me out of the darkness and into recovery. Her trainers from Wichita came to Abilene for a weekend of intense training and testing. There she stood, regal, red and brand new. I could tell from the look in her eye that she took her job seriously and I could now feel safe. We had some challenges in the beginning but made our way through and became a team. She was never away from me, if I moved she moved. I was proud to stand beside her and she was proud to be with me. Six years ago she took on a new job. Train the new guy, Sammy, show him just how this job is done. After a year of Sammy shadowing Hailey she was ready to retire. She enjoyed her couch, walks, frogs, toys and eating. She would watch Sammy work making sure that all was well. A week before she died, I was alone in the house, Sammy was outside and Mike was gone. I had an incident that left me on the floor in the hall. I called to her and she made her way to me with great effort and got me up and lead me to the couch. Blind deaf and crippled she would still work. When you are out and see a service dog team, take a minute and know that a dog just like that help your friend live a better life. A special thanks the Susan, Dr. Scott, and all the staff at Abilene Animal Hospital for taking such good care of Hailey and myself. Your love for these dogs and their families is the best.
By The Hafner Family
•
27 Feb, 2024
Harley was the the definition of gentle giant. She knew no strangers unless you were coming after her dad. Even then it was all play. Her little sister Tinker thought of her like mom. She lived a happy long 13 years and will missed deeply for many more. Fly high our beautiful girl.
By Alishah Budinas
•
23 Jan, 2024
Penny girl was my very first pet ever growing up. My mom surprised me when I was 10 years old and I was there for her very last breath at 24 years old. She was the best companion! We traveled together, tried new activities together, and in the end grew up together. I will miss this sweet girl every day for the rest of my life and would do anything to share one more pizza slice together!
By The Anderson Family
•
18 Jan, 2023
Maggie was my everything. She was best friend, my comfort, and a big part of my life. A wonderful birthday gift from my husband, she arrived in our arms in January of 2009. When we went to meet her, she was so excited to see us, she had an accident. My husband and I took that as a sign that she was the one for us and that we were going to adopt her. We were unsure how old she was at the time and knew before us she had a rough life. Found on the streets, a litter of pups left behind, skinny, and starving with scars to mark her strong heart, we knew we wanted to give her a good life. She's not any ordinary dog you see. She was unique with such a great personality, never a dull moment with her. Her heart of gold was so wonderful, that she could melt anyone's heart. This girl loved to go. Car rides, to a good walk in the woods, chewing on her toys, to playing with her little brother, Luke the Rottie. Watching her bounce up and down through the tall grass, running with the biggest smile on her face was the most amazing thing to see. She was one happy dog and a big part of our family. Maggie may only been with us for 4 years but I felt like we had her since the day she was born. She traveled everywhere with us. Moved all over the world with us and was always by my side. She was always excited to go but also couldn't wait for you to sit down and relax. She loved her naps. Curled up in her blanket was the highlight of her day. The minute you would hear her snore, you knew it was a great day! It's hard for me to know that she is gone. What's even harder is to put it into words how truly amazing she really was. She was special, she wasn't just my friend, she was our Rottweiler's best friend. She was our little blanket of warmth that loved her family. It brings me tears and sadness that I know she won't be the heartbeat at my feet. I know now that she is no longer in pain and once again happy. I will truly miss her wet nose kisses and her snuggles in bed. I miss her kooky personality that showed when she try to scratch her back and would do her little rub down dance on the carpet. She put so many wonderful memories with our family that she will defiantly never be forgotten. A poem to my beloved Maggie: Rainbow Bridge Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals that had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... Author unknown... Rest in Peace my love and will see you at Rainbow Bridge. Yours Truly, The Anderson Family
By Jerre Smith
•
13 Jan, 2023
Dear Friends and Family: It is with great sadness to tell you of the passing of my service dog "Hailey". She was 13 years old and had been with me for 11 years. What a joy she was and what great healing she brought to me. After all the Doctors, nurses, psychiatrist's, medicine, and therapist's, I was told that I could and would receive a service dog. For the first time I had hope, hope that I might get well. When I first saw her, I knew that she was going to lead me out of the darkness and into recovery. Her trainers from Wichita came to Abilene for a weekend of intense training and testing. There she stood, regal, red and brand new. I could tell from the look in her eye that she took her job seriously and I could now feel safe. We had some challenges in the beginning but made our way through and became a team. She was never away from me, if I moved she moved. I was proud to stand beside her and she was proud to be with me. Six years ago she took on a new job. Train the new guy, Sammy, show him just how this job is done. After a year of Sammy shadowing Hailey she was ready to retire. She enjoyed her couch, walks, frogs, toys and eating. She would watch Sammy work making sure that all was well. A week before she died, I was alone in the house, Sammy was outside and Mike was gone. I had an incident that left me on the floor in the hall. I called to her and she made her way to me with great effort and got me up and lead me to the couch. Blind deaf and crippled she would still work. When you are out and see a service dog team, take a minute and know that a dog just like that help your friend live a better life. A special thanks the Susan, Dr. Scott, and all the staff at Abilene Animal Hospital for taking such good care of Hailey and myself. Your love for these dogs and their families is the best.
320 NE 14th Street
Abilene, KS 67410
Phone: 1-785-263-2301
Email: aahpa@aahpa.com
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