Blog: CircaRigeI on LiveVideo.com

Gender: Female
Status: Single
Age: 34
Sign: Virgo
State: Colorado
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MONDAY, JULY 21, 2008 (12:24 AM)

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Rigel

(I'm feeling sad)

July 21, 2008
If you would like to honor Rigel, please make a tax deductible donation to the following charity in his name (charity name is linked):
W.O.L.F. (Wolves Offered Life and Friendship) Sanctuary.

W.O.L.F. is a wolf rescue that I used to volunteer at. Rigel even accompanied me there. I have donated Rigel's remaining food, vitamins and treats to W.O.L.F. However, W.O.L.F. is non-profit and in constant need of funds in order to offer the best care for the wolves there. This includes veterinary care, fence repair, funds for building new enclosures, etc. Please help, if you're able. I know Rigel would approve. Of all the dogs I've ever known, he was the most compassionate, brilliant dog, and always eager to help others.

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July 18, 2008
Update: Rigel has said it's time today. He had one last chase last night... the foxes came to visit. Today he has not been up at all. He can barely lift his head. I was up with him most of the night. At 5PM made our last trip to the vet and said goodbye. I'm going to miss my dear friend more than anything in the whole world. I can't stop crying.

He has been my truest friend, and my hero.
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June 22, 2008
Rigel hasn't been doing well lately. He hasn't been outright ill, but his age is finally catching up with him. If I had to guess, he has only a month or two left. For an 85 lbs dog, it's a miracle he made it this long. He turned 18 in February.

Rigel was a pound pup. My friend David (who is currently fighting brain cancer) sent me a check for my birthday, telling me to adopt a dog. My previous dog had been struck by a car and killed 2 months earlier, and I had been devastated. At the pound, Rigel was a bedraggled dog with no toenails (he had been there for more than 2 months), severely underweight, and his left eye was dead and infected- a remnant of abuses by his previous owner. Rigel was a diamond in the rough.

Rigel has been a steadfast friend, and a true hero in the sense of the word. 13 years ago, he saved my life for the first time. I had been free climbing in a chimney crevice when the winds picked up and numbed my hands. The other climbers had already left, without telling me. I was very close to the top, but could not feel for the tiny hand holds available to me. I called out... no one answered. Then, Rigel appeared above me, and his leash dropped into the crevice I was wedged in. He was peeking at me from behind a boulder. I had only adopted him a couple of months before, so I was unsure if he ould understand, but I told him to lie down and stay... and he did. Thus, he was anchored, and I was able to use his leash (made of climbing rope) to pull myself out.

A couple of years later, he came to the rescue again. My cousin and I were hiking in the mountains and got caught in a freak snow storm. The snow quickly hid the trail we were on, and we became thoroughly lost. I decided we should follow Rigel, figuring he might have a better chance of finding the way than us... especially once he got hungry. He took us straight down.

I've had a lot of dogs in my life, but Rigel is the one who has been exceptional. I've never known a dog with his intelligence, and his personality. Even strange cats aren't afraid of him... they seem to inherantly know he won't hurt them.

Nine years ago, I was very ill... potentially terminal. Rigel was permitted to visit me in the hospital, and those visits gave me strength. When I was home, there were times I was too weak to go out and purchase groceries, but Rigel had accompanied me to the store down the street when I'd been healthy. So, I called the store, and they had someone wait outside for him. I'd send him down with the money and list in his backpack. The person who met him would pick up my groceries and load them into Rigel's pack, then sent him home. Thus, Rigel was also my service dog... my helper.

As you can see, Rigel has been very special to me... in more ways than I can fully explain. It saddens me that his life is so much more finite than mine, and that the time is approaching where I will need to say good-bye. I will miss him sorely, for a very long time.

Rigel with his summer cut

Category: Pets & Animals

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Posted Aug 25, 08 by gallaxey
I am so sorry for your loss. You know his spirit is strong and lives on. I'm a vet well was retired...I have seen strong spirits in animals. Amazing and they will always stay with you forever. So sorry. I support the wolfs and working on the committee to save them we did stop the hunt more work to do.

Posted Jul 18, 08 by radiokellia (

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Nice tribute, It's times like this to remember the title of that movie "All Dogs Go to Heaven." You gave him a very good life and he gave you his loyalty. And that's the way it should be between people and their dogs (and cats).

Posted Jul 18, 08 by RhiannonRose (

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Rigel is a fine friend. I say is because he will never be far from your thoughts and life. I'm so sorry to hear of his passing. I have lost many fine fur kids both dogs and cats so I know how much this hurts. Please visit this link and I hope it works if it doesn't then google Rainbow Bridge. The poem is a great comfort to me and was given to me at a time of great loss when my William 11died of cancer a few years ago. Wills was a cat. He didn't meet a human or animal he didn't like. Many Blessings to you and know that some day when it is time you will meet once again!

http://petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.html

Posted Jul 18, 08 by TheCoffeeHouse (

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Thinking of you during this time! Ch1

Posted Jul 18, 08 by suzecue72
So sorry about Rigel. It is a tough thing for us to have to go through.
Big hugs go out to you.

Posted Jul 18, 08 by jessicapeanut (

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i am so sorry for your lose. my heart hurts for you.
jessica

Posted Jul 18, 08 by debdej (

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I'm so sorry sweety! Much love to ya!

Posted Jul 18, 08 by CHELLE0774 (

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I am so sorry to hear this sad news about Rigel. Thank you so much for sharing him with all of us here. I adopted a 3 month old puppy back at the end of March, only two weeks after my adoptive father died, and the dog has changed my life completely for the better, so I can only imagine how much Rigel helped you in so many times as you knew him for so long. May you somehow find peace and comfort during this sorrowful time in this great loss of your loyal friend.

Posted Jul 18, 08 by grandplans (

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Truely an amazing companion. I have been coming to the conclusion that just like other people, animals and people can definitely have kindred spirits and just be made for one another. You and Rigel are definitely proof of that.