Angel Litter

You all contributed beautiful name suggestions for Holly’s Half Dozen Angel Litter. We wish we could use them all, but there are only 6 pups! Warrior Canine Connection drew names at random from a hat, and over the next several days we will be posting the pups’ new names along with the tear-jerking stories you contributed. We’re honored to pay tribute to the dogs that have touched your lives and the lives of others.

Without further ado, please meet Ruby, a future service dog for a wounded warrior. Ruby is a thoughtful puppy who likes to curl up for naps with her favorite toys.

The story behind Ruby’s new name was submitted by Bturanski44: 

“I thank God every day for my little dog, Ruby, an American Cocker Spaniel (AKA Princess Ruby).  In 2002, my beloved husband was diagnosed with Colon/Pancreatic cancer. I was able to keep him at home and look after him, with the help of some wonderful home care nurses. In November of 2003, Ted finally had to go into Palliative Care. Ted and Ruby were almost inseparable most of the time before he went to hospital to stay. We had a hospital bed at home and Ruby would lie there with her “Papa” all the time. When Ted went into the Palliative Care hospital in Ottawa, I was allowed to bring Princess Ruby to his room for visits. She would lie on his bed and he would pet her..as soon as he started to pet her you could see the peace come into his eyes. She was like a little  angel to him.

At the same hospital one day, as Ruby and I were on our way to sit with Ted, a nurse was wheeling a young man down the hallway.  This young man saw Ruby and lifted his head. We took Ruby to his wheel chair and the young man reached down and petted Ruby. The nurse said this was the first time this young man had acknowledged anyone or anything since coming into Palliative Care. From that day on, until my husband passed away in January of 2004, Ruby and I, after visiting Ted, would walk the halls of the hospital and my little Princess Ruby would bring joy to the faces of people who had not long to be in this world. Ruby is definitely an angel and is now almost 13 years old. She has health problems of her own now and I just pray to God that I get to keep her for a while longer!!”