| Angels Contents Page 1 | Angels Contents Page 2 | Angels Contents by Name |
| Sheltie Angel People | Loving Words | Links of Interest |
| Home | ||
Sheltie Angels Page Thirty-Three
"Casey"
Casey was a little guy who was
adopted and returned repeatedly to various shelters over his short
life here on earth and I do not want him to be forgotten. The
decision was made to put Casey to sleep after careful consideration
and discussion. He could not adjust to anyone and was very
defensive toward everyone. I choose to not go into what he did in
detail but I chose to see the lost potential and love for him no one
ever found. Shelties are very happy, sensitive and loving given the
chance. Casey did not get that. Looking at his face you see a
beautiful sheltie and it’s very hard to see the torment he must have
gone through in his life. These wonderful shelties are gifts given
to us to become our best friends and companions.
God bless you Casey, as you will be
better off and much happier now.
Roger
|
|
"Kosmo" December 9, 1994 - February 7, 2008
|
|
Kosmo was my first dog and made me the huge dog lover I am today. My husband wanted to give me a very special wedding present 13 years ago and so he did, one that touched my heart so deeply. Kosmo was with us for a little over 13 years but the time went by way too fast. A few years ago he was diagnosed with an advanced case of hip dysplasia and arthritis. I didn’t even know little dogs could be affected by hip dysplasia. He was such a good dog and never showed any symptoms until it got really bad. He really learned to compensate for it and used his front legs soooo much more. Then in April 2007 after a new veterinarian gave him a thorough check up and sent us to a specialist, he was diagnosed with Cushing’s disease and bladder cancer. We suspect he was plagued by Cushing’s disease for a very long time and despite our efforts, we were never really able to get it completely under control. We proceeded with surgery to remove the bladder cancer which was in the very early stages and treated with a medication in hopes it would never come back. The specialist said he came through surgery remarkably well for a 12 year old dog. Then in September after a follow up ultrasound, we found the cancer had returned and was more than one mass taking up about 45% of his bladder. We kept an eye on it and in December another ultrasound revealed it had grown just a little and was now taking up about 50-55% of his bladder. Kosmo's birthday was December 9th so he made it to his 13th birthday. Unfortunately he continued to get worse and had more and more bladder problems; he had to go constantly. Kosmo's hip dysplasia and arthritis were also getting worse; he was limping a lot and somehow his Cushing’s symptoms got worse again too. It was at this point my husband realized and pointed out to me that his quality of life just wasn’t that good anymore. I know how horrible it must have felt to feel like you have to go all the time and yet can never seem to empty your bladder fully and then having to get up with the pain of the hip dysplasia and arthritis constantly to go out. My husband said he thought it was time but would not make the decision for me. I had consulted with our vet so much in the past year I knew he wouldn’t make the suggestion or decision either. It’s not like I didn’t know it was going to have to happen one day and yes I had plenty of time to get prepared for it but I also had lots of time to agonize over it. Like anyone else, I wanted him to just fall asleep one night and not wake up again, at least then I would know it was his time. So, I finally made the decision and made the call to the vet who was kind enough to come to our house to euthanize Kosmo. Once I made the decision I wanted to get it over with as soon as possible so I didn’t have to dread it so much, but now I feel as if it was rushed, he was here one minute and gone the next. The vet commented how Kosmo still had so much spunk in him despite all the pain and illness. He had never stopped eating and many dogs would have given up a long time ago and just refused to eat; Kosmo really had a strong will to live, that just makes me feel worse. I know what I did was out of nothing but love and devotion to Kosmo and it was a completely selfless act to take his pain away onto myself but I just feel so guilty and feel such a huge loss. I had no idea it would hurt this bad. I stayed with him while the vet was here and I can still see him eating a treat until he just dozed off to sleep from the sedative. He was sleeping so peacefully and was soooooo adorable as always. The vet gave a sedative first so he would have no idea about the other injection. Then I saw him take his last breath, his little chest just stopped moving and I knew he was gone. Again, it all seemed so rushed and at that moment I realized, No, I’m not ready and I want him back. I’ve done a lot of reading and research and I know all these feelings are perfectly normal but I still feel so bad. So here’s what I need to say to Kosmo: |
|
Kosmo, my sweet adorable little Angel, the "Prince" as Daddy called you – I miss you soooooo much and I hope you know what I did was what I thought you would want. I know you were in pain and I just wanted to end that pain for you and I didn’t want you to experience much worse pain. But I wasn’t done with you, I really expected to have another couple of years with you. I feel like I took you for granted and didn’t spend as much time with you as I should have, especially during those early years when I was gone for such long hours working downtown. I hope you know I would have done anything for you and did all I could to try to get rid of the cancer and to ease your symptoms of the Cushing’s, hip dysplasia and arthritis. I don’t know why you had to be the one to get cancer and it is unfair because you were such a special little dog, the best little dog in the whole world. You hold such a special place in my heart and you always will; no other dog will ever replace you. I feel so lost without you but I hope you don’t feel the same way. I know you miss being with us but I hope, wherever you are, you are happy and healthy again, finally rid of the old broken down little dog body and got one that is strong and healthy. Yes, I am grieving and it hurts really bad but I don’t want you to feel bad. I can do enough of that for the both of us. Baby dog, I have no idea what is next, if anything, after our life here, but I hope there is and if there is I know I will see you again one day and that will fill the hole I have in my heart right now. I think of you everyday and have a little memorial set up with pictures of you and a beautiful urn with your ashes. I miss you and it just isn’t the same around here without you. I wish there was some way I could know you understand and agree with what I did and that you are happier now. I hate the thought that maybe you weren’t ready to go. I hope you had a wonderful life with us, we really tried to make it the best ever. Kosmo, thank you for being such a wonderful little dog and for loving us so unconditionally like you did. Thank you for just being you. I don’t know what I’m gonna do without you, but I hold onto the hope that one day we will be together again. All my love forever, your Mommy |
|
Lucky Rice Newman 1990 - 2007
|
|
|
At Least I know you loved to
eat snow
Poem by Katy Newman |
|
|
"Lassie" June 3, 1980 - June 5, 1992
|
|
Our Lassie was the best dog you could ever wish for. Part of the family, I still feel lost without her and it's been 16 years since her death. Not a day goes by I don't shed a tear for my beloved Lassie. What haunts me is that at the time of her death I was not able to afford a proper funeral for her. I was devastated, so my husband took her to our Humane Society to ask how much cremation would be. Standing there holding Lassie with tears streaming down his cheeks, they took pity on my husband and cremated her at no charge, but we weren't allowed to have her ashes. I feel I lost her forever, all because I couldn't afford to keep her ashes. God promises we will meet again, and I pray I will have the privilege to see my little girl again. Since Lassie, we have been blessed with another Sheltie. She is old now, at 14 years, but she is well taken care of and loved with all our hearts. With love, Lucy Swales |
"Shelley"
|
This is about Shelley, my dear friend and companion. She passed away after seventeen years of wonderful contributions to my and my family's lives. We shared every joy, every trial and even a few adventures. No human can ever fully appreciate the loyalty these wonderful creatures have to give. We simply don't have the same loyalty gene. Years ago I had a severe heart attack and was home alone with Shelley. As I flirted with consciousness I realized her face might be the last face I may ever see. That was a great comfort to me and buoyed my will to live. I am eternally grateful I had the opportunity to be the last face she ever saw. I miss her deeply. My first impression (after she died) was to round up and put away all her things. But it dawned on me that I don't want to forget - ever. I now cherish and display all the things she was. And I miss her deeply. Tony Michalski |
|
|
|
"Bonnie" From Always to Eternity
|
|
Now, I must to tell you about our sweet and gentle daughter we lost in April 2008. On Saturday morning she ate a little food and drank some water, she snoozed and awhile later she came outside to be with us. The minute she walks outside, she barks, wants to play and does her little bouncy thing, which she did. She played for a little while with her ball while we were watering the flowers out back. She always barks to tell us she wants to play in the water, bites the water then jumps back and continues barking. She absolutely loved the water and when she was finished my wife dried her off then she returned to the house to snooze again.
When I
went into the house I checked on her and found her on the floor sleeping and
shaking like a leaf. I picked her up and knew she would be leaving us that
very day; something was terribly wrong. We called the vet and she said to
bring in. She slept in my arms until we were ready to go, not knowing for
sure if we were going to lose her on the way to the hospital. Once were
there the decision was made by my wife and I, and her former foster mom to
send her to the bridge a This year she was 14 years old by everyone’s guess and came to us in October 2006 after a year plus of convalescence. She was what people call a throw-away dog: She was thrown into a busy intersection to be run over by her owners as they did not want to deal with her anymore. She was very sick with high fever, deaf, had bad eye sight, black teeth and a large growth on her snout. She was the gentlest, loving sheltie anyone could ever imagine and was treated so badly in her younger years. We fell in love with her right off the bat and there was no question she would come to live with us forever. Fetch was her favorite game. She would bounce up and down letting you know “throw the ball.” Then she would run in a circle around me and I would throw the ball. As her fine, long fur floated in the wind she was absolutely beautiful. Also, she loved being held. It was her passion. She loved to ride in the car and would look out the window to feel the wind on her face. Being the older sheltie in our house we affectionately called her 'Grandma' or 'Bon-Bon'. Her other nick name was the 'Wonder Dog'. She took to both of us right away. She followed me everywhere and always greeted me when I came home from work or a trip, without fail. She would go down on her front legs, her butt in the air, and bark when ever I arrived back home. She always knew when I got home, even being deaf. Her mom Susan worshiped her and could never understand the abuse she must have taken.
Bonnie was very magical and we will never forget her, nor will our friends. She touched many peoples' lives with her determination and they all miss her as we do. There is no doubt in our hearts we will meet again someday. Now she has no more aches or pains, she has her teeth and sight back, and is at her prime.
We love and miss you dearly,
Bonnie. |
s
she could not be saved, there was only a 5 % chance. I held her the entire
time, and especially close to my heart as she passed on.
Her name was Bonnie and she is the bright spot in our life.
She came to us through a sheltie rescue group and we never have regretted
that decision. Taking on an older sheltie was not an issue; they need a good
home and love too. During the 18 months she was with us it felt like she had
been with us forever. Losing her was like losing a very close family member
and friend, which she will always be. Bonnie had magic as most shelties do,
but she was very, very special. She showed people the proof in her being
alive on how to overcome adversity. She had a strong will to live and
enjoyed living.
Sheltie Angels Page Thirty-Four