Our Saint Bernard, Max Photo Gallery by Ralph Vanover at pbase.com

Our Saint Bernard, Max

****REST IN PEACE, MAX. YOU WERE A TRUE AND FAITHFUL FRIEND AND FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT****

215 POUNDS OF SLOBBER AND LOVE!

Our beloved pet and family member was diagnosed with widespread lymphatic cancer in early November, 2006. He hadn't even had his fifth birthday when we got the sad news. While I'm sure the cancer didn't happen over night the manifestations of it did. One day he had the appetite of a horse and the next day he refused to eat anything. After a few days of this I knew something was wrong and got him to the veterinarian. The chemo and other medications that he is on have given him some bad side effects but he's still plugging along and being taken care of like a patient in a hospital. When the cancer was discovered he had lost weight down to 140 pounds but with some TLC I've managed to get his weight up to 215 pounds, 35 pounds more than he has ever weighed. Of course, the steroids he is taking increases his appetite but that medication also has some unwanted side effects. He has had a course of 12 chemo treatments with an additional chemo treatment every three weeks in addition to 4 chemo pills every other day. The cancer appears to be in remission but the veterinarian told me that Max could not be cured, only given a little more time, maybe a year to 18 months. Max is one of the most gentle, loving and sweetest dogs I've ever owned or known. I can only hope and pray for the best for him and do what I can to keep him comfortable and help to get him well again. Friends like Max don't come along every day.

Our precious dog passed away today, June 10, 2007. What a great companion he was and how hard he tried to hold on. Goodbye Max. We love you dearly.

Max And His Family	What can I say??	And so it goes.......	Early 2001 #1
1/26/01	Early 2001 #2	Early 2001 #3	Early 2001 #4
Bubba & Max--Spring, 2001	Spring, 2001	Bath Time #1	Bath Time #2
Bath Time #3	Bath Time #4	Amanda & Max	Adam & Max
Amanda & Max	4/15/01	6/9/01	8/17/01
Max & Bubba playing	11/20/01	11/20/01 #2	12/8/01
Christmas 2001	12/8/01 #2	Amanda & Max 12/24/01	Max & Bubba 5/11/02
5/11/02 #1	5/11/02 #2	7/17/03 #1	7/17/03 #2
Sniffing my Big Dog shorts	9/26/03	Max licking his lips 12-24-03	Amanda & Max 12-24-03
A much photographed pooch	2/25/04	Grooming day 5/29/04	December 25, 2004
December 25, 2004	December 25, 2004	December 25, 2004	December 25, 2004
December 25, 2004	Max's cousin, Miss Daisy	Miss Daisy & Chloe	Miss Daisy
Max gets a haircut and bath 5/7/05 #1	Max gets a haircut and bath 5/7/05 #2	Max gets a haircut and bath 5/7/05 #3	Max gets a haircut and bath 5/7/05 #4
Waiting for a treat 9/14/05	Ahhh....cheese 9/14/05	And Beggin' Strips too! 9/14/05	9/18/05 #1
9/18/05 #2	9/18/05 #3	9/18/05 #4	Max Kaleidoscope #1
Max Kaleidoscope #2	11/19/06 #1	11/19/06 #2	11/19/06 #3
There will never be another you!	Merry Christmas & Happy Birthday Max

comment |

Guest		04-Nov-2010 19:30
I lost my Saint last November to bone cancer. My heart is still breaking. I loved Brandy so much and I still do. I will never have another dog like her, she was my once-in-a-lifetime. God what I would give to have her for just one more day.

Inga Morozoff		17-May-2008 00:48
They stay in our lives for a while, Leave footprints on our hearts, And we are never, ever the same.

selinab		11-Apr-2008 01:45
What a wonderful gallery you have of Max. So sorry for your loss.

Guest		01-Apr-2008 02:19
I understand your pain very well. I have my own tribute on my part of pbase. My heart goes out to you, I know this hurts. Thank you for sharing. He was a big beautiful dog. Frederic

Guest		09-Jul-2007 02:08
I am very sorry for your loss. I hope the memories of the slobber and wet kisses and a 200 lb lap dog bring you some happiness. It's never easy losing a member of the family. Our very best wishes go out to your family. Sincerely, The Bages Family and Bear our Saint

SBPPhotography		11-Jun-2007 22:47
All my love to you at this sad time. I completely understand what your going through. I lost my toby dog 2 years ago. He had senial dementure and we hung on to him until we knew it was time to do the right thing. All the best, take care and hang in there it does get easier. BeckyX

Guest		11-Jun-2007 21:59
So sorry about your loss. It looks like you gave him a wonderful life, but that is way too young to go. I can understand something of what you feel. I lost my Chessie girl at 6 to heart failure. Take care and cherish the memories.

Guest		11-Jun-2007 05:19
An amazing friend who brought a lot of love into your life. I am sorry for your loss.

Andrys Basten		11-Jun-2007 03:49
Ralph, I did try to post a public comment earlier in memorium to Max. He was a really beautiful soul and was obviously well-loved during his time here. I'm glad your last shot (photo memory) of him is at play, with Bubba. He was part of your family so the loss is very tough. May you feel his spirit in your home though.

Guest		11-Jun-2007 03:33
I am sorry for your loss. Max looks like he was a real sweetie. I hope your memories help you heal.

Ralph Vanover		11-Jun-2007 03:23
Andrys, thank you so much for pointing out the mistake I made on the date. I'm not thinking very clearly right now. And to you and all others who have or will post a comment I want to thank each of you in advance for your kindness.

Guest		11-Jun-2007 03:23
Ralph, I'm sorry to hear of your loss. From the great photos, it looks like he had a full and happy life. I dread the day I have to say good-bye to my own dog, who's as much a part of our family as, I'm sure, Max was of yours. Of Max's photographic moments, I found his 2001 Christmas to be my favorite shot.

Guest		14-Feb-2007 22:53
I hope Max is doing well!! He is a beautiful animal. Your love and care should bring him much comfort.

mathilda williams		15-Jan-2007 05:45
what a beautiful doggie!! i wish max a speedy and complete recovery, hope he beats this cancer hands down. only a dog lover understands that the time we are given with our canine friends, is never really enough. best of luck to max! mathilda

Tim Clay Photography		03-Jan-2007 19:40
Gorgeous Gallery Thanks for sharing

Guest		02-Jan-2007 20:40
I wish all the best to you and Max and hope he is doing well with his treament. He is a beautiful and obviously very well loved friend!

Terri Steele		02-Jan-2007 03:07
What a beautiful dog! Prayers and best wishes for a full recovery!

dsouzl		27-Aug-2006 03:36
Wonderful gallery! I LOVE the bath time shots! They don't stay that big for long, do they? Beautiful dog!

Ralph Vanover		12-Aug-2006 19:35
Thank you, Donald, for the nice comments. It was actually Max's mother, Ginger, who died while giving birth to a litter that came sometime after the litter Max was part of.

Guest		12-Aug-2006 19:02
Thanks for these great photos, Ralph, and again let me and Kitty (pestbouncer) express our condolences in Max's passing...

Torben Jorgensen		18-Jul-2006 07:00
My dogs say hello to Max. What a magnificent dog. Nice gallery Ralph.

Guest		03-Jul-2006 00:31
Hah!!!I like this dog!

sunny		27-Jan-2006 15:59
ur lucky to hav such a dog. i wish i had a dog lik that too.i hav a great dane but i lik fluffy dogs.

Pic Chick		22-Jan-2005 19:45
What a beautiful dog! I bet you don't fit him in that laundry sink for baths anymore!! ;) We love our beasts too - come visit them at my gallery when you have time!

Nina Riley		22-Dec-2004 19:30
What a sweetheart. Checked in to see the Ralph Stanley museum and just had to check out these pics. Having had two Saints, can appreciate. Female slung slobber to top of the walls--male wasn't so bad. Both were great dogs. (We've downsized to a Shih Tzu--but I will always love the Saints). Thanks for sharing.

Guest		07-Jul-2004 05:03
176 lbs of slobber and love... not to mention hair and buffalo breath. What an awesome dog!

Guest		12-May-2004 02:58
Oh My GOODNESSSS, he is adorable!!!!!!!!!! I love this gallery :)))

Guest		02-May-2004 04:16
Really enjoyed your album. Max looks like a treasure.

CHRISTINE		11-Apr-2004 02:52
your dog is great, We just got our first Saint, He is 8 weeks ,, I hope he have as much luck with him as it looks like you have..

Peg Price		05-Apr-2004 04:26
What fun to see Max "grow" through your wonderful photos. He looks like a real sweetie. I hope you all have a long and wonderful life together filled with many adventures. Peg

snootydog		21-Feb-2004 17:52
Max, I must say that you are quite a good looking beast (and I mean "beast" in the most complimentary way). Ralph has captured you very well. I thoroughly enjoyed looking through this gallery of yours. - liza

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