Your Pet Loss Stories

by Carole Turner
(San Diego, CA)

August 3, 2001 - January 18, 2014 at 8:45am

Tina Jane was the smartest dog I ever owned, and I've rescued and was blessed to have many of my own...some of them were the rescues I found.

Our life was joyous and full of love, and she was my rock for the entire time we were together.

Tina Jane Turner is a Pitt/Lab mix. She came into my life in September of 2002. She was an abused eight week old puppy who now weighs in at a healthy 89.7 pounds. I had just pulled up in front of my house after work one day. There were four teenage boys that were throwing something black into my front shrubs, which I thought was a black plastic bag.

I found out "it" was a puppy when she fell out of the shrubs onto the sidewalk. The boys (punks) were all laughing about it when I got out of my car. There was also a little girl and her brother that were standing a ways away, and were both crying. They told me that they had followed the boys begging them to give the puppy to them. The little girl said that they were throwing her against the fences in the alley, and she also saw them swinging her around by her tail. I ran over and grabbed Tina while I was screaming at them to get away from my property, and then I ran into my house with her in my arms.

A man came to my house four days later and told me I had his nephew's dog. I explained what happened and told him I didn't feel comfortable giving her back. He was not concerned that she was being abused, as he said, "boys will be boys", as he chuckled. I told him I did not find the humor in it. He then said he would call the police, if I didn't give her back, and I told him to go right ahead so I could also call animal control and make the "abuse" report.

I asked him if I could buy her from him, and he immediately told me (without hesitation) that he would have to have at least $20. I told him he was disgusting, and to get off my property, and that I would go inside and get his money. I rolled "two" twenty dollar bills up into balls, opened my door and threw them at him. He picked them up off the ground, took off and I never heard from him again.
Tina still has scars on her face and stomach from being abused when she was a baby. She's been a vey happy girl since I rescued her. I was so happy the day I was blessed with her. Tina was named by the San Diego Department of Animal Control. I sent her dog license in as Tina, and it came back as Tina Turner. I never thought of using this as her licensed name, but I loved it.

I love you more than words can express. The void I feel since you left is vast and indescribable. I remember when you would bump your nose on the refrigerator when you wanted a carrot. You knew so many words that I had to spell when I was on the phone with my brother Gene. We used to joke that one day you would learn how to spell...then, what would we do? You loved your tummy rubs. I miss you fiercely girl. You were "one of a kind" and there will never be another Tina Jane.

I hope you found all your brothers and sisters that left before you. Dezzy Dee and Nova miss you very much. This new way of life is hard. We all slept together and it just isn't the same. Until we meet again, take care of your brothers and sisters Princess, Seville, Maggie Mae, Buster, Krystal Kay, Shabba Lou and Ebony. Run free girl, and I'll see you again one day. What a reunion that will be. Love you forever, Mommy.