R.I.P. Maximus

Rest in Peace Max 2001-2009

It is with a very heavy heart and sorrow that I cannot explain that I tell you we lost Max yesterday to canine lymphoma.

Our gentle giant fell ill Thursday night and after days of fighting what we thought was exposure to rat poison we lost him Sunday around 11:00 a.m. Miri time.

Max was brought into our lives in 2002 when our friend Deby's husband Curtis liberated him from his miserable life of solitude on an apartment balcony & brought him to our house. Kenny & I said we would foster him until we found him a good home, but fell in love with him & realized he fit into our lives perfectly. He became an Albrecht.

We named him Maximus after the Gladiator (and his middle name Magoo because he was so goofy!). He was such an incredible dog. He couldn't even run when he first came to us, a result of being trapped in a small space for a long period. Within weeks his hind quarters developed muscles and strength from running and playing with his new brother & sister. He became the physical specimen that was a German Rottweiler.

Funny thing about Max - he had no idea he was a Rottweiler! He thought he was a Laborador. He jumped up into the air after toys with such grace & had such a love and affection for people. He loved his "cousins" (our nieces) and his "grandparents". He was a bull in a china shop due to being 120 lbs. and not knowing his own strength and always made for constant entertainment.

He loved to snuggle - as you can tell by the photo with Kenny & Sydney. This is how we woke up every day - with Max wedged in between us - snoring in our ears - head on our pillows - arms wrapped around us.

We are so grateful to have known him. Our house & hearts are so empty in his absence.