November 2, 2012 - Today, we lost a treasured and loved member of our family - our dog Max. Due to health and quality of life issues we had to euthanize our friend to put him at peace so that he may be unfretted by his aging body and mind. Max was 14 1/2 years old by our estimation but he could have been as old as 15 years. As a puppy, Max found Tom at his old home in Bowie, Maryland in 1998 when he wandered into the backyard and repeatedly jumped up and down on the patio door attempting to get in. Tom was unsuccessful in locating who Max got separated from and as a result became the best dog Tom had in his life. Max was an exceptionally intelligent, polite, joyful and loving companion. He was loved by many and lived an extraordinary and blessed life. At his home where he spent most of his life (which is actually a small farm), Max enjoyed acres of fields, woods and stream. His life was luxurious even by human standards and was spoiled frequently. In return, he gave us many years of fun, laughter and companionship but most importantly he taught us the true meaning of unconditional love. Max will be terribly missed and our home will feel empty without him but we know that he is in the light of God's grace, free from all pain and anxiety enjoying himself to the fullest as he did here on Earth.

Tom’s tribute to Max:

Max, I will miss you

I will miss your hugs and kisses.
I will miss seeing you around the house.
I will miss my shadow always following me about.
I will miss walking with you through our fields and woods.
I will miss you running beside me as I ride on my tractor.
I will miss you waking us up just before the alarm clock would sound.
I will miss you rubbing your head and body against our bed to get our attention.
I will miss your joyful greetings at the door whenever I came home.
I will miss you chasing the deer, groundhogs and rabbits which you never caught (except for one unfortunate muskrat!)
I will miss you barking at the honking geese flying overhead.
I will miss your palpable excitement whenever we went bye-bye, took you swimming at the canine fitness center or to your favorite park.
I will miss your doogie art on the truck windows and every reachable glass and mirrored surface in our home.
I will miss you sticking your head out the truck windows and licking my ears when I was driving.
I will miss cleaning up all your fur that always seemed to be everywhere and on everything.
I will miss throwing sticks for you to fetch and instead of bringing them back to me you would break them up into tiny twigs and laugh.
I will miss rubbing your belly and seeing how relaxed you were at my feet.
I will miss impressing our guests with how well trained you were and dazzling them with your impressive understanding of our language.
I will miss how much you trusted me to clean your teeth, clip your nails, remove ticks and soothe your cuts and bruises.
I will miss how you would come to me for comfort and protection during loud thunderstorms.
I will miss your calm and gentle spirit which filled me with so much peace.
I will miss how funny you were when you got excited and did spinning "bug runs” around the house like a big black tornado!
I will miss our trips to the beach which you loved so much, except the surf, and how you felt I needed rescuing whenever I ventured into the water.
I will miss fixing your meals and giving you treats which gave you so much pleasure and how you always thanked me afterward (you were so polite!)
I will miss playing hide and seek in the house with you and your favorite game " find the hidden cookies!" (what a nose you had!)
I will miss sharing holidays and life events with you, our families, and friends and how much you were loved by them.
I will miss your ever-present love and how you taught me the true meaning of what unconditional love really is.
I will miss your loving glances and how your tail would wag and thump when you caught my eye.
I will miss saying bedtime prayers with you and kissing you goodnight.
I will miss how you were there for me when I was alone or sad.
I will miss how you filled up my life when I was happy and glad.
I will miss taking care of you as you got old and needed our help.
I will miss the blessing from God that you are, that rare gift that found me at my home long ago and changed my life's path forever.
I will miss my friend, my companion, my buddy.
I will miss you so very much (oh how many tears I will shed for you!)

Farewell my Max but not goodbye,
for we will be together again in the light of God and how sweet it will be (that is a promise!)
You were in angel in disguise, heaven sent to stand by me and be my companion these past 14 1/2 years.
You were always a constant reminder to me of God's presence in my life. What an extraordinary and blessed life you had!
Thank you for everything. I love you dearly. It was a privilege to share life together with you. But now God is calling you back home.
Sweet, playful dreams buddy...till we meet again.

Your pal,

Tom