Archives: Memorials

9:48 am on 3/21/23 my sweet old girl Patches took her last breath and crossed the rainbow bridge to be with her fur siblings Diesel, Boots and Khloe. She was my first cat and fur baby. She was a fighter from the very beginning and until the very end, It saddens me to say goodbye but I know she’s not in pain anymore and she’ll be in good company with her brothers and sister. I will truly miss her by my side or hearing her running and meowing every time I used the can opener. It truly won’t be the same in this house without her. Run free sweet girl until we meet again . 

There are not enough words to express how loved Ranger or more affectionately known as “Bug” was or how much love and joy he brought to others. Ever since he was a puppy he had the ability to be obnoxious and get his way. When he wanted water he would climb on top of the couch and drop the metal bowl to get the water bowl filled even if mom was standing right next to him. He was intelligent a mastermind and getting a c clamp lock open by rolling down a hill to unscrew the bolt. He loved his lamb chop toy and had to collect them all before he would go to bed. He started life being drug around the house by his boxer cousin Dexter (who preceded him in death) and later in life he taught his sister Bailey and kitten brother Koda what love, patience, and tolerance where. They built an inseparable bond and were never far apart. Daddy's favorite thing was how fluffy his tail always was and mom's was his eyes no matter how much trouble glissened behind their starburst beauty. No one can replace the snuggles or the songs he provided at 2am or the after bath spunky zoomies. Range there truly aren't enough words to say how loved you are or how truly missed. If love could have saved you, you'd have lived forever. Rest in peace, my little love bug go play tug with Dex and “sing the song of your people”.

Always daddy's best friend and mommy's little love. 

Love,

 Mommy, Daddy, Bae, and Koda. 

Brody Austin Neely

June 14, 2009-March 12,2023

Our sweet boy passed away in our arms Sunday night at PVSEC in Pittsburgh from complications of liver/gall bladder disease. 

Our baby Brody was loyal, sweet, loving, handsome and playful- all the best qualities that could fit into a 24-pound bundle of joy.  Although we adopted him from Angels for Animals, he was “Mama’s Sweet Angel” and “Mama’s Angel Boo Bear.”  He stole our hearts from day one and brought joy to everyone he met.

I was fortunate to work from home these past few years where Brody served as my best coworker. When I got up to get a glass of water, he would take a drink as well.  He’d even wait for me to sit down at my desk before he laid down in his bed beside me while I finished out the workday. Then, he’d stare at the garage door every evening until his daddy came home from work. Once everyone was safely in the house for the evening, he could rest.  He was our little protector.

Of course, there was always time for his favorite games.  He loved hiding a ball beneath a rug or blanket and then was always delighted when he found it again! He also loved to play with Nicholas (his big brother). When Nick was little, he’d dress himself and Brody up in Firefighter outfits and he called him his “fire dog.” Nick liked to tease Brody all the time, stealing his toys. Brody would bark like crazy at him, but he loved playing with Nick.  And of course, everyone knew he loved watching TV, especially shows with animals where he would bark wildly, trying to protect us from whatever furry creature was on the screen. 

Brody loved birthdays and Christmas too- any holiday that involved gifts! He loved to open presents and was really good at it! Brody’s penchant for unwrapping kept us from putting presents under the tree before Christmas morning because he would try to open them!  If it was someone else’s birthday, we still had to make sure Brody received a gift… although everyone brought him presents…his Mammaw and Pap, Grandma and Pap Galusky, his Aunt Donna, his Aunt Melinda, Uncle Pat and Aunt Phyllis. He knew when he saw his Uncle Pat that he would always have a couple treats for him.

He loved going to see his Pappy too. All you had to say was, “Where’s Pappy?” and he would jump up, look around and start barking. 

Brody was also loved by his extended family.  Anytime we had to go out of town, he would get to stay with our friend and groomer Stephanie and play with his little furry friend Marty.  Stephanie and Reggie took care of him just like we did. He got to sleep in the bed and get lots of loving while we were away. When he was younger, Brody also enjoyed going to Doggy Daycare- he loved playing with his numerous friends there as well!

The house is so quiet now without our Brody.  We cherish every memory and second we had with our Boo.  We miss Brody’s cheerful presence and the unwavering love he gave to us.  I would always ask him, “who’s the best boy ever?” and then say, “it’s you My Love.”  We feel certain that he’s running around playing with his sisters Preshy and Sierra.  We miss him deeply and will love him forever and always.

Polu Helman born April 22,2012 passed February 25, 2023 10 years old we are in deep grief and loss of our little man that we called him. Words are hard to express the love that he brought into our lives. We miss him greeting us at the door, cuddling him, sleeping with us and he was all boy and full of mischief. Just five pounds of unconditional love. He had us laughing all the time playing with his battery operated toys. The videos I took will be cherished. I cry everyday for our little man but my faith keeps me going as I know I will be with Polu again in perfect health.

Our hearts are broken our Little Girl! You brought us so much joy, love, and happiness. We know you are with your Sister, Lola and that brings us peace. Forever you will be missed [❤️]

Heidi Lou Wednesday Bink Von BunBun
May 4, 2013 – March 6, 2023
Surrounded by her mom and Dad, husbun, Gomez, and with gentle music playing, Heidi binkied her famous energentic binky across the rainbow bridge on March 6, 2023. 
Greeting her with open arms were her older bunny sisters, Butter Cup and Dandelion, step-brother, Figaro, pupper Aunties, Daisey Mae, and Saidey Jane, her “Mampaw” Hank, Gepa “Meepaw”, her first- and very best bunny friend- Goldie Roche, and many many more family members, friends, and fur cousins. 
She leaves behind so many who loved her and miss her dearly:  her husbun of 5 and a half years, Gomez, her mom and dad, Gretchen & Rick DeOrio, her mamaw and uncle mampaw, Beth Bodamer & Greg Gardner, her great mamaw, Ge, her aunt Chelsea and cousin Apollonia, her Grammy Sheri, Sheri DeOrio, her first “boyfriend” Pat the stuffed bunny, and her soon-to-be sister wife, Betty White. She is also survived by so many amazing aunts, uncles, and friends. 
Heidi was born in 2013 to a family who struggled after being dumped in Bridgeville, PA. A man named Daniel found Heidi and her family at his business, where they were seeking shelter. Daniel and his daughter, Alexi, reached out to her AMAZING aunt, Jill Fisherkeller, who took in Heidi, her sister Alexi, brothers Daniel and Johnny, and more of their family. Heidi decided she was ready to find someone who was looking for a furever home, and she briefly moved into her residence at Animal Friends. On March 8, 2014, a girl and her mom came into a bun run and decided to meet Heidi. The girl always loved bunnies, and was looking to adopt a friend. Heidi knew, when she saw the girl, that this was her new mommy.
What Heidi didn't know is that her great great Grandma O'Brien passed away days before, and that she was bringing so much joy to the girl's broken heart. She made her new mommy's life so much better, giving kisses, cuddling, flopping, binkying, and being there through so many losses, triumphs, trips, moves, and her mom and dad getting married.  She worked as a part time maid, specializing in bedding, from 2014-2023. In 2014, she became a per-diem Nurse for her mom and future husband, Gomez. She also worked throughout her life as a freelance demo crew member for many Small Pet Select homes.
In 2016, she met her husband, Gomez, (retired KGB agent, Major Igor Puffington III) and they dated until 2017, when they decided to get married. They had a wonderful marriage full of tom foolery, cuddling, and taking care of each other. When one was sick, the other cared for them. Gomez stayed by her side until the very end, caring for her the way they always did for each other. 
Heidi loved everyone she met. She gave kisses, let you pet her and kiss her, but was spicy when you'd try to hold her and give her meds or trim her nails. Her sweet, gentle soul was also very sassy, and it was one of her best traits. She fought many illnesses and that sassy personality made her perservere no matter what. Her favorite music was classic rock (especially Pink Floyd), and piano music. Her favorite TV show was Property Brothers, and rarely did she miss an episode. She was a HUGE fan of Betsey Johnson, and even received a comment from Betsy after she shared her Midwest Bunfest glamorshots with Betsey Johnson gear! She had a very diverse palate, and her favorite dishes included banana, steel cut oats, pumpkin, and small pet select goodies. She was also an avid hay eater. Some of her favorite memories were her Aunt Becky's annual Hare Raisers Christmas party (where she met her bff, Goldie Roche), and Midwest Bunfest 2016, with her mom, aunt Donelle, and cousin Frida. During this trip, she committed the biggest bamboozle of all time- switching rooms with her mom and Aunt Donelle. No doors were open, yet Frida and Heidi switched rooms and woke up with the opposite mom. 
Heidi made my life worth living. She was there through so many life changes and ups and downs, and has helped me with my mental health, physical health, and the grief I've gone through. I don't know how I will be able to do this without her. Her sweet husbun will be given so much extra love, and her memory will live on. She made me a mommy, and I always called her my “first born”- I called her my baby no matter how old she was. I will miss her huge wet mouf boop kisses, chinning my glasses (and everything else) and funniness that gave me strength to get through every day. She changed my life and was the reason I went completely cruelty free, and rally for change and get involved with rabbit education. We are forever in debt to Suaz and Alyssa from Rabbit Wranglers, and Meg from Bunny Brigade. Suaz has spent many nights on the phone with me as I've cried and panicked, and nursed her back to health when she was extremely ill in 2017. We are so thankful for the love she received, the friends we've made, and everyone she touched. She loved you all so much, and I do too. 
And lastly, Heidi is forever grateful for her amazing care team: Dr. Wagner and Tracy, who have never, ever let us down, and have taken such amazing care of her (and us) over the years. She survived so many illnesses and injuries because of their care. 
On behalf of Heidi, Rick, and myself, thank you for all of your love and support. If you would like to honor her memory and also support and enrich the lives of so many rabbits, you can do so by donating to Rabbit Wranglers and/or Bunny Brigade. 
“Thank you for being my friend” Love, Heidi
 

January 2, 2010-March 5, 2023

Our beloved Nina Mildred Ganzy crossed the rainbow bridge Sunday March 5th 2023 at home surrounded by her loving family- Amy and Eva, as well as her fur brothers Doom and Baby and sister Mittens. Nina was a rescue received from the Humane Animal Rescue of PGH in 2015 estimated to be around 5 years old. She was the first of many to come into the household as we continued to rescue many senior dogs over the next few years. She was welcoming to each and every one. Her silly tongue and goofy personality was the highlight of our lives. She enjoyed short walks and to be pampered at her favorite groomers. She loved to dress up and always had a fun Halloween costume. Nina had the calmest and gentlest old soul and was often referred to as “Granny”. Her favorite place was to be snuggled in Evas bed. They would cuddle for hours and were each other’s best friend. 

She was loved by so many children, family, friends, and pets.

Her kitty sibling Doom was with her until the end comforting her by laying at her side. Nina was preceded in death by her fur siblings Molly, Virginia, and Delilah as well as her fur friends Buddy and China. Our family is beyond grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received during this difficult time. 

Oreo Crumley
Oct 2020- Feb 18, 2023
Oreo was a very special and very loved long haired Siberian hamster(teddy bear). This sweet little guy got brought home after Pittsburgh had just gotten dumped with snow in December 2020. Over the next few years he got to enjoy traveling all over the place, all the way to Michigan and all the way down to the beaches in Virginia and North Carolina- he even got snuck into a military base! We were blessed with 2.5 years of snuggles and cuddling with him. He was especially loved by his owner Calli, her Mom, and Calli's Uncle, Joe who spent countless hours holding very still while Oreo slept in his arms. Oreo loved to run in his wheel and forage for food. A favorite past time was to move his house and rehide his stash while he came running and tried to pack it all back in his cheeks! He sure loved his treats, some of his most favorites were to eat the little strings of bananas like spaghetti, licking avocado off  fingers, noodles, cucumbers, and of course any kind of fruit! He was very particular about his food, he would peel the skin off of almonds and was even able to eat just the fleshy outside of sugar snap peas while leaving the inside film. Oreo enjoyed packing his cheeks with goodies and had a very intricate system of which ones went into his house, and which ones were eaten and “hidden” behind his wheel. Oreo always thought “he was people,” he would stand on his hind legs for a long time while everyone watched as he wobbled but stayed there. Oreo was so smart, he could even destroy things from inside his ball, he pulled a sock and curtains into the tiny slats that were no wider than his teeth and shredded them. His favorite thing to do besides escape, was to sleep with people. He often would snuggle right into you and close his eyes and go to sleep. He would stay like that for hours, giving everyone so much enjoyment. When he escaped, you'd find him creeping around close to the ground and 2x's his normal length! Oreo got to even enjoy the outdoors in the summer, sitting outside with his beloved Calli and his fur sister Olympia. He got to explore the grass and clover in the sun. He would occasionally snack on some of the wild flowers and made a meal of the hydrangeas. Each night, Oreo went through his “witching hour” and woke up and ran and jumped around on the bed. He was so fast! He was also so smart! When he first came home, he was sleeping in Calli's room and escaped. He went back into his cage where he was found the next morning. It was only known he even escaped because of the shredded paper towel that he brought into his cage to sleep on- clever little guy!

The time flew by so fast, and even 20 more years would not have been enough time. Oreo taught his family what God's unconditional love for us is like. Just as He knows every detail of us, we learned every detail of Oreo, from his little “cow ear” spots,  one black whisker, and tiny little pupils in what look like “just” black eyes, down to his tiny little “chicken feet”.  
“And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10: 26-31
Oreo you are so, so loved, and will be so missed. You left your gentle little paw prints all over our memories, and a hamster-sized hole in our hearts. 
 

Bellamy Cash

“Our Little Otter”

Written by Alicia Chabin

            “You can’t have just one”. Words and a belief that always rang throughout me and Scott’s homes. Our respective households overflowed with a deep love for animals, and it showed in how our families always included more than one dog, cat, or other animal at a time. We followed in that belief of, “you can’t have just one” when we grew into adults ourselves and realized we needed another cat to add to our family upon moving to Steel City. Walking into the Humane Society one day, our destined new addition sat almost awaiting us in his cage front and center. This small little ball of black fur looked on at us and seemed to silently tell us, “It’s me! I am the one you are here for!”. That little cat stood correct. Almost as quickly as we saw him, I filled out the paperwork to make him ours as he nuzzled up against Scott’s leg relishing in his victory of securing a new family that would spoil him for the rest of his life.

            Bellamy could serve as a poster child for a spoiled house cat. He stood aghast as he realized how many toys he could play with when he arrived home for the first time and wasted no time taking over playtime. It seemed like he never got a chance to properly play in his life before finding us.  The only thing he loved more than toys was treats of all kind. He soon got to a taste of every kitty friendly ingredient I prepared in the kitchen and ultimately worked his way to my sous-chef as he watched me prepare new weekly recipes. If was not overseeing my kitchen activities, he supervised Scott building new furniture or putting things together for our apartment. He inspected every bag, box, and tool and soon doubled as the second handy man of our home. His skills did not stop there, though. Just like me, Bellamy lived to entertain a party. Our house guests always could count on Bellamy greeting them with his toy for a quick playtime session before joining them at the coffee table for games. Our little man could make non-cat people change their opinion on felines in one night with his character and charm. His sisters, however, loved him for an entirely different reason,

            Unfortunately for our two other cats, Cheddar and Evelyn, Bellamy was the youngest and therefore, the instigator. He would want to play all the time, even as the girls tried to partake in their afternoon snoozes, or take the toys they played with in his rambunctious efforts. As much as he frustrated them sometimes, he made up for it in showing them love and cuddles. He did this by invading their personal space of course, but I think both the ladies knew their younger brother loved him with his whole heart. He also served as everyone’s watchful eye, always keeping an eye on the doors and windows for any type of intruder. This task is something he took on until the very end.

            During Bellamy’s last few days, it was just him, me, and his sisters. He slept by my side every night, followed me around the apartment, and insisted on extra belly rubs and chin scratches. He acted extra attentive when Scott left town before, so I thought nothing of his slight behavior change though in hindsight, I think he knew his time with his family was coming to an abrupt end. On his last night, we fell asleep in bed together watching Netflix like any other evening. I even went as far as explaining to him aloud how King Louis XV of France earned the nickname as “Louis the Beloved” though the reason for it escaped me. He of course did not understand what I spoke of, but looked at me barely interested nonetheless. He kept an eye on the door, keeping watch for me as I eventually dozed off. I told him what a good boy he was and relished in how lucky I was to find a cat like him before falling asleep with my little nighttime guard. The next morning, as devastating as it was to find him no longer with us, he chose to curl up next to my side of the bed in his final moments rather than somewhere by himself. He chose to stay by his person’s side until his very end.

Though Bellamy’s life was cut short, he made every day count and managed to squeeze a lifetime of joy and happiness into his short year and a half with us; both for himself and for his family. We will feel his absence for a long time, but we like to think that we will still try to trip us in the hallway late at night, insist on watching us complete our day-to-day tasks no matter how mundane, and keep a watchful eye on us for the days and nights to come. He truly made the most out of his life in our 1,000 square foot apartment, and we did our best to give him the best life possible. Thankfully at the end, I can say confidently that Scott and I gave our little man the greatest life a cat could hope for.

Muffin, you were our most loyal friend and companion. We thank you for 9 years of unconditional love to our family. We are so grateful for you.
We will never forget you as you will always live in our hearts.