Conner's Tribute Page

In Memorium-Conner the Rottweiler

by Dawn Simas

It is my sorrowful duty to report to everyone that Conner has gone to begin his wait at Rainbow Bridge on November 1, 2000. He was diagnosed with cancer in August. I kept him comfortable until the end and am thankful that he never suffered. A big "thank you" goes to Anna Breytenbach, animal communicator and healer, for her help throughout his illness. She would regularly have sessions with him that comforted me because he would tell her how he was doing and his concerns. In case you are a skeptic, as I was once, he told her things that she couldn't possibly have known and I now undeniably believe. Not anthropomorphic statements, but dog thoughts. Such as he was worried about who would do his "morning rounds" (he would patrol the property line religiously when let out every morning). He wanted the next dog who took over for him to be careful of "the big horse's hooves" (the friskier/larger horse would playfully kick at him). He also projected an image of a new Rottie with a blue collar to Anna, before Anna knew that we rescued a female named Sami that indeed had a blue collar (that is now pregnant with Conner's pups). Most of Conner's feelings revolved around concern for me. Being from a litter of 16 puppies himself (I owned his mother) that needed handraising, I was the first voice he heard as I nursed him on a bottle and the first face he saw when he opened his puppy eyes. And I thank God that I was able to be with him until the end and was the last face he saw as he lost his eyesight to the cancer, and then the last voice he heard as I held him in my arms and he left this world that sad night.

He was my constant companion and was a friend to all the people and cats here at WAC. He came to me soon after my husband was killed in a car accident and filled a void in my life that can never be replaced. He was there through the formative years of WAC and allowed me to stay focused and dedicated 24/7 to the organization and never be lonely, having sacrificed a social life for so many years. He was our bobcat Billy-Bob's very best friend. He would gently take the hand of all volunteers and visitors to WAC and politely show them around, wagging his stubbie tail. He loved to beg for meat treats when the keepers were preparing diets and I still recall with a smile the many times I would knowingly hear, "Conner, NO!" come from the prep kitchen. This meant that a keeper had forgotten to close the kitchen door and Conner would sneak in eat all the cat's dinners. He was a great cat wrangler and was good at raising cubs. Gentle with them, but able to play in a way that wasn't acceptable for them to play with us humans. We all miss you terribly little Conner-man, yet will always feel your spirit's presence here. Wait diligently, as I know you will, and I'll be with you again someday.