Ruby, our Golden Retriever, has died.

With great sadness and broken hearts Jennifer and I feel it's necessary to announce that our beloved companion and family member Ruby, the J. LaMore Golden Retriever, has suddenly passed away. We make this announcement because Ruby has touched so many people and we don't want our friends who come to visit, shop, or socialize with us to be shocked or placed in an uncomfortable position when they discover the news.

It was Sunday when Ruby was acting perfectly normal and going through her everyday routine when suddenly something changed. She wouldn't move. Ruby would just stand in one place with her head low and staring straight ahead. We decided to watch her closely as this was very unusual behavior for her. In the afternoon she began to shake and her gums went from red to grey so we decided to take her to the Emergency Vet Hospital where an ultrasound discovered a tumor as well as blood in her stomach. Emergency surgery was performed to try and stop the bleeding and we learned that it was a large tumor on her spleen that had ruptured and her liver was filled with tumors as well. Ruby died on the evening of Sunday, March 28th. Jennifer and I were shocked and inconsolable.

When we picked Ruby up from the kennel ten years ago little did she know that she won the lottery. As you know, Ruby and Jennifer were one in the same and would be inseparable if restaurants, nightclubs, buying trips, and airplanes allowed dogs and if you knew Jennifer you were forced to know Ruby. The "No Dogs Allowed" sign didn't apply to us. She slept in our bed, lived on our furniture, ate only the best food, and had a fantastic life where everyone loved her. If reincarnation exists I believe that everyone would want to come back as Ruby.

Jennifer and I are trying to celebrate her life instead of mourning her death and would love it if you did the same. We miss her terribly.

Jim