My dear animal-loving friends (of which there are many here!)…Ed and Tabitha, my nephew and his fiance, lost 4 dogs and a kitten in a house fire yesterday. This was a house they’d just bought this summer, their first one, and they were thrilled to be owners and have the ability to foster more of the animals they love to help.
Ed and Tabitha are dedicated animal friends – their top priorities have been their pets and the homeless pets they’ve sought to help. You could find no greater heroes to dogs and cats than this couple. Helping the local shelter, fostering, and providing a home for as many as they could have been their motivations for getting up in the morning and heading off to work.
Yesterday they got that frightening call about their house while they were at work. They are completely devastated, beside themselves with grief, and facing the grim task of carrying on without their beloved furry family members.
Please, please consider donating if you are able to. Positive, healing thoughts and prayers are most welcome. For all they’ve already done in their young lives for animals – there are many grateful furry friends. And so many more to come.
To give you a glimpse into the hearts of this couple, here’s what Tabitha posted on Facebook yesterday:
Tonka, Jake, Miss Mae, and Reese:
Words don’t explain the sadness and shock that I’m feeling. While I am SO thankful that smoke put you to sleep, instead of flames buring you, it doesn’t make it hurt any less.Tonka, I love you more than anything in this entire world. There was nothing in this world that I wouldn’t have done to save you. If I could’ve jumped into that fire to save you, I would have without a doubt. I feel like I’m in a dream, it hasn’t set in yet that I no longer have a shadow. A shoulder to cry on, a pushy puppy to fight with bed space for. I no longer have to leave for work 10 minutes early, because there’s no one to sneak out of the house and jump in the car. No one to take to the dog park. No one, I feel like I have no one. The bond you and I had was one no one will ever understand. Ps, I planned on dressing you up as a pirate for halloween, #sorrynotsorry.
Jake, you were the greatest dog I could’ve ever asked for. You spent two years of your life in a shelter, who knows where you were before that.. but the last year we had with you was the greatest thing I could’ve ever asked for. You were always so full of love, so full of obnoxious kisses, so full of energy and spunk. You never started any fights, and loved every single thing that could breathe. I’m so, so sorry that I didn’t get to see you grow old like I had promised when I signed your adoption papers. Just know that if it was up to me, I would have.
Reese and Miss Mae, I don’t even have words. I know I had a running joke that I couldn’t stand the ‘little dogs’ but let me just spill our deepest darkest secret, every morning after Ed left we could cuddle in bed until I had to get ready for work. Today was no different. I secretly loved you two allllmost as much as I loved the big dogs.
The four of you have a place in my heart that no one will ever, ever take away. I am so glad that you all crossed rainbow bridge together. This isn’t goodbye, it’s ‘see ya later’ – until we meet again.
…and what Ed posted last night:
Update as i lie in bed next to my love. Thanking god I have Tabitha Maier by my side through such a difficult time. Tonka, Jake, Reese and Miss mae I love you with my whole heart and soul and you will always have a special place there. I want to give a huge thank you to everyone that has reached out to us when we so obviously need the help. Im so lost right now. I never thought that i would leave for work and get a call 3/4 of the way through my day that our house is on fire. I never thought i would pull up to my house surrounded in police and fire trucks and run up to see tab with the firefighters hysterical standing in front of my lifeless fur babies. That image is going to haunt me for a long time, if not forever. But they looked so peaceful at the same time. I will miss you babies and love you, forever.
Alright on a lighter note i want to thank everyone, again. Your kind words, prayers, thoughts and love mean more than i can ever express. As most of you know I’m kind of the quiet type and honestly feel a little awkward bearing myself to the public but to all of you, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Without being surrounded by so many great friends and amazing family i would feel even more lost. Knowing that you are all out there gives me hope. And I thank you sincerely, from the bottom of my heart. I love you all. Cherish every moment and everything because you never know what life will throw at you and how short it really can be. Again, i cant thank you enough.
Hugs and much love to Ed and Tabitha.
RIP Tonka, Jake, Miss Mae, Reese, and Kitten.
OMG, I am so, so sorry to read this!! My heart, my thoughts, and my prayers go out to Ed and Tabitha. Having lost my sweet Callie to lymphoma just under 2 months ago, my own emotions are still a bit raw. , so I cried as I read this. Sending positive, healing energy to all of you. RIP Tonka, Jake, Miss Mae, Reese, and Kitten.
I am so sorry for your family.
This is so tragic…. We’re very sorry for your family’s terrible loss….