Fortress Mastiffs
The importance of the dogs on this page is immeasurable. Each of them has a hand in bringing us to now…each one teaching us something, each reminding us of where we’ve been, mistakes we never want to repeat, and of a time that we never want to leave behind. They have each healed our hearts by coming and broken them again by leaving…as I’m sure will happen again and again.
It is the bittersweet reality of being owned by our dogs. We never, ever have them long enough. The unparalleled love and devotion they give us while they are here outweighs the emptiness of their leaving...it must, or we wouldn’t keep setting ourselves up for such devastation.
Romi
April 11, 2010 - October 24, 2022
I should be grateful that Romi left us peacefully in her sleep after 12.5 long and healthy years...and I am...but it just never matters. Their age, the circumstances of their passing...it just hurts, no matter when or why. I always struggle to understand how things just keep going. The other dogs want to go outside and play, they want their cookies and cuddles, and all I want to do is stop. To be still and quiet..and sad.
Romi was a beast. She definitely lived life her way. She never really liked other dogs, people, cats...she wanted to be suntanning, and to be left alone, aside from her human family and the very odd person she decided was ok. Her happy place was laying in a sunbeam, especially in the fall. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen when she would stomp through a crunchy pile of leaves and chase the rogues. I'd be lying if I said she wasn't a handful...she wasn't an easy dog, but she was mine, and I loved her so much
Polar
April 30, 2006 - January 24, 2022
Polar was a huge loss for our entire family, but my daughter Taylor is certainly feeling this loss a little more deeply. When Taylor was just seven years old, I brought Polar home for what was supposed to be a temporary foster type situation. However, the two bonded immediately and there was no way to separate them. From the beginning, all was right in Polar’s world, as long as she had her Vivie.
They spent the next 15yrs as an amazing team. They would camp, hike, watch movies and even went off to college together. They went through break-ups and hard times, and soooo many good ones. I’ve lost so many dogs in my life, and each one just knocks the wind out of me, leaving me feeling so gutted and lost. I’ve always thought it had to be the worst feeling in the world, but I was wrong. Watching your child, saying goodbye to their best friend of over 15yrs is even worse. Knowing their pain, and that there is not a thing you can do to help them is harder than going through it yourself.
We will all miss our little Polar Bear forever.
Misha
December 4, 2014 - December 6, 2021
7yrs and 2days was not nearly enough time to spend with this perfect animal. It always hurts like hell to lose these guys, but this one has completely broken me. I said this so many times, through so many tears – but this one feels different. Misha was different. It never seems possible to put their personalities into words, but in that attempt, I would say that Misha had the most happy, loving, carefree soul. Her heart was nothing but kind and gentle. She helped me through bad days and losses; helped me remember what I still had on the days I struggled. You couldn’t feel anything but pure love when Misha was around. I will miss her for every second until I see her again.
Brooke
January 18, 2010 - September 3, 2021
With her momma gone, Brooke quickly became the heart and soul of our pack. I don't even know how to start putting this loss into words. Brooke was unapologetically protective of who she loved. If you were in her world, she expected you to state your business and be judged. She lived and breathed for her family, and I adored her for never compromising. I trusted her judgments completely.
From her first breath, she has been my second in command, although I know she always believed that I was hers... It goes without saying that we never have them long enough, but I am feeling so robbed for time. She gave no warning. Never missed a meal, or an opportunity to bark and boss her kids around. I had no time to brace for this, not that it ever feels less painful. She was running around like a puppy, and now she is gone. The only light I see is in knowing this crazy beast, my brindle in fawns clothing, was so very loved, from the second she was born and placed in my hands to take her first breath, to laying with her head in my hands to take her last. I hate this part so much.
Maverick
January 18, 2012 - April 23, 2017
Maverick was the absolute definition of soft-hearted kindness. When I bred his sire and dam, Monet & Noah, I wanted a fawn girl who was just like Monet. Instead, I was handed a beautiful brindle boy, who was just like Monet. From the moment he was born, I loved him so much that I swear my heart hurt every time I looked at his sweet face. It was like feeling it swell with pride, and all of the memories of his parents and Grandparents that he held in his eyes.
Maverick reminded us to slow down, and take it all in. He LOVED to smell the flowers. Literally. On his walks, he would spot a flower, and run to it. He never chewed them, he was only interested in nuzzling his velvet face into them for a sniff. He would be just as excited when he saw the next flower, and run to it will all the thrill as the last. He reminded me of the old children's book, Ferdinand the Bull. He was an enormous brute of a dog, but had nothing but love for everyone and everything. Losing Mavie was devastating to put it mildly. He fought like hell to stay for as long as he could, and we are grateful for every sweet moment that we had with him.
For all I know he is sitting there still, under his favorite cork tree, smelling the flowers just quietly. ~ Ferdinand the Bull
Monet
September 23, 2002 - September 10, 2016
The hardest thing I’ve ever heard, were the words – She’s gone. It’s amazing how much pain can come from hearing just two little words. It felt like my heart stopped beating at the same time as hers did. She was my happy place for over a decade. Monet & my old boy, Harley, were like the two halves of my heart.
When Harley died, I said my heart shattered. Losing Monet has felt like all the little pieces have just been ripped out. I’ve spent every day since just going through the motions...but everything is a reminder. Her adorable, low bark was always the first thing I heard in the morning – letting me know it was time to get up. I leave for work without kissing her goodbye – and I don’t come home to her smiley face, greeting me when I come through the door. I try my best to remember to be grateful for the time we had. Just 13days shy of her 13th birthday is so much more than I could have hoped for, but it’s not nearly enough. It would never have been enough time with my picture perfect girl. I will never get used to not having her with me.
We had a good run, my beautiful lady.
Noah
April 14, 2006 - March 18, 2015
The loss of Noah left me feeling shocked, and unable to catch my breath. Noah was never sick a day in his life. He exemplified strength and nobility. Because of these traits, he was stoic till the end, and gave us no indication anything was wrong. He left so fast. Noah would have been 9yrs old in 3wks, but he never acted like an old dog. He was every bit what a Mastiff should be. He was strong, brave and fearless, which I loved...but equally soft, loving and silly. When my kids were getting old enough to stay home alone, I was a typical nervous mom. Before I left, I would always say to them “keep Noah close”...I trusted him to protect them and keep them safe. He loved his family with all of his heart, and never once made us question his devotion. He could read every single one of us.
To me, he will always be the perfect example of what a Mastiff should be, inside and out. I adored every quality and quirk about him. Having his kids and Grandkids helps immensely, but they are not him. There was only one Noah, and he is, and always will be, greatly missed.
Gracie
May 17, 2005 - September 10, 2015
Gracie was not our first Mastiff, but she was the first one that we got as a puppy. I had big plans for her. Her sire was the first Mastiff I had ever seen back in the fall of 1996. He was the reason I fell in love with the breed, and I was dying to have a puppy from him one day. Then, I had a few human kids instead…then I got my first Mastiff, Muffie…then my sweet boy Harley….and finally, I was on the list and about to get a puppy from that boy who stole my heart, back in 1996.
Gracie was supposed to be a boy. She was supposed to love showing. She was supposed to be my foundation dog. Turned out, that what she was, was a girl, who hated to show, and couldn’t be bred due to a heart condition. BUT, it also turned out that she was one of the best dogs I’ve ever had the privilege of owning – and I have never, for one second, had a single regret that she was ours. She was a love…a clown…my daughters constant companion…she was perfect, and we loved her more then I can explain for over 10 wonderful years. Everyone in the house is devastated by the loss of our pretty little red head.
Rumba
December 23, 2003 - April 11, 2013
Rumba's passing was such a shock to us, that it's been impossible to wrap our minds around the fact that she's actually gone. I knew she was getting older. I know what the averages are for Mastiffs...but I just never saw it coming. Rumba never complained a day in her life. Never missed a beat. Rum led our pack with her unparalleled example of what a Mastiff should be. Brave, loyal, goofy, and above all - unconditionally loving. I trusted my girl completely in any situation...she was nothing if not reliable. She brought that "brindle sass" to our home that we are blessed enough to enjoy in the three generations she's left behind for us. I've tried so many times to describe her full personality in words, but they always fall short to express just how amazing this girl was. My beautiful Bee was so strong. A true alpha, no doubt about it. Never once used more force than needed to assert her rules. It always amazed me to watch her with her canine family. She clearly adored every one of her furry followers, and it was abundantly clear that the adoration was very mutual. Our stoic Matriarch, who never gave us a moments grief is gone. I never thought of a time that we wouldn't have her with us - until that time was here.
We will miss our Rumble Bee deeply, forever.
Harley
September 13, 2001 - August 20, 2012
My heart shattered the moment Harley took his last breath. He was my favorite person in the world. I would always jokingly tell people that the reason I never left him at home was because *I* had separation anxiety. The thing is, it wasn’t far from truth. Harley made even my worst days manageable, just by being there. He was always absolutely perfect…always exactly what I needed. If I was grumpy, he’d act exceptionally goofy until he had me laughing…if I was sad, he would silently wait it out, never leaving my side until he was sure I was ok again. Since he’s been gone, I feel completely gutted. He stayed with me for as long as he could…coming so close to his 11th Birthday. It is greedy of me to expect more from him then that, but I would have traded anything for just a little longer with my boy. He left an emptiness in my heart far too immense to ever be filled again. There will never be another Harley.
Take with you this...I loved you best.
Muffie
May 17, 2002 - April 18, 2012
Muffie was the beginning of everything for us, our first Mastiff. We brought her home when she was 9mths old. She was a big, clumsy girl with a heart of pure gold. It always both amazes and surprises me to see how strongly the Mastiffs “pick” and bond to their one special person. For Muffie, her one and only was our son. Marcus was just a toddler when she came. A little boy who was fascinated by this giant new playmate. They spent the next 7yrs as an inseparable team. She adored her boy, and I couldn’t have felt more secure knowing she always had his back – from “saving” him from being tickled to letting him steady himself on her while he stretched to reach the things he shouldn’t. She was our first Mastiff love, our first Mastiff loss – Muffie is the reason we will never be without a Mastiff in our lives.
We will miss you forever, sweet girl.