New & Sharing The Story of My Max.
 

Hi All,

I'm new here. Came upon the site while doing breeder research as I am now in the position of welcoming a new Yorkie baby into my home hopefully sometime in the near future.

I was so happy to have found a place with an outlet like this. Especially with a community who shares in memorial stories of babies who've passed on. See, I recently lost my little prince Max a few months ago. He was just shy of his 14th birthday and he was the light of my families life & home.

I'm 24 years old and Max was an 11th birthday present for me right before I entered middle school in 1999. My older brothers had all left home and I would be coming home after school to an empty house, so my parents decided a dog would be a perfect addition. And oh, was he!

We were lucky in our search to find him, the perfect match. My father had done work for two families who had pups from this breeder in Staten Island so one day in August 99' my mother, me, and a friend of mine visited her pet spa where she showcased her pups to potential families. When we walked in, it was a bit decrepit and she had four dogs in a pen, all had to be 5-6 months old, lethargic, and didn't seem happy to see me. Not what I was looking for at 11 years old. I shook my head and my mother had proceeded to tell the woman that we would continue our search.

That's when the women stopped us and told us she did have one more pup. So we stayed and waited. She went in the back room and came out a few minutes later with the tiniest, fluffiest, little black ball of hair. You couldn't even see his face until his ears propped up when we locked eyes.

She handed him over to me and that was it. I knew he was mine. He licked my face for 15 minutes and nuzzled my neck like he had chosen me instead of the other way around. The feeling was mutual. My mother knew and so she paid and signed all the paper work.

She said we would return the next day to pick him up with my father so I put him in the pen and proceeded to pick out a collar and a leash for the next day. He wasn't down for more than 30 seconds before he started crying and barking, wanting me to pick him up. I felt so bad and kept telling him I'd be back tomorrow. That's when my mother turned and said, "Ok, pick him up, we'll take him today." I don't know who was happier lol.

On the way home he fell asleep in my lap and that's where I named him Maxwell. I felt it fit him and his confident little personality; over the years he was Max, Maximus, Maxamillion, ...everyone around here had their own little name for him & he responded to all of them. He knew he was king of this turf.

Attachment 383945

When we brought him home....it was perfection and stayed that way for his almost 14 years. He fulfilled a space that I didn't even know existed. He was my best friend, followed me everywhere, kept me company always, and was the life of this house and every where we took him. He was my first dog and I just feel so lucky to have had the honor to have such a friend.

He passed rather suddenly. He was diagnosed with what the vet said was "an odd case of pneumonia" and three weeks later, became ill, was diagnosed with heart disease, and passed two days later.

I knew the day he passed, that it was his last day. He didn't get out of bed that morning, so I put my head next to him and laid with him for a half hour before I left for class for a few hours. When I came home, he was in the kitchen under one of the chairs and wouldn't get up. So I picked him up, carried him around, nuzzling him for about 10 minutes. I placed him back down on a blanket on the floor in the living room.

Though he was lacking his strength, he found the power to jump up on the couch onto his favorite blanket. I walked past the living room and saw him there, so I went and sat down to him, petting him, and I can only think that he found peace in that moment to finally decide this was his time to go. And he did. And I can only be thankful that he made the decision himself because I don't think I could have ever done it myself, and he didn't have to suffer through a chronic illness. And I was just so touched that he waited for me. He was there for me for 13 and a half years and he had the strength in his final moments to wait for me to allow me to be by his. Such a wise little boy.

I know you all can relate. These little babies are something so special and we're all just on the receiving end of all the gifts they give to us.

So this one is for my handsome little Max, who I can't thank enough for the wonderful years of unconditional love he provided to me and my family. Perfection at it's finest and cuddliest. I pray that I get to cuddle you some more one day.

Attachment 383946

Welcome to YT and thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful story. We are very blessed to have yorkies in our lives are we not?

Oh my goodness, your story brought tears to my eyes. The way you spoke about your little guy Max was so very toughing you can tell he was a very special little fella. I am so sorry for your loss.

R.I.P Maxwell :animal-pa

Welcome! Your tribute to Max had me in tears. What a special bond. I know your heart is aching and missing him so.

You were so blessed to have been chosen and had 14 years of his love. You showed him you deserved him and his love. So glad to have you join us!

WELCOME

What an amazing tribute to Max! I could tell through your words how much you all loved each other. RIP sweet Max.

Thank you all for reading and responding. I have come to find the grieving process rather easy once I accepted the fact that he's happy and healthy in his new life, watching over our family.

Also, thank you for all the welcoming. :)

Thank you for sharing your beautiful story of Max with us. I'm sure it was very difficult to say goodbye. Rest in peace at the Rainbow Bridge, Max.

Here are some pictures of him. I guess the attachments didn't work in the initial post.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ps2f93aa6d.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ps66463991.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...psa10beb3b.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ps98a962ed.jpg

:animal-pa:animal-pa:animal-pa

what a story of your maxwell! made me tear up for sure. welcome to yt and thank you for sharing your story!! rip max. very sorry for your loss of max sounds like he was the bestest friend you couldve ever asked for. good luck in your search for a new baby...though max can never be replaced so ill say in a search for his sibling.

Thank you! Absolutely. I hope he is up there and helps me make the right decision on a new addition. I'm sure he will. :angel2dl:

he is always with you, at least i believe that...and im sure max will be sure to help you make the right choice!!! hugs to you.

So very sorry for your loss. These pups are so precious.

Sweet story
 

Yours was one of the sweetest stories I have heard in a long time. It is so clear that you and Max loved one another so much. I believe we will all see our beloved pets that have passed on again one day. Thinking of you and so sorry for your loss.

I am deeply sorry for your loss. You and max grew up together, and I know how difficult it is without him. After losing my first Yorkie, Jolie, about twenty years ago, I thought I'd never love another baby like her. My little girl Ashley, who passed away soon before her seventeenth birthday, taught me that I was very wrong. I miss Jolie, Ashley, and their two sisters dearly, and I will always love them, but our precious Katie has also completely stolen my heart. Coping with their loss has been very painful, but not having them to love would have been a far greater loss. I hope your heart heals in time and that your cherished memories bring you joy.

What a beautiful story, thank you for sharing. Max was an adorable little guy :love:

What a beautiful story of, one little girl, growing to one young woman and her darling loyal best friend.
He watches over you still.

That was absolutely a tear jerking story. The love you two had for each other is like no other love. Max will always hold a special place in your heart and you will forever be his human. Hugs and Love coming your way to try to ease the pain of loosing your little furbaby. Just remember: Max will be waiting for you at "The Rainbow Bridge".

Lots of Hugs

Ta2rose59 Mom to Little Alistar's Southern Grace (Gracie) :aimeeyork

You are wise beyond your years Shannon...seems Maximillion (my pet name for him) has bestowed many life gifts on you! Amazing what these little ones pack in their little lives isn't it? He was beautiful and very special, as are you!

Thank you for sharing such an amazing memorial to your best friend....I'm so happy he found you and so happy you were with him to the end..funny how he picked you to take him home in the beginning and in the end, ya know? Beautiful story. RIP Maximillion!

What a lovely post Shannon.

Max was a handsome guy and I am glad you had him in your life. As much as you loved him he also helped you with a valuable lesson in life that you will carry forever.

Please keep posting on Yorkie Talk, we all would love to hear stories of Mr. Max.

Very sorry for your loss. Thank You so much for sharing your story. Max taught you so much about loving, it is his legacy to you. I know another Yorkie is out there waiting for you. I am just sorry you are so far away. You are the kind of heart we look for when placing rescues and rehomes.
Welcome to Yorkie Talk.

Thank you all so much for your heart warming replies.

I recently found the perfect memorial piece for Max (he's buried in our yard in a flower bed, his favorite place to guard and chase all the squirrels and rabbits lol) it's a sleeping angel I found in an antique shop. I thought it suited my little baby. :aimeeyork

http://distilleryimage6.ak.instagram...0a9e2923_7.jpg

What a beautiful tribute to Max. I love the picture of you as a child with him. I just recently lost my childhood dog, a shih-tzu. It was the hardest thing I have ever gone through... I am glad you found us :)

Hello and welcome to YT. Sorry for your loss. You will find another to lighten your heart

I'm sorry for your loss, but happy for your gain having such a great little friend in Max. Beautiful story and the photos brought me a nice smile.

Welcome to YT. I know you'll love it here. What a beautiful & heartrending story! I'm crying all over the place. Having just lost my beautiful, beloved, best friend, almost 13 yo mini-Schnauzer last Sept I decared that I would never have another dog b/c of the pain of losing her, so I feel your pain. But, it was not to be. When a friend of mine absolutely insisted that I go to see abt adopting my little Yorkie, Milo, I did & I'm so glad that I did. He is just one of the greatest little dogs ever. Hopefully you will soon have your new baby. Pls keep us posted & post pictures. We love pics!

Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story. It made me tear up.
I love the way you describe your bond with him!
R.I.P. Max :)

thank you for sharing your story with us. RIP Max. there is another yorkie out there for you

That was a very nice story Shannon, your words express the extent of love felt between you and Max perfectly. Sorry for your loss...:( sad story.