What can you say about your best friend? 

Amelia was mine. Not only as a pet but as a constant companion. And I was hers. God brought us together at the perfect time. Go figure!

She was "raped" by a Chow at less than a year old. Then never given the proper nourishment that expecting mothers require. Not long after the pups is when I got her. Underweight with allergies, nothing was too good for her. $500 vet bills were common but not given a second thought.  Steak everyday for dinner was the norm. She was the queen of the castle.

Everywhere I went, she was there. Never missing an opportunity. Even when I switched my profession from tattooist to truck driver, she was there, stretched out in the sleeper or laying between the seats.

The medical problems were constant but never a problem. Eventually she went totally deaf around 2006 and I retrained her to respond to hand signals. Although I had to watch her close at truck stops for moving vehicles, it never seemed to interfere with her love to ride.

Even now, the box with her ashes remains on the passenger seat, although I have gone back to tattooing. And if you think you're going to move them, you must have a death wish. Like Willie Nelsons immortal Red Headed Stranger, some things you just don't touch.

She was so loved that I always promised that when she passed, she would be cremated and her ashes would be blended with the tattoo ink to have her portrait tattooed on my thigh. And I'm happy to say that it was done.

People can come and go in my life but my girl will always be there. Parents have since departed and no tears were shed. But the internal tears for Amelia will go on forever. She was truly one of a kind and I'm ever so grateful to have been her servant.

Rainbow bridge is her home now, and a goal for me. I'll be there soon baby girl. Keep watch!

Love always,

Your servant

tat2doc

This is the finished memorial tattoo I had done with some of Amelia's ashes.....

Pain was minimal.

Memories....Priceless!

In this House (Author unknown)

Here in this house...

I will never know the loneliness I hear in the
barks of the other dogs "out there".

I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake my
world will not have changed.

I will never know hunger, or the fear of not
knowing if I'll eat.

I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat.

I will feel the sun's heat, and the rain's coolness, and be allowed to smell all that can reach my nose.

My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.

Here in this house...

There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level.

I will be talked to and even if I don't understand, I can enjoy the warmth of the words.

I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many.

My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!

Here in this house...

I will never be a substitute for anything I am not.

I will never be used to improve people's images of themselves.

I will be loved because of who I am, not someone's idea of who I should be.

I will never suffer for someone's anger, impatience, or stupidity.

I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all.

If I do not learn my lessons well, my teachers will blame themselves, not me.

Here in this house...

I can trust the arms that hold, hands that touch...knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me.

If I am ill, I will be doctored.

If scared, I will be calmed.

If sad, I will be cheered.

No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and known to be of value.

I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, or too unruly, or not cute enough.

My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought.

I will learn that my humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as dogs.

Here in this house...

I will belong.

I will be home.