Can you believe this poor pitiful little boy? Zac came to us at 4 months with severe demodex, cherry eye, ricketts, and severe entropion. He nearly died a couple weeks after we started treating the demodex. But he pulled through and turned out to be the beautiful boy you see below.

But all those problems as a puppy took a toll on Zac's future health. He had knee surgery 3 times, he had skin allergies, Shar Pei fever. Ultimately renal failure killed him last Friday, 9/22/06. Zac would have been 4 years old in December.

Zac was our perfect boy. He never, ever got into a fight with any other dog, he loved kids and he was always well behaved. He had a wonderful temperament even when we knew he was feeling bad. This is Luke in the picture with Zac. They were about the same age, grew up together and were best buds.

This was taken Christmas morning when it was about 10 degrees outside. Zac was a horsecoat, so he didn't have a lot of hair to keep him warm.

The dog on the right is Trooper. If you've read Trooper's story,you know that he, too, had major problems. I called them "my cripple boys." He and Zac were soul mates. He's missing Zac as much as we are. It's going to take a long time to get over this one.

Do dogs go to heaven?
My little bully passed away, no more to breathe a sound.
I held him for the last time, then entombed him in the ground.
Day and night I wept so much, in tears I thought I'd drown.
I searched my soul for comfort, but no peace therein was found.

In great despair, I hit my knees and then began to pray.
"Father will I ever see, my dog again someday?"
I raised my eyes and saw an angel standing near a gate.
I sensed an inner peace I'd never felt before that day.

The angel smiled and said to me, "Oh man of little faith!
God sees every bird that falls; He knows your bully's fate.
I have met your little dog, I saw him pass my way.
Your precious dog is still alive; he just walked through this gate.

Paradise is lovelier than you can comprehend.
No pain or grief, no tears or fears, and life will have no end.
God gave to man His only Son, to cover all his sins.
So why would God withhold from you, your pure and loving friend?”

The angel took me by the hand and said, "Now come with me.
A glimpse of paradise I'll give, to you so you can see."
Through the gate and o'er the Rainbow Bridge we did proceed.
Through green valleys filled with flowers, rolling hills and trees.

“Wow, so this is paradise!” The place was filled with joy.
I saw my bully playing there, with dogs and cats and toys.
He also had some doggie treats, and food that he enjoyed.
He'd made a lot of new friends there, including girls and boys.

Then I saw a child come near, and hug my little mate.
She said to him, "I love you so," and kissed him on the face.
The angel said, "The child just crossed the Rainbow Bridge today.
Now she needs a little friend, to love and help her play.

God’s love for her would be enough, in that make no mistake.
But in His love, He knew full well, the child would want a mate.
This is why God called your dog unto this splendid place.
God’s entrusted her with him, ‘til you pass through the gate."

I pleaded, “May I hug them both?!” The angel answered, “No!
You’d violate a sacred site, and now it’s time to go.”
He led me back across the Bridge and through the gate to home.
He left me there with new-found hope and peace within my soul.

If someone ever asks what happens to a dog that dies,
Just give a gentle smile of joy and look them in the eye.
Take their hand and comfort them and tell them not to cry.
For dogs don’t die, they simply cross a bridge to paradise.

Dan Atcheson