Ru has been an inspiration for many.
Her gentle kindness, courage & compassion touched all of us.
Ru lives in the hearts of all those who knew & love her.
Ru💜🕯️ ~ Olivia, Dot, Jerry Underfoot & huMom
Today we are pawsing to honor the life of one of my furiends & fellow Epilepsy Warrior Ru aka Ruby aka Ruby the Therapy Dog. 🐾💜🐾 🕯️ ✨
Ru’s huMom Jan Nowicki shares 💜
“I am humbled & honored that Ruby chose me to be her life-partner, care-giver, facilitator & interpreter to share her amazing unconditional love. She also chose me & taught me how to help her in the epilepsy battle.”
I first saw her on Petfinder & turned her down 3 times, for various reasons. She eventually got my attention in a big way & came to live with me. So, she really did choose me. Her messages are truly her voice & words, not mine, as she dog-tates them.
My Kayla (2nd therapy dog) had crossed recently & I started looking. I’d always wanted a Chocolate Lab & my dream dog was a Chessie but rare & expensive around here. “Reba” was listed as a Choc. Lab pup in a (not so nice) animal control center; not very close. I was getting ready to retire. Didn’t want a puppy & preferred a foster/shelter situation to know a little about what I was getting. A month before I retired, I applied to several local Lab rescues & 1 sent me a photo & said, “You have to meet Reba!” She was still listed as Choc. Lab but 18-20 months old & picked up as a stray. Foster brought her here & she laid right down in my school. Foster had never seen her so quiet. She also had ‘portal phobia’ never having been in a house much. She walked right into my house & found a dog bed. Done deal but had a wait a couple weeks so I could see my mom. They said she was crate trained. Nope – destroyed those & my house, separation anxiety & had had 2 or 3 litters before 18 months old. Also, gun/loud noise shy. What a mistake! Over the 1st year we worked it out & she got registered therapy dog. 1 month later the seizures started. There were so many signs the first year. When I buried Kayla we saw lots of dragonflies & her guardian angel was Cassiel. So “Reba” changed her name to Ruby Kassiel & always used dragonflies to honor Kayla. They also have special meaning. After Ruby’s adoption I realized she was Chessie so both my dream-dogs in 1 – physically.
Ruby continues to be an Canine Epilepsy Ambassador with her long standing & respected Facebook Page Ruby the Therapy Dog.
Knotty Toys for Good Dogs 