In Loving Memory of Hope Kolthoff
Bull-Mastiff
05/15/2008 – 07/10/2012
I remember getting that call when you were just three weeks old from our friends asking us if we wanted to bring you home and care for you. Your name was Hope because you started shaking uncontrollably and needed a special family to care for you as no one knew what was wrong. We said yes and have never regretted our decision. Your first three months of life, I set my alarm every two hours so we could bottle feed and later just feed you. Every time we touched you, we prayed that God would heal you from your shake and that miraculous day in August, you woke up that morning and started falling down. We were so worried that you had gotten into something that you shouldn’t have but what was really happening is that God had healed you and you were trying to walk without your shake.
We took you everywhere with us during that time. I purchased a back pack for dogs and you always went on the motorcycle with us. I remember taking you to Springfield on the motorcycle and during that trip you went into restaurants with us and even attended Church services with us. Not one person complained during that trip.
It was such a joy to have you in our lives and watch you transform to the Alpha dog in our home. You were just such a blessing. You had this crazy little nibble that you used to do on our arms but you always took care not to hurt us. You were so persistent when we were eating; you wanted us to share and would not let us forget about you while we were seated at the table. You would sit patiently at our feet and put your paw on each of our legs to remind us that you were waiting patiently for your share.
In January of 2012, you started limping and we tried some home remedies and when the limp would not go away, we took you to the vet. You were so excited to go bye-bye. You had to stay for the day and when the vet called us and had us come in, we knew it was bad. As the vet told us you had advanced bone cancer, we were devastated and started crying. We took you home and the family made a decision to try homeopathic remedies and supplements. We took you off dog food and you thought you were so special; eggs in the morning and a rice mixture in the evenings that consisted of brown rice, veggies, and ground meat. We tried everything and spared no expense you were so worth it.
Hopey, you taught us so much about unconditional love. Not once did you ever complain about your pain. You loved us even when we couldn’t take away your pain. We will never forget that awful day when we had to let you go. You died at home in our arms.
Hopey, you may be gone but we will never forget. We love you.