Bliss was a rescue from a MILL.  she was my first experience with owning a dog from this situation.  growing up, my parents got cats from pet stores, and after some education on the topic- these cats were most likely from Mills as well. 

being how Mills are unstable environments for breeding, Bliss turned out to be a classic case of a puppy gone bad.  she obviously had some underlying genetic issues that went undiagnosed/undiscovered, until we tragically lost her.  she went quickly and most likely never knew what happened.  all the vet can tell us is that it was neurologic, which can mean a blood clot or stroke, something along those lines.  she did give one last "puppy grumble" before her heart gave out and died safely in her mom's arms.  we suffered greatly at her loss.  we were expecting to have her forever, not just 3 years.  my mother in law wrote me something so sweet in her passing and said, "you two felt so blessed to be in her life" and it was very true and it brings tears to my eyes writing it.  I don't regret for one second bringing her home and I would (and WILL) do it all over again.

Bliss was our pure joy.  she taught us so much about love and what it is like to just be cute and get away with it.  she had so many little quirks to her...  she loved her "midnight cuddles"- anytime before we went to bed for the nite she would crawl on both our chests and give us a hug and would let us rub her back for her before retiring under the covers.  she also loved Pupperoni's and Cheetos and would sit so quickly for them!  her favorite place might be a tie between laying in front of the fire, subathing in the windowseat or sitting in any available lap.  Bliss insisted that you love her and didn't care what you thought of small little whipper-snappers like herself.

she will be missed.

you are missed, Lady Bug.

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/plhl/stories/2008/bliss.aspx

Zero was rescued from a Puppy Mill.  he has been a trooper, as he experienced unfortunate woes from being bred in this manner.

last year was a rough year for Z.  he had a surgery for bladder stone removal and had a surgery for a protosystemic shunt.  it tested us as a family, but his spirit perservered and he is a tougher dog than first appearances would present.

his quirks include: stretching like a cat so you can rub his arm pits, licking the water off of your legs after a shower, wearing t-shirts, cuddling in his little sack, and smiling- yes he smiles!

Zero was devasted by the loss of his sister, Bliss.  she taught him the ropes as far as being a part of our family is concerned.   

I'm a momma's boy, and if she's around- you will find me there!  my favorite is when she takes naps in the afternoon and lets me crawl under the covers with her! 

EmJay blessed our lives as a surprise to her Daddy.  he loved his first Boxer, Sage, so much that he wanted another one.  my Mommy met me and fell in love with the puppy that just rested her head on her shoulder.

EmJay was a firecracker of an addition to our Italian Greyhound home.  luckily they were both bigger than her when she arrived!!!  she is so docile and easy-going around all things smaller than her, as if she knows they can not handle the full-force of her 60 lbs.  EmJay attended Obedience School (to make Grandma feel better about "big" dogs) and excelled at all of her tasks- she really is SO SMART.  we wanted to make sure that she didn't jump up on people, so instead she wiggles her butt with such force you'd think she's going to jump out of her skin!

EmJay misses her big sister, Bliss, and graciously allowed Zero to assume "Alpha" in her passing...

her habits include: carrying a chewie around everywhere, speaking "wookie", and sniffing hair.