By Manny Vazquez, M.S., LMFT, Owner of Torii, a Jack Russell Terrier Mix

Sunday, July 12, 2026

For those of us who own pets, we know that we would do anything for them. For us, our dogs or cats, or whatever animal we own, are family members in the truest sense. I’ve heard of people who will spend thousands of dollars when their dog or cat gets cancer. Letting our pets go when they are sick is one of the hardest, most pain decisions a pet owner will ever have to make.

We were blessed to own Champ, a Terrier Schnauzer Mix, for 15 years. Champ is in Heaven now. He was the most friendly dog, and he was the most innocent creature I have ever met.

Champ was a rescue dog. Early in our marriage, we decided to get a dog. We knew we needed to rescue one from the pound because those dogs are usually well-trained, but they have either been abandoned by thier former owners who didn’t want them, or they were there for some other reason, like being a stray.

Most animal shelters, especially those run by the government, are kill shelters. That means they hold the animal for a time, and if no one wants them, they put them down. If my Blessed LORD allows me to run for public office, and I get in as a legislator, I will work to pass laws to rid the U.S. of kill shelters. Under my leadership, all animal shelters will be no-kill ones.

I believe no-kill shelters need to be supported by public and private monies. As a Christian, I believe that God loves all life, including the lives of all animals in the world. If He is the creator and author of life, how could He not be a lover of our animals?

Getting back to Champ; we went to the shelter that day, but we were not really sure if we wanted to adopt that day. These were famous last words, of course.

When we walked back to where the cages of dogs were, we immediately noticed Champ because he was very friendly. He came right up to us. We asked to see him, and they brought him out to us. Immediately, he jumped on us, as if asking us to rescue him from the nightmare he was in. We found out that Champ’s previous owner had dropped him off the night before because she was moving to New York, and apparently, they don’t like dogs in New York.

We asked what his name had been. They told us, “Ralphie.” Ralphie?? Ralphie?? What a horrible name, we thought. We asked what color he was (a very light tan color), and they said champagne. Champ! Perfect name. People thought Champ’s full name was Champion; no it was Champagne. Weird, huh?

Well, Champ came home with us, and he was the perfect companion for us. He was full of energy. He barked and barked, so much so that our neighbors complained. We had to make him an indoor dog, lest we get reprimanded by our homeowner’s association.

A few years later, we got Champ a companion, Torii, also champagne colored. Torii is a Jack Russel terrier mix, and she was a wonderful companion for Champ. She would spend hours licking him, his head, his back, everything. Champ did not seem to mind. Torii also ate all of Champ’s snacks, if he wasn’t fast enough, and he wasn’t. We once told a person at the kennel where we would leave them that Torii was a little piglet, taking Champ’s snacks all the time. She reframed it for us. She said, Champ was just being a gentleman. Well, oookayy.

We always knew our second dog would be called Torii after our favorite baseball player at the time, Torii Hunter. The great thing about that name was that it could be a boy’s name or a girl’s name. I always knew I wanted a female companion for Champ, and that is why we got in Torii, plus she was the exact same color, and she eventually loved Champ and us.

Both Champ and Torii were very friendly dogs, who wouldn’t harm anyone. Champ went to Heaven a few years ago, and Torii finds herself alone now. Torii is almost 19 years, and she is very healthy, as my Wife and I feed her the best food and the best supplements. Yes, she is virtually blind and deaf, but she seems happy, sleeping most of the day. She still eats well, including several healthy snacks per day.

Our LORD has blessed us with with two lovely pets during our marriage. We would spare no expense if Torii got sick. We are also realists, knowing that we would never prolong her life, if she was suffering. With pets, you always need to love them enough to be able to let them go when it is time.

Pets, like people, should never suffer. If we have pets, we need to treat them like Family, for that is what they are. Amen.