Shane was born on Valentines Day and truly was the love of my life, until diabetes took his precious life, when he was nine years old. Shane's parents were a timber wolf and a rottweiller, and he inherited the best traits from both. He was one of a kind. In my lifetime, I know I will never again have the priviledge of knowing and loving one so intelligent and intuitive. Words can't describe how special Shane was, not only to me, but to all who knew and loved him. And although I miss him terribly, I am greatful that he had a wonderful life. All of his days were happy ones, doing the things he loved.

Shane,

Thank you for loving me and for allowing me to love you.
Thank you for accepting Dad and growing to love him.
Thank you for your patience with Buck and for teaching him how to love, be loved, and be happy.
Thank you for your intelligence, intuition and loyalty, and for making us proud, always.
Thank you for your strength, your gentleness, and the good judgement to go with them.
Thank you for representing your wild brothers with honor and dignity, you made them proud.
Thank you for allowing me to trust you unconditionally with Chenae and Chase. For this I thank you most of all.
Thank you Shane for sharing your life with us.
I love you more than words can ever say and will treasure your memory always.

His name was Shane Michael, Shane Michael McCann,
both feared and respected, he shied from no man.
His demeanor was fierce, he ruled without strife,
should his gaze fall upon you, he seemed bigger than life.

Both women and children he took to his heart,
no harm would befall them when he did his part.
To puppies and kittens he was gentle and kind,
a better protector would have been hard to find.

He was a faithful companion, keeping just out of sight,
never shirking his duties he'd watch through the night.
He refused to be left when Mom went for a ride,
he'd do whatever it took to be by her side.

Through an unopened window he'd leap without fear,
to sit on the hood until she would appear.
And there he would sit until she would agree,
he was her best friend, and good company.

No one dared question, not even in jest,
it was Shane that rode shotgun, backseat for the rest.
It did no good to argue, not one little bit,
cause nothing was worse than this wolf in a fit.

In town most folks knew him and weren't too surprised,
and for those that didn't, it was there in their eyes.
Into the shops he'd just follow her in,
ignoring the stares as well as the grins.

"Look, it's a Wolf," the townsfolk would say,
"Is he tame? Will he bite? Stay out of his way."
There was always excitement when Shane was in town,
he got lots of attention when he came around.

Shane Michael McCann, you gave us your best,
then your time came to cross and join up with the rest.
The lessons you taught, the messes you made,
you gave it your all, your dues have been paid.

For all that you were, for all that you did,
thank you for being one hell of a kid!
Your memory continues to bring a sweet smile,
many thanks for sharing yourself for awhile.

Much love until we meet again...

For Debra
In memory of Shane
Linda Xavier

If you ever love an animal, there are three days in your life you will always remember... The first is a day, blessed with happiness, when you bring home your young new friend. It instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through the many years to come.

The second day will occur eight or nine or ten years later. You will look at your longtime friend and see age where you once saw youth. And you may feel a growing fear deep within yourself. And you will feel this uneasy feeling, until the third day finally arrives.

And on this day--if your friend and God have not decided for you, then you will be faced with making a decision on behalf of your lifelong friend, and with the guidance of your own deepest Spirit. But whichever way your friend eventually leaves you, you will feel as alone as a single star in the dark night.

If you are wise, you will let the tears flow as freely and as often as they must. You will find that not many in your circle of family or friends will be able to understand your grief, or comfort you. But if you are true to the love of the pet you cherished through the many joy-filled years, you may find that his soul seems to walk with you, at times, during the lonely days to come.

You will remember those three significant days. The memory will be painful, and leave an ache in your heart---As time passes the ache will come and go as if it has a life of its own. If you reject it, it will depress you. If you embrace it, it will deepen you.

But there will be a fourth day when---along with the memory of your pet---and piercing through the heaviness in your heart---there will come a realization that belongs only to you, that takes the form of a Living Love---like the heavenly scent of a rose that remains after the petals have wilted, this Love will remain and grow--and be there for us to remember. It is a love we have earned. And it is a gift we may keep with us as long as we live. It is a Love which is ours alone.

I, Shane Michael McCann, because the burden of my years are heavy upon me, and I realize the end of my life is near, do hereby, bury my my last will and testament in the mind of my master. He will not know it is there until after I am gone. Then, remembering me in his loneliness, he will suddenly know of this testament, and and I ask him then, to inscribe it as a memorial to me.

I have little in the way of material things to leave. Dogs are wiser than men. They do not set great store upon things. They do not waste their days hoarding property. They do not ruin their sleep worrying about how to keep the objects they have, and to obtain the objects they have not. I have nothing of value to bequeath, except my love and my faith. These I leave to all those who have loved me, to my master and mistress who I know will mourn me the most, and to Buck, who will be lost without my guidance...But, if I were to list all those who loved me, it would force my master to write a book, as I have always been a extremely lovable dog.

I ask my master and mistress to remember me always, but not to grieve for me too long. In my life, I have tried to be a comfort to them in times of sorrow, and a reason for added joy in their happiness. Let them remember that while no dog has had a happier life, and this I owe to their love and care for me; now that I have grown blind and weak, my pride has sunk to a sick, bewildered humiliation. I feel life is taunting me with having over-lingered my welcome. It is time I said goodbye, before I become too sick, a burden on myself and on those who love me. It will be a sorrow to leave them, but not a sorrow to die. Dogs do not fear death as men do. We accept it as a part of life.

What may come after death, who knows? I would like to believe that there is a paradise, where one is always young, where there are jack rabbits who run fast, but not too fast, where every blissful hour is mealtime, where in the long evenings there are a million fireplaces with logs forever burning, and one curls up and dreams, remembering the old brave days on earth, and the love of one's master and mistress. I am afraid this is too much for even such a dog as I am to expect. But, peace, at least, is certain. Peace and long rest for weary old heart, head and limbs, and eternal sleep in the earth I have loved so well. Perhaps, after all, this is best.

One last request, I ernestly make. I have heard my mistress say, "When Shane dies, we must never have another dog. I love him so much, I could never love another one." Now I ask her, for love of me, to have another. It would be a poor tribute to me to never have a dog again. What I would like to feel is that, having once had me in the family, now she cannot live without a dog! I have never had a narrow jealous spirit. I bequeath to him my collar and leash, and hereby wish him the happiness I know will be his in my old home.

One last word of farewell, dear master and mistress, whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret, but also with happiness in your hearts, at the remembrance of my long happy life with you. "Here lies one who loved us, and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep, I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

Debra,

I read your "Tribute to Shane"...and laughed, cried, and felt pain for your loss all the way thru it....it was beautiful.........I have to admit Shane was an absolutely beautiful animal....I was impressed. I am sorry for your loss, but I am happy also for the time that you did have with him, and for knowing him to be the beautiful animal that he was.....he touched your hearts....and thereby.....forever, he will live thru your memories......That which is loved, is never truly gone from us......

Debra,

I read your tribute to Shane, which brought tears of joy and tears of remembrance to my eyes. "What is truly loved is never gone"....how true the words. My pets throughout the years have brought me unrequited love, companionship, kindred spirit, and all those things which cannot, nor ever will, be able to described in words....that only which the heart can describe. To those pets who have gone to a much better place, thank you for having been in our lives, and for making us better persons for having known you..... happy trails and may God Bless!!

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