In loving memory

Celebrating the beautiful and mischievous life of Ranger Kierstead.

August 15, 1995 – January 21, 2011

While Mr. Kierstead was out of town on business years ago, our family took in Ranger “just for the weekend”. He had become homeless when it became apparent his 4 year old owner was not the ideal companion. Ranger spent the remainder of his years entertaining us. He was clever and not only learned tricks easily, but taught them to the other dogs. He had his own low mounted handle on the door so he could let himself and the other dogs in. He had quite a voice, and could bay with with best of them. He outsmarted us from time to time and found his way to the cat food. To a protein overdose he thought, “Eh, a mere stomach ache, definitely worth it” and continued to ponder more unorthodox activities. If you’ve ever had a beagle, you know…=)

Ranger was great. He was always there for a laugh and we shared a love of the woods. In any other scenario, if he saw the chance for freedom he took it, and boy was it hard to get him back. But let him know that you were a pack and going out on a trail together, and he was your hiking partner, foot to paw. My one Ranger regret would be that I didn’t give him the opportunity to do so more.

One game we did enjoy a lot together was hide and seek. What an incredible sense of smell…I would hide a toy he had sniffed for a couple seconds, and he would seek it out with lightening speed. No matter if it was behind a closed door, under a pile of pillows, on a high shelf, in a row with look-a-likes…This game would go on for a while.

Ranger was put to rest yesterday at the age of 15. It was his time, so his death is easier to handle than some. But most of you know what it’s like. However, the important thing to remember is how awesome his life was, and how lucky we were to share it with him. There are so many dogs and cats (and bunnies and birds…) out there that have lost their home and need us. Thank you guys for all that you have done to help these animals. To all of those who have opened their wallets, their homes, and their hearts, thank you.

“Our task must be to free ourselves…

by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures

and the whole of nature and its beauty.” – Albert Einstein

 

Albert Einstein

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