On behalf of the staff at Alburtis Animal Hospital, we are honored to pay respect to our beloved animal friends who have passed.  We also welcome you to create a lasting tribute for your beloved pet or animal friend on our website's Pet Memorial page. Please feel free to complete the following Pet Memorial Form in Adobe Acrobat format, which requires the free Acrobat Reader to view.

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Pet Loss Grief Support 

If you have lost a pet who was a special part of your life, and you are struggling with grief, or if you just want to join with other pet owners who have experienced that kind of loss, the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital has nice grief counseling and pet loss support services.  Please check out the link below for more information.

University of Pennsylvania Pet Loss Support Services

BAILEY - A DOG THAT DEFIED ALL CONVENTIONAL NORMS:

This is a short biography of Bailey an Australian shepherd dachshund mix that came into our lives and changed it forever. In 2010 my wife Claudia and myself lived in Columbia MD. We had just lost our Sheltie Sonya due to old age and were feeling lonely. We looked at an adoption agency called Tara’s House and looked at an adorable dog with a dachshund face and a long caterpillar body called Bailey. We applied for him but were rejected in the first pass. I forgot about him but surprisingly I got a message that he could not be placed and if we were still interested. My wife and I met Bailey at a Petsmart with the foster parent. It was love at first sight and in Dec 2010 we adopted Bailey who was now a year old.
The troubles started once we took him home. He refused to stay into the crate and insisted on sleeping in our bed which we accepted. He was extremely unfriendly to strangers especially men. It was a challenge to invite someone to our apartment. He would bark and snarl at strangers yet be very friendly to Claudia and myself. We paid for in home training but that did not work. We attended dog training classes but Bailey would not do a single task. By 2011 we were desperate and decided to try a new method. Give Bailey plenty of short walks 4 times a day and long walks during the weekend at Wilde Lake Park Columbia MD. We noticed that he was very noise phobic. He was more jittery near our apartment with city traffic but more peaceful in the park where it was quieter. When we drove to our home in Allentown PA his behavior was much better in the quiet surroundings of our home in PA. When we drove back to MD his crankiness would increase. Other triggers that induced bad behavior were garbage trucks. We also noticed he became happier when we shared our people food with him. So we tried the route of spoiling him and giving him what he wanted. Amazingly by 2012 he became happier more trusting and in the apartment complex people were amazed how his behavior changed for the better. He was so physically strong that I renamed him as Balli which in India means strong.
At this time I was traveling a lot both for my job and to see my aged parents in India who were very sick. Bailey was a great companion for Claudia in my absence. He just disliked being left alone at home so we had to sneak out to have an occasional dinner or outing. Otherwise we took him wherever we went. From 2012 to 2020 when I retired from my job Bailey saw me through the death of my parents and the numerous stresses I went through but he was in a sense my therapist because he demanded attention and would not let me wallow in self pity. In 2020 I retired and we moved to Allentown PA permanently to our home. Bailey loved this and expected two long walks in the neighborhood. Then COVID pandemic started and Claudia and I were very careful about going out. Bailey loved having both of us at home. Now he was also eating Indian delicacies such as vegetable basmati rice, noodles, yogurt vegetarian burgers etc. He also expected me to hand feed him which I did. He became addicted to dentastix and expected this each time he stepped out of the house. Claudia performed the task of cutting the dentastix into small bits which we fed him as treats. His mealtime included his food - kibble, people food and treats. As expected he started to gain weight. In 2021 we were told he had a heart murmur and was put on Vetmedin. Also his blood work showed liver enzymes were high. We had to have a lot of his decaying teeth removed in surgery. However Bailey still enjoyed his life but began to slow down. Walks got much slower and he had more difficulty climbing stairs. I had purchased a table tennis robot to play at home and Bailey waited in the bathroom as I played and would allow me 40 minutes of play time after which he expected me to shower and attend to him.
In 2023 his appetite went up a lot and vets suspected Cushing disease. Bailey would wake me up for treats which I kept in my pajama pockets. In 2024 he had a coughing fit but the vet said his heart murmur sounded the same. March 9 was a terrible night. He coughed all night and stopped eating. He just wanted to sit in the yard of our house and not come in. We had to leash him and force him to come in. His movement was slow and confused. On March 11 a vet ran has chest radiograph and told us his heart had enlarged tremendously and his lungs were floating in fluid. He said at this advanced age restoring Bailey appetite via anti nausea drugs and diuretics for removing lung fluid was only temporary and postponing the inevitable. With reluctant hearts and tears Claudia and I agreed to euthanasia. I apologized to my great friend for any mistakes that I made and kissed him goodbye. My wife Claudia God bless was with him as he went away into eternity. 
It is almost a month since Bailey has passed. We have gone through tears and I have had multiple regrets if I could have done more to save him. But now as I write this and look at his life of 14 years and 3 months I realize how great Bailey was, what he taught me and we were blessed to have him. I have his ashes at home and I have made a wish that when I pass on my ashes and Bailey will be scattered together outdoors in our home that he loved so much.

Falko Zingley:  We adopted Falko at age 8 weeks, thinking a hypoallergenic breed would be best suited for our allergic family. His sweet disposition & calm demeanor was evident to all who met him.

One year later, we adopted his housemate, Axel, who he learned to tolerate. Falko enjoyed visits to Cold Nose Lodge, where the staff loved him. Most important to Falko were his people. He followed us everywhere, and showed his enthusiasm when our kids came home from college. Falk spent most Sundays lying on the dining room floor, watching me in the kitchen as I prepared meals for the week, which earned him the knickname of "Sous Chef". When I accepted a remote job, Falko took over my home office, and spent all my work hours with me.
Falko was a beloved family member and we were anticipating him living out his senior years with us as empty nesters. Very unexpectedly, on 09 Apr 2018, Falko was diagnosed with a very aggressive and fatal form of cancer. Despite two rounds of chemotherapy, the disease rapidly progressed. While his health deteriorated, Falko continued to be a constant companion. On 25 May 2018, Falko was humanely euthanized, and brought home to his final resting place in our backyard. We will miss his gentle spirit and quiet companionship, and will love him forever.

Axel Zingley: Axel entered our lives as an 8-week-old puppy because we loved our first mini schnauzer Falko so much that we wanted him to have a housemate. Axel instantly became Falko's constant companion and our youngest son's best friend when his two older siblings left for college. While Falko was quiet, calm and contented, Axel was a blur of adrenaline. Every emotion was over the top. Axel was a guy's dog and loved to wrestle on the floor and watch football and movies. Axel's daily activities included walks, beating down his stuffies, and dropping everything to charge through the house and skid to a stop at the refrigerator door whenever he heard the crisper drawer open, lunch meat was a definite favorite. In 2018, Axel's world changed when after nine years together, Falko passed suddenly and unexpectedly. 

The once adrenaline filled dog became a gentle companion and loyal protector. Axel hated going anywhere in the car and his best times were spent at home with the people he loved or curled up in one of his many beds scattered throughout the house. Over the last four years of Axel's life, he met some challenging medical conditions. Despite this, he never stopped being the loyal, devoted protector of his domain. Activities like long walks diminished into shorter walks, then just walking around the property, and finally he was content with sizing up the world from the front porch or back deck. When it became evident that one of Axel's medical conditions had worsened and the tough times were becoming more and more frequent, the humane decision was made to euthanize him on 16 Sep 2022. Axel lived a life filled with love and is buried in our backyard, next to Falko, under a pink hydrangea tree. We love and miss him but have found comfort knowing that the constant companions are together again. While we are mourning the loss of Axel, we decided to honor his memory by beginning the rescue adoption process. We were fortunate enough to rescue a female beagle mix whom we named Bella. We would encourage any prospective pet owners to pursue rescue options as we believe every dog should have the opportunity to be loved as much as Falko and Axel were. 

The Zingley Family

Mango Shade-Dixon:  Mango may not have been with our family long but he made everlasting imprints on our family. He taught his 9 year old (stubborn) brother to use the scratching post, which we have been trying to do FOR YEARS. Mango also made us realize that we have so much love to give to any animal that comes into our lives.

Mango was diagnosed with FIP in September and we just could not take that diagnoses to heart. We tried everything to make sure he made it through this terrible disease, even trying to get other opinions and other tests in hopes that he would live. FIP has a high death rate with almost every case not surviving. Mango was a fighter until the end, he was the sweetest baby anyone could ask for.

Mango would wait patiently for Nick to come home from work everyday. He would wait at the top of the stairs and just purr until Nick would pick him up and carry him all over the house. He slept on him every single night. Mango suddenly fell ill and we rushed him to the vet where he received medication. He fell ill again experiencing seizures that just would let up. Finally, on 11/3/17, he had his last and final seizure. We rushed him to an emergency vet where they sadly told us that his body was shutting down and there was nothing further we could do. Mango passed away peacefully in the arms of the people who loved him most.

Mango taught us that love is forever, unconditional and that we have plenty to give in this world. Please always love the pets you have and pray that they never fall ill and give to those who do fall ill. No matter what, animals are family. Do whatever it takes to make them feel safe and loved.

We will always love you sweetie boy,

Love forever and Always,

Nick, Ariana, Ku Bear, Amber and Rocks!!!

Max Mohr: Max, you dedicated all 14 GREAT years of your life to us and with tears flowing and a heavy heart we want to say THANK YOU for all the joy you brought to our family. The thing you loved most was going to the lake house. You were always the first one in the water. You greeted everyone with a wagging tail and were always happy to see someone. Yeah, so, growing up you escaped from your puppy crate and ripped apart the living room sofa and a roll of paper towels making the house look like it was ransacked by burglars. You gave me those big brown puppy eyes, wagging you tail as to say.. sorry but that was fun.

We love you and always will. We will MISS YOU.

Brogan Riggs:  Brogan was a friendly, in your face type of cat. He was always in the room where the action was. We adopted Brogan and his litter mate Murphy a few months after the passing of our cat of 16 years. Brogan was a force. He would force his way into everything and closed doors were not a barrier. He had to have given himself countless headaches with this philosophy. Yet, Brogan was great at giving advice we all could and should live by. Brogan's first valuable piece of advice was how to stay cool during the summer heat. He did this by forcing his way into the refrigerator (a cool place), finding a spot and refusing to move. Another example of Brogan's wisdom was to always make sure you enjoy life and have fun. This advice was given by sticking his head into and getting it stuck in a party cup. He truly was wise beyond his years.

Unlike his brother, Brogan loved attention and affection, whether he was giving it or receiving it. This is the type of cat our family enjoys most. Brogan and his brother also provided entertainment that we called "dinner and a show" and that was provided regularly when the family was eating dinner. It seemed as soon as we started eating the wrestling match would begin. The WWE has nothing on these two brothers.

Our time with Brogan was short as he passed in March of 2011 from FIP. Murphy would succumb to the same evel disease in September of 2012. This family can honestly say that we hate FIP! Since Brogan had the worst form of the disease, watching it take him was so hard. Murphy's passing was much more peaceful. We planned on having these two brothers with us for the next 15 years or more, but that was not to be. But we know that we gave them a happy and loving home and we know that they loved us for it.

We miss you and love you Brogan!

Murphy Riggs: Murphy was a shy cat at home. He was afraid of everything, even his own shadow. At the vet's office, the wild beast would come out as well as the muzzle. We could never believe that our Murph could be like that. Murphy was a loaner which was a different personality type for us. His rules were simple: No touching and I love you but from a distance. He did not like attention and you could see the fear on his face if he thought you were coming his way to "force" attention on him. He despised being the center of attention. However, when he decided he wanted affection he would stalk you down and the word "no" or "I'm busy" was not an option.  It was all on his terms.

Murphy was funny without even meaning to be. We adopted a kitten last year and the kitten would not leave him alone. We saw him carrying the kitten from the kitchen to the living room where the family was sitting. I never thought I would have to say the sentence, "Murphy, spit your brother out of your mouth!" Murphy loved to sit on the front porch during the warmer months with us and take a nap or explore the front and side gardens. One of Murphy's greatest loves was a box. If there was an empty box in the house, Murphy was in it! I will miss saying the phrase, "Look it's a Murphy in a box!"

We will miss our porch buddy.  Our Murphy. We love you and miss you so very much, Murphy. You gave us so much joy and laughs. You loved us from a distance but this distance is too far.

Albert:  Albert was one of our hospital cats who was born in our facility, along with his eight litter mates, on Dr. Donovan's birthday in 1996. Though not as outgoing as Casper, he was an institution at the hospital, roaming the halls at his leisure. His name was chosen to remind us of the misprint in our very first Yellow Page ad. You can guess what that might have been. He sadly succumbed to an aggressive form of lymphoma in September, 2011.