In loving memory of Memphis.
Memphis, “The Gentle Giant”, peacefully crossed the Rainbow Bridge on December 23, 2024. He was surrounded in love by his dad and bestest fur buddy, Theo.
Memphis adopted his dad, in 2015, after being rescued by Mile High Lab Rescue. Memphis came from Longview View, Texas, and managed to evade animal control for nearly six months before being put into a kill shelter. He was found to be severely emaciated and heartworm-positive. Upon coming to Colorado he received immense, amazing and loving care not only through Mile High Lab Rescue but an amazing foster dad, Mike, who helped him to gain weight and ease his fears of traumatic stress.
Being born a Yellow Lab/Great Dane mix, Memphis exhibited all of those traits, ferociously and passionately. He was a big boy, though in his younger years, he thought himself a lap dog and loved to be in everyone’s lap.
Memphis was a survivor. While in Texas, he broke an ankle that somehow managed to heal while being on the streets. He survived, being outside, six months in Texas’ notorious severe weather. While being treated for heartworm, survived several days in the ICU, after a heart worm turned into a pulmonary embolism. And a few years later, survived several cancer scares. YET, with everything Memphis endured, he absolutely loved people.
Memphis loved adventures. He loved camping trips with his dad, but hated getting wet. His dad commonly commented he had bottle rockets in his legs, because anytime he went for a walk, the person holding his leash was “launched.” He loved free roaming on his grandparent’s apple orchard in Penrose. He loved being around people. He loved playing, romping and doing fur baby shenanigans with his bestest fur bud, Theo.
Memphis was fiercely devoted and loyal to all he loved. When Lyric was born in 2019, he gave up sleeping in Dad’s bed, to sleep day in and day out next to Lyric’s crib to make sure she was safe. That said, Memphis was a daddy’s boy and was constantly at his side.
…My forever precious fur baby Memphis,
In some ways, I wasn’t ready to meet you on our first day. I was still very much in grief having lost my dad, just a year prior and my fur baby Haas, just a few months prior. I will never forget meeting you as I came in and you laid down and put your head in my lap. Omg, you chose me.
Your eyes showed so much wisdom, having already seen and been through so much in your life.
As much as you had already been through in your young life, you still chose to trust humans. The ginormity of your heart is a vast understatement as you chose to give your incredible, unconditional love, every moment, of every day.
Memphis, I feel whatever I write here, won’t be enough to express how blessed and thankful I am for having you in my life. You made me a better human. I will forever miss you, your infectious doggy grins, trying to croon to Mariah Carey’s, “All I Want For Christmas”, greeting me every time I came in the front door, all our “conversations” and that thing you’d do with your ears as in really listening, and I could go on and on.
My sweet boy, words cannot describe the heartache, loss and tears that you are gone. But knowing you are at Rainbow Bridge, free from health issues and pain, is of comfort. Play, romp, roam, and eat as many doggy treats as you want. Say hello to Annie, August, Binx and Haas.
Send me that doggy grin of yours from time to time. I will know.
Forever in my heart,
Dad/Rich
Sincerest thanks to Dr. Steen, Memphis’ lifelong vet at Alameda East, for always taking such great care of him. Sincerest thanks to Dr. Forlenza with Caring Pathways for enabling Memphis to go with dignity and peace in the comfort of home. Sincerest thanks to Gary and Phil for always taking care of Memphis as if he was their own. Huge thanks to my neighbor Matt for helping me during such a moment of loss. Thank you to Theo. I know you lost your buddy and yet you still come in to check on me and give me doggy kisses. Lastly, but not least, ginormous thanks and gratitude to Sara Cain for helping to bring Memphis and I together.
