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Scraps

Here's a little bit about our "Big Baby":

We got Scraps from a breeder in Portland, Oregon on December 4, 1998. The way it all happened was so crazy. Prior to us getting Scraps, we were busy checking out various vets in San Antonio, Texas, to make sure we found one that was familiar with the "Dogue de Bordeaux" French Mastiff breed.

While at one of the Vet's office, there happened to be a woman there, Gretchen, with her French Mastiff, Prissy. We did not know Gretchen and could not believe what a "coincidence" it was that she should be there with the same type of dog we were getting.

We explained to her that we would be getting our own French Mastiff and that the breeder would be flying "Scraps" from Portland on the 4th of December. She told us that her son lived there and that she was going to be visiting him during that same time frame. She offered to pick Scraps up for us and fly back with him. Can you believe it?! A perfect stranger. We were blown away by her generous offer. So, she did indeed fly back with Scraps and while at the breeder's home, she decided to also adopt a dog and came home with Scrap's brother, Tut!

Ten days after picking Scraps up at the airport, we were on the road with our new puppy, as we were to drive from Texas to Connecticut for Christmas. We had such a great time with him that Christmas and every moment of his life since that Christmas.

Scraps was a true gentleman, very well behaved, very kind, very sensitive and everyone loved him. He touched so many peoples' lives. We took him everywhere we went. My family jokes about how Scraps had seen more of the United States then they have. He even went to Canada! We nicknamed Scraps "The Ambassador of Peace!" as everywhere we went, he would put a smile on even the grumpiest person's face! Our family has decided that they all want to come back as our dog someday, as Scraps was so spoiled...as he should be!

In June of this year, Scraps was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma. We knew very little about this horrible disease and are still so confused as to what the heck happened. He was diagnosed and less than three weeks later he was gone. We will always wonder what caused this cancer and what could we have done differently. We wonder if it was his food, his environment, his genes...what?

We hope his photos will bring some smiles to people, as he was the light of our lives and we are so lucky to have had him in our lives for the 8 1/2 years that we did. We miss him so.

Doug & Lori Horn

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