Memorable Gifts
Beautifully Functional

Pet News

As my precious Sophie girl relaxes on the rug in my studio I’m reflecting on how much joy she has brought to our lives in her short 7 years and 10 months.

She recently got excited outside and did her normal ‘happy leap’ as her humans were walking out to relax under the pergola. This time when she landed however, we heard a loud cry and a heart-wrenching crack.

Because those fore-mentioned humans are ‘our’ people (and Sophie’s people) they stayed with us until we were able to load her up into the jeep and head for an emergency visit to our vet.

Unfortunately, after x-rays were taken we got a bad report. Sophie had 2 cracks in her left back leg, and a big tumor sitting right there beside them.

Because our vet is wonderful (even his assistant asked if I needed a hug…and I did), he was up front with us, gave us options, his recommendations due to her age (‘almost 8’ is not young for a Great Dane), and documentation to read on her condition (osteosarcoma), and meds for pain.

That was Thursday, and this is Monday. Her back leg no longer works, so we must help her up (and sometimes back down). If she gets to a part of the floor where there isn’t traction she slips and splays out, unable to get up.

Our bed has been moved downstairs temporarily, and there are rugs randomly placed all over the floor. You do ‘what ya gotta do’, right?

Some very real observations…Sophie is still all puppy in her mind. You can see it in her face. So it’s even more sad to see her body falling apart. She has the most soulful eyes I’ve ever seen, and they look right through me. She is my shadow, my lovebug, my sweetest of girls.

The estimate on her time left with us ranges from days to a few months, but my biggest prayer is this…

We want to know when the time is right to let her go. Not too soon, and not too late. She is eating, hippity hopping, and going potty (although sometimes on her good leg), and she still has sparkles in her sweet eyes.

I say this to let all of you know (my newsletter people that I cherish), that a particular pet memorial I sent out this week had wording that spoke straight to my heart. That wording was…

“There is no greater earthly privilege than to have been loved by a dog”.

It is an unconditional love, just like God’s love. This is why I know in my heart that every customer who is dealing with the loss of a dog, cat, horse, guinea pig, etc. will see them again on the other side. I just feel it.

God gave us these companions, and the honor of stewardship over them for a short time. They are gifts. Cherish EVERY moment with your four-legged (sometimes three-legged) babies. Because they most certainly cherish every moment with you.