Hillis Danes
American & European Blue & Black Great Danes
Each one of our Danes that has left us are deeply missed x will always hold a special place in our hearts that only belongs to them. Their Paw Prints are Forever on Our Hearts.
Lady Gabriella
100% European Blue AKC Great Dane
Our Gabby was diagnosed with arthritis in the Spring of 2017 x we have been treating it will pain meds, agility pills x anti-inflammatories since then. At 1st she only needed her meds 1x every couple days and over time it gradually went to every other day, every day, 2x a day until we where at the max dose she could be given. At first the max dose last 12 hours but as days went by it quickly decreased to 8hrs, 6hrs, 3-4 hrs until Gabby wouldn't get up/refused to get up. It was so hard to see the look of "giving up" on her precious face. So, with heavy hearts, the vet came to our home on 9/18/17 to help us say our final goodbyes.
Gabs was so full of energy x life, she is greatly missed already.
10/26/10 - 9/18/17
Lady Bella
1/2 Euro Black AKC Great Dane
On 9/4/16 we said goodbye to our beloved Bella. She had gotten an upset tummy that caused her to vomit but after 2 days of not holding anything down (had talked to the vet on the phone after 1day) we took her in for blood work and an IV to get some fluids in her. Unfortunately she developed secondary pneumonia which is treatable but her tummy flipped while we were at the vet, which required surgery but with the pneumonia the chances of her waking from surgery were basically zero as we were told her lungs were pretty full.....if she just had pneumonia we could have treated that with antibiotics - if she just had a flip tummy we could have done surgery but with both at the same time......we were at a loss and had to say our goodbyes.....
Bell's paw prints will be forever on our hearts.
4/16/08-9/3/16
Lady Mercedes
100% European AKC Great Dane
We waited 2 Long years for Mercedes to grace this world with her presence after picking out her parents x then we waited another 8 weeks to hold her. Mercedes was by far the "perfect" Dane in personality/temperament, size x confirmations x was color pure blue x black lines for @ least 5 generations.
On Saturday morning, April 19, 2014 we told our Danes we would be back shortly not knowing it would be the last time we would get to tell our Mercedes that. When we arrived back home we found that our sweet beautiful loving gentle giant had passed away in her sleep, she looked so peaceful when we found her in our room. She was perfectly fine when we left, but was not when we arrived home.
While we love all our Danes, Mercedes was by far the Perfect Dane. We waited 2 long years for her arrival and we were graced with her love and affection for a little over 2 short amazingly wonderful years. She was extremely gentle and loving, never pushing her way in for attention as most Danes do. Sadie always waited and when it was her turn. She would always come in slowly and very gently give tiny kisses, so gentle it was as if she thought she would break us if she kissed us too hard. She will remain in our hearts
Forever-N-Always
2/20/12-4/19/14
Sir Brody
100% European Solid Blue AKC Great Dane
A few weeks ago, Brody went out to go potty & it was the 1st time I had seen him hike his leg to “go” since before having spine surgery from being hit by a goat. However Brody quickly realized it was a mistake and rested his leg on the fire pit only to realize that was not going to work, so he put his leg down on the ground . It was such a funny x awesome moment. To top it off he walked towards the woods x stood in his show stack stance, all on his own like he always has. It ...was so nice to see but unfortunately I did not have my phone to capture it - some of life’s best moments are when technology is no where around.
Unfortunately though, the moment was short lived. Shortly after walking into the house, Brody collapsed and we did not think he was getting back up. We called our vet, who rearranged his schedule to come to the house to see Brody (Thank you Dr Biggie!) I don’t remember the technical terms but basically Brody’s once strong heart is now old and it’s starting to show and the top & bottom chambers are not always synchronized like they should be. Doc said to keep him calm (no excitement) for a few days - let him resume his normal activities “if & when” he is ready - yes that meant he might not get back up. Thankfully, Brody did.
The week following was absolute torture for us all. Brody had an episode every day but none as bad or as long as his first & thankfully Brody always got back up. During these episodes Brody had an erratic heartbeat. Then finally we went 4 days in a row w/no episodes. While we were beyond thankful- we were still worried - as we know that alot of times, things will appear to be getting better - but they actually are not.
True enough, on Saturday April 7th - Brody had 2 episodes in 1 day (a 1st). However the next day he was his old, normal self; he was awake before me (actually woke me up for the 1st time since his 1st episode) & ate all his food & no episodes. However, the following day, even though it started off as a good day was shortly lived. Upon coming back in from outside Brody collapsed & did not get back up this time - his strong heart was just too tired.
These past 2 weeks were a precious gift, that we will always be thankful for. We were blessed to have him in our lives for 8 1/2 wonderful years & we will always treasure the time we had with him.
CB Hillis Danes Sir Brody
9/17/09 - 4/9/18
🐾 Paw Prints 🐾 on our ❤️💙❤️s
Sir Ardagio
100% European Blue AKC Great Dane
On June 1st Ardagio reared up like a horse and came down hard on his front legs. The next day his one leg was swollen so we called doc and Ardagio was put on anti-inflammatory meds. On June 6th we took Ardagio to the vet for what we thought was a possible torn tendon or fractured leg because it was still swollen. One of our Vets came out to show us his xrays and tell us that they suspected bone cancer x were sending the xrays off to OSU for confirmation. On Monday, OSU confirmed it but in humans we do not take xrays for confirmations, we have a biopsy done. So we scheduled Ardagio a biopsy on the 17th. Once at the vet, another xray was taken because Ardagio's leg was more swollen. Xray showed that the leg was fractured in multiple spots and our vet whom we trust told us that he was 99.999999% certain it was bone cancer and could not see doing the biopsy and causing Ardagio any more pain than he was already in. There was also concern that our jumping jack rabbit would shatter or blow out the rest of his leg if we brought him home. As we are all certain, he fractured his leg that morning on the way to the vet. So, on June 17th we said our goodbyes and held him as he went to sleep for the final time. Gone from our sight but forever in our hearts.
You are missed.
CB Hillis Danes Sir Ardagio
7/4/14 - 6/17/20
Lady Lexis
100% American Solid Blue AKC Great Dane
On Monday August 17 part of our world slipped away. We knew when we woke up that is was not going to be a good day for our Lexis. She had been having less good days with her advanced age and many days we watched movies or read books while cuddling with her. Honestly thought it was going to just be another cuddle day. After a little while we realized it was going to be more than a cuddle day, so we made a call our vet’s office but we never made there.
For almost 12 wonderful years we had the honor x privilege of having our Lady Lexis at our sides. Not all Danes are created equal and she was by far the most amazing and intelligent Dane we have ever been around (not just our danes) There was just something about her that made her even more human like than most danes. She was an amazing Dane in every way possible; she is the reason we decided to breed Danes. She was family and she will be Forever Loved x missed. 💔💔
💞 9/24/08 - 8/17/20 💞
1/2 Euro Solid Blue AKC Great Dane
Not wanting to see Paris go thru what Ardagio did we decided that we would say our final goodbyes at our home. So the last week was spent extra spoiling her with take out, ice cream, grilled meats - anything she wanted - she got x yesterday with those who love her around her, Paris laid her head down for the final time.
Paris was so full of life - she did everything whole souled x wholehearted all the way up to her last day and that energy is already missed
Gone but never forgotten.
8/26/12 - 2/26/21
1/2 Euro Solid Blue AKC Great Dane