Our beloved pet and family member Augie was hit and killed by a car near our home on July 5, 2003. She wanted to run home, like she always does, but instead of waiting for Michele to pull over on our sidestreet and open the door to let her out, she jumped out of the window onto the main road, right into an oncoming car. She loved to run, wherever we went. She was my hiking buddy and climbed peaks that most humans would be too fearful to even try. When we would hike, she would run and run and run, covering miles, darting about the mountain like a flea. If ever you could detect pure happiness in a dog, it was when she was running. For Michele, Augie was like her shadow. If Michele would leave the house, Augie would whine because she missed her mommy. To Lauren, Augie was her 'best friend' but I think Augie was like Lauren's big sister, always looking after her. Every morning, Augie would see Lauren off to the bus stop. And when 3:45 rolled around, Augie would prance nervously by the door, waiting to be let out so that she could meet Lauren at the bus stop.

She has been a part of our family ever since we picked her up from the pound nearly 6 years ago. We think she had a pretty darn good life during those 6 years, and we so sorely wish that we could have 6 more. But it was not meant to be so all we can do is remember her. And that won't be hard to do.