I met Duke's mom back in 1994, I was living with my mom and aunt and my kids in a modest neighborhood in Miami. Duke's mom, whom I named Sweetie was part of a pack of dogs that lived out there in the streets, without a home. They became my friends and I started feeding them every day when I got home from work, they got to know my car and would follow me home when I turned into the street where we lived. One evening Sweetie scratched at my door, it was cold and rainy, I let her in my room, kinda of snuck her in because my aunt didn't like dogs in the house, I stayed up with Sweetie that night, she had Duke, cutest little baby, by morning I knew there was another puppy but still she didn't give birth to him. I took Sweetie and Duke to the vet and he took an X ray and found that there were two puppies still but one was blocking the other so the only way was a C-Section. Blake was born a C-Section puppy, the other one was not alive. So, this is the beginning of a lifetime of love with my Duke and Blake. Blake went to the bridge two years ago and then Duke on November 16, 2010. There were many hardships and difficulties for the last 16 years in my life but I always took care of my beautiful boys, I love them so much and miss them terribly.

During the last 10 years or so things have been better for me so they enjoyed a comfortable life with good food and comfy beds and most of all so much love from me and my son. My daughters also but my son and I live together and he loved them very much.

Duke was my companion, my best friend, he was with me all the time that I was home, he followed my every move in the house and he slept with me. When he got sick, it came on so suddenly, from one day it seemed like. He hung in there for me, we communicated through our eyes, he told me he loved me and I told him I loved him and we'd always be together. I have his ashes and someday our ashes will be together. I had to put him to sleep because he was in so much pain and he was 16 years old. I didn't want him to suffer. I have a lot of pain and guilt and it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

Eyes watching off into the distance
waiting for the moment that feeling
returned to a heart that stopped
beating. As a loved one ascended
on ahead where she could not follow.
Looking off into the distance, just maybe
they would appear over the horizon.
If she looked into a starry sky would a
image appear?

Listening for the sound of a heart
beat deep down in her soul, but there
was no movement. Waiting for a sign
was so hard to do.

Then she remembered something
she was once told you have too open
your heart to see and soul to feel.
Had she closed her self off from feeling?
Had she blinded herself to what was all
around her? Then she heard a voice
whispering in the breeze. I am always here.
I am your child, I would never leave
you alone.

Listening again for a heart beat, she felt
there was movement, soft and low
at first then full of hope as faith
returned.

Each step you take along this
journey that is life, I take it with
you. When you feel yourself stumble
I am there for you to lean on.
When all faith seems to have left
you, remember faith is born again
in the birth of a new day.

ŠJ.C. Stewart Aka
BarTendersBluesWolf
Feb. 2, 2011

Light a candle in Duke's memory, for a sick, abused, or special needs furbaby, or perhaps just someone who needs a prayer and a candle lit.