This page is in memory of Topaz, my beautiful girl who went to the Rainbow Bridge on February 23,2007.

I contacted El Paso Great Dane Rescue after losing my black dane girl Voodoo to see if they had a dane I could adopt. They didn't have one for me, so they referred me to a group in Arizona. A few days later I drove to Arizona to get Topaz. She was eight years old at that time, she had her Championship and had been bred several times. The last litter was delivered by emergency C-section and she was spayed at the same time, then put up for adoption by her breeder. Her teat was swollen, but the breeder thought it was because she'd just finished weaning her puppies. On the way home from AZ, we stopped at a Petsmart and bought a black collar and leash set with white pawprints to match her lovely self. She made friends with my senior blue boy Merlin, and settled into the household without a murmur of trouble. When the swelling in her teat didn't go down after a few days I took her to the vet, who treated her for mastitis. The swelling didn't respond to two rounds of antibiotics and the vet started to worry. It didn't have the characteristics typical of cancer but she took a biopsy and that's what it was. Topaz went in for surgery right away but almost did not survive. It was touch-and-go for a week, but she steadily improved. When she pulled through the surgery, the vet told me the cancer had fully metasicized and the best I could hope for was three months with her. The cancer was so widespread that the vet didn't even recommend chemotherapy. But I didn't tell Topaz she was sick, so she got well, and stayed happy and healthy for three and a half years, to my vet's continual amazement. She outlived Merlin, who passed at the very ripe old age of 13 1/2. Up until the last few days of her life she had a good appetite, was able to climb the stairs, and was wonderful companionship right to the end. Last year her strength abruptly failed her. Although she had a good appetite and didn't seem to be in any pain, over the course of 48 hours she became so weak she could barely lift her head. I knew it was time to send her to the Rainbow Bridge, and she has been waiting there for me with a couple of dozen other beloved friends for a year today. She was a perfect dog, she did not have one single fault, and I will miss her until we are reunited. I love you Topaz.

Topaz a few months before her death from breast cancer at age 11.5.



Note: The Rainbow Bridge picture with Topaz was generously created by Joan Woodcock, who understands my loss as it mirrors her own.
Thank you, Joan.