Your Pet Tributes

(Ohio)

Died January 11, 2012.

I'll never forget seeing you at the pound on my twelfth birthday, with your little blonde face, big brown eyes, and dancing butt wiggling all over. They were supposed to put you down the next day, but we wanted to give you a second life. And, over the course of ten amazing years, you gave us all a second life.

My favorite part of seeing you was coming home and seeing how excited you got every time I walked through the door. You would go to greet everyone, but nobody got a welcome like I did. Your whole body would shake, you would run around in circles, you sometimes peed a little bit. What more could a girl ask for?!

Moving away to college was the hardest part of our relationship. I wouldn't have you at my feet every night, and you wouldn't get belly rubs whenever I came back from school in the afternoon. It made out time together that much more special, though. And I knew Mom was taking care of you as best she could. I don't know if you knew, but I was always getting pictures and updates of you. Since Dad retired, you became his daughter and his companion.

When I went home over this most recent Christmas, we knew there was something wrong. Yes, you were about 14, but you never showed signs of age until very recently. You would still chase squirrels around the backyard and have that spark in every step you took. Most dogs your age couldn't make it around the block once, but you took on the entire neighborhood regularly with our walks last summer.

Our time with you could never be measured in years, but only in memories. We've lost the littlest, and one of the sweetest, members of our family. Even though you weren't well, we had hopes that you get better, even if it was just for a bit. It happened quickly, but nothing comforts me more than knowing you didn't suffer. I wish I wish I could have been there, but I know, as you took your last breath on Mom's lap, you were entering a world of peace and endless Snausages.

Heiny, losing you is the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but I know deep in my heart, all this heartache was worth every amazing minute of you. Your spirit lives on with us until we get to play with you in the backyard again someday.

We all love and miss you, and we know, wherever you are, you are doing just fine watching over of us, waiting for scraps of food to fall.