Memorials
If you would like to memorialize any of your deceased companions, please email text and photo of the memorial to m_alt@burkeveterinaryclinic.com.
Cats: Chelsea | Topper | Cleo | Marky
Dogs: Cecilia | Max | Daisy | Sally | Maggie | Binky | Tinkerbell | Bryn | Goldie | Shannon | Nikki
Chelsea
Chelsea was with our family for 16 years. She made our house a home and made our family complete. She actually chose us!
It had been 2 weeks since our cat Bonnie (13) died in PA. We were having a yard sale and out of nowhere this little kitten showed up. Turns out a lady down the street had gotten her and another kitten from a shelter and kept them outdoors. Daughter Angela was 6 and son Nick was 3 years old at the time. Angela is now 22 and graduating from VA TECH next month. Nick is 19 and a freshman at WVU. We would like to thank Dr. Alt for the support and understanding in which he helped us in this situation. Chelsea had been diagnosed with a thyroid tumor and we had started medication for it. But over the past few days her health/state had been rapidly declining. Despite that she remained the sweet and affectionate cat she's always been. It has been a traumatic week with the tragedy of VA TECH as well. We were overwhelmed to receive such a wonderful note regarding our beloved cat Chelsea. She did have a long and very full life and we are grateful to have had her a part of our lives and family for as long as we did. She will always be in our hearts and she will always be a part of our family. The Arbia family would like to thank you all again for your care of Chelsea and your compassion regarding our family's loss.
Topper
Topper was born sometime near June 1, 1989. I picked him up as a kitten at a flea market near South Hill, VA. He earned his name because if I sat down, he was on top-er my lap. If I bent over, he was on top-er my back. If I lay down, he was on top-er my head or chest – he was on top-er anybody. He loved people and was good at turning skeptics into cats-aren’t-so-bad kind of people. Topper was just a few months shy of his 18th birthday. RIP 6/1/89 – 4/15/07
Cecilia
In loving memory of Cecilia, who joined us when Edna and Cora were in kindergarten and second grade and who stayed with us long enough to watch both of her girls graduate from college. Martha, Cora and Edna Martin
Cleo
Cleo 1990- May 10th, 2007
I loved Cleo so much. She grew up with me. I am an only child and when I was three years old my mom and stepdad decided to adopt two cats. I wasn't with them when they went to the animal shelter but my mom tells me all the time why she picked up Cleo and our other cat Lulu. Cleo got my mothers attention with her extremely loud purring that seriously sounded like a dove. When I would call my mom from college to say goodnight to her at night, I would always hear Cleo purring in the background and it would be such a soothing sound that made me miss home. Cleo was such a funny cat. I swear she was the real cleopatra in her past life because she acted like she was royalty and always made sure her physique was perfect. No joke, it wasn't that she was sick or didn't like the food, she was always just thin, not sickengly thin but pretty thin. She walked, actually no, she strutted. She was the queen of the house. She had her spot on my mothers bed and none of our other 3 cats were allowed to sit there. We were told 3 years ago that she wasn't going to live within 6 months when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. But Cleo always came through, she was amazing. She had to have a surgery last year to remove a growth and came through it beautifully. She only recently got sick the last couple months but we loved her and doted on her untill the very end. She was my sister. And I still can hear her purr. I miss her so much. I could fill up a whole page or more with what I loved about Cleo. But I can say she is sorely missed.
Max Hayes
In memory of the best companion any human could be blessed with... Our Max-a-Million Hayes, aka. Mr. Max, Max the Wonder Dog, Mr. Maximoto, Black-toed-Dog, Mama's Boy, Truck-Dog, Ferry Dog. Mille and Vicky miss you. We miss you. Rest in peace and enjoy all the chewy bones you want in dog heaven!
Love, Mommy and Daddy
Daisy
Although we lost our beloved Daisy too soon and miss her terribly, we were blessed to have had her in our lives.
Sally
Sally came to me on a cold December day in New York 11 years ago. She was only a puppy and was starving. She happily approached a group I was with and when no one wanted to take her, I volunteered. A man that was there offered to catch her and when he put her in my car, she just sat in the front seat happily as I drove home. I fed her and she fell asleep content with a full belly under the Christmas tree. The next day, I took her to the local shelter and a few days later when no one came to claim her, I adopted her. Over the years, we moved together numerous times but she was always there through the ups and downs as my loving companion. Eventually, I met my husband who she instantly adored and we settled into life together as a family. We took trips to Vermont together and she loved hiking the property with us. After our daughter, Zoe, arrived, Sally was as protective of her as she was of my husband and me. Sally became very ill suddenly and we lost her unexpectedly. We are glad that she did not suffer needlessly, but losing her was like losing a part of our souls. Sally - we love you, miss you and we'll meet you at the bridge! Love, Melanie, Tom and Zoe
