Storm aka Horsey

Storm (aka: Horsey, Dolly, Beast, Best, Tink, T Rex)

Storm peacefully crossed over the rainbow bridge in the arms of her mom of almost 13 years on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, under the loving care of her beloved Dr. Erin Corrigan. Storm bravely fought several illnesses and mobility restrictions for the last year of her life with pride and dignity right up until her final breath.  

Storm was an American Bulldog, born on Halloween day, October 31, 2008, to her birth parents Max and Lucy. She had a beautiful brindle coat that her Gramma Hahn called “marble rye”, a distinctive white stripe down the center of her face, a broad, proud white chest, pink chin and belly, giant white bear paws and the most soulful brown eyes her mom has ever seen. Storm was adopted by her forever mom, Susan Becker-Lepak in January 2009. The connection was instant and undeniable. When they looked into each other’s eyes for the first time, they made a vow to always take care of each other and to be the best of friends, a promise they kept for all of Storm’s life. 

After several weeks of puppy cuddles, cuteness and bonding, Storm became a legendary PITA. As a young pup her favorite past times were dragging her mom down the street, chewing chair legs, couches, eyeglasses, underwear, seat belts, leashes, shoes; pretty much anything that she happened to see. She cleared coffee tables with her tail, disemboweled dozens of stuffed toys, and performed escapes that could rival Houdini so she could take epic uninvited adventures through neighbors’ yards.  

Storm was a proud graduate of PetSmart’s Beginner Education program where she learned how to shake paws, play catch and most importantly, become a gentle giant who won the hearts of all who knew her.  

Horsey was a lover of life, there wasn’t much she didn’t like except bananas, baby gates, and her arch nemesis, Elsa, with her big, stupid, fluffy white tail. Some of her favorite things were Busy Bones, pink buddha-belly rubs, hogging the bed, stealing the blankets, thunderstorms, watching deer in the backyard, yelling at the neighbors, playing hockey with her water bowl, road trips, stealing neighbor kids’ lacrosse balls, Lights on the Lake, ‘camping” at Cady’s Kennels, sharing her birthday cake with her friends and violently emptying her toy box if her mom dared to pick up after her.  

When Storm entered her senior years, AJ came into her mom’s life. It’s still unclear whether Storm thought he was her Dad or her boyfriend, but nonetheless, she accepted him and his daughter Maddie with open paws and allowed them to join the pack. Beast (as AJ called her), and ‘her AJ’ became kindred spirits who shared a similar appetite for smoked meats and pizza. They loved to nap together and had the most impressive snore-offs her mom ever heard. 

During her golden years, Horsey enjoyed summer camping trips to Raquette Lake, naps on the side porch, sitting like a gargoyle in the front window, cleaning peanut butter jars, slow strolls around the block, and more than anything, her physical therapy sessions with her dear friend Jessie at CARE Pet Therapy. Storm loved the underwater treadmill and was such a good girl for Jessie; she knew Jessie was helping her stay strong, mobile, and pain-free for as long as possible. Storm and her mom grew to love Jessie over the last several months and will miss seeing her twice a week.  

More than anything else, Storm loved her mom. She was always there to greet her with a big smile and a fully body tail wag. Her unconditional love, acceptance and loyalty changed her mom’s life. She was her baby girl, best friend, therapist, comic relief, security guard, loyal companion and more. She was everything. Horsey helped her mom through some of the darkest moments in her life and she filled her mom’s life with indescribable joy and laughter. She made her mom a better human and filled her heart with memories that will last the rest of her lifetime. Her mom loved her fiercely and did her very best to care for her and protect her all the days of her life. Sadly, the one thing she couldn’t protect her from was time. Storm took a piece of her mom with her, and she will forever be missed. 

In Storm’s honor, please give your pets some extra love and treats and send your veterinary professionals a little note or special treat to thank them for their loyalty and service. The veterinary community is in crisis nationwide as there is a tragic shortage of veterinarians / veterinary staff which is unlikely to resolve anytime soon. They are trying their very best and their hearts break right along with ours when they are unable to save someone’s pet. In Storm’s name, spread love and kindness.  

Storm’s mom would like to thank Dr. Erin Corrigan, Dr. Sarah Guest and the entire staff at Fairmount Animal hospital for their loving care for Storm through her entire life; Dr. Danielle Davignon and her Internal Medicine staff at the Veterinary Medical Center of CNY for their specialized expertise over the last several months; Storm’s dear friends Jessie, Lis and Victoria at C.A.R.E. Pet Therapy for helping to keep Storm strong, mobile and as pain-free as possible in the last months of her life; and Jerry Pettigrass at Pettigrass Heavenly Pets for offering a wonderful service for families to say goodbye to their furry family members with dignity and respect.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Storm aka Horsey, please visit our floral store.