AgileOllie
11-10-2008, 08:26 PM
Ryan came into our lives in January of 2002 when her mom and dad were deployed to Iraq. We were her foster parents while they were gone. At that time she was about 12 years old. While she was with us, she had an arthritis attack in her neck on two occasions. She was given medication for it and seemed just fine after that. We fostered her for a year and of course, won our hearts. She was our alarm clock- annoyingly waking us up with a very loud and obnoxious bark every morning at 5am. When her family came home from Iraq, they decided that giving her one pill a day for an indefinite amount of time was too much of a burden, so they asked us where they could 'take her.' Of course, we knew that she was home with us. I remember the look of confusion on her face when her first humans walked out the door with out her. Even though she'd grown to love us, they were her parents for the last 12 years.
Time went on, and she became a stable part of our home. Where we went, she went. She was most certainly a daddy's girl. She had no problem letting me know it, either. She was his constant shadow. We both loved her, but she was his 'little girl.'
Ryan was the greeting committee for every new foster that came into our home. She was never ungracious. She helped raise litters of puppies, she helped calm the scared, and she laid with the sick. She was a true ambassador for rescue.
As the years passed, her health began to fade- first her hearing (we'd battled constant ear infections for her entire life) then her eyesight went. She'd lost slight mobility in the rear on 3 occasions, only to rally when we'd least expected it. Ryan was not a complainer- it usually took serious weekly exams to find anything wrong with her.
Recently she began to loose weight and in the course of a month lost about 1.5 pounds. She stopped exploring. She started having accidents in the house, which was highly unusual for Miss Prim and Proper. She no longer barked to be let out. She no longer barked just to bark. We knew the end was near, but we tried so hard to dismiss the obvious signs. Over the last couple of days I began to notice that kidney smell that is unforgettable, once you know what it is. I knew that her kidneys were failing her. I knew she was in pain. I just wanted one more day to let her know that even though she was a daddy's girl, that I loved her too.
We brought her today to our vet who has known her for years- even before we had her. He agreed with our thoughts and gently helped her to the bridge. She gave me one last lick- something reserved for daddy alone- and then fell asleep. It seemed as though everyone in the building knew what was happening. The dogs in the kennels in the back fell completely silent. My son, 19 months old, rubbed my back quietly as I cried over her. He softly blew her a kiss and pet her soft coat one more time.
Her daddy stayed with her in the room for the next half hour, just telling her he loved her.
We brought her home and buried her in between two crepe mertles that were planted several years ago in memory of Ryan's brother and sister who'd gone before her. It made my heart ache to see Miguel, usually strong and composed hold her in his arms one last time and tell her he was sorry and that he loved her.
Ryan had a long life and was loved by many, but made a huge impact to each and every foster that crossed our threshold. I know that everyone of them who has passed before her is bouncing in joy at the bridge, happy to welcome someone who welcomed them so warmly in the past.
A candle is lit for you little girl.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM0703.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM1024.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM0777small.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM0838small.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/RYAN.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM1465.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM1469.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM1521.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM1618.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM1814.jpg
Time went on, and she became a stable part of our home. Where we went, she went. She was most certainly a daddy's girl. She had no problem letting me know it, either. She was his constant shadow. We both loved her, but she was his 'little girl.'
Ryan was the greeting committee for every new foster that came into our home. She was never ungracious. She helped raise litters of puppies, she helped calm the scared, and she laid with the sick. She was a true ambassador for rescue.
As the years passed, her health began to fade- first her hearing (we'd battled constant ear infections for her entire life) then her eyesight went. She'd lost slight mobility in the rear on 3 occasions, only to rally when we'd least expected it. Ryan was not a complainer- it usually took serious weekly exams to find anything wrong with her.
Recently she began to loose weight and in the course of a month lost about 1.5 pounds. She stopped exploring. She started having accidents in the house, which was highly unusual for Miss Prim and Proper. She no longer barked to be let out. She no longer barked just to bark. We knew the end was near, but we tried so hard to dismiss the obvious signs. Over the last couple of days I began to notice that kidney smell that is unforgettable, once you know what it is. I knew that her kidneys were failing her. I knew she was in pain. I just wanted one more day to let her know that even though she was a daddy's girl, that I loved her too.
We brought her today to our vet who has known her for years- even before we had her. He agreed with our thoughts and gently helped her to the bridge. She gave me one last lick- something reserved for daddy alone- and then fell asleep. It seemed as though everyone in the building knew what was happening. The dogs in the kennels in the back fell completely silent. My son, 19 months old, rubbed my back quietly as I cried over her. He softly blew her a kiss and pet her soft coat one more time.
Her daddy stayed with her in the room for the next half hour, just telling her he loved her.
We brought her home and buried her in between two crepe mertles that were planted several years ago in memory of Ryan's brother and sister who'd gone before her. It made my heart ache to see Miguel, usually strong and composed hold her in his arms one last time and tell her he was sorry and that he loved her.
Ryan had a long life and was loved by many, but made a huge impact to each and every foster that crossed our threshold. I know that everyone of them who has passed before her is bouncing in joy at the bridge, happy to welcome someone who welcomed them so warmly in the past.
A candle is lit for you little girl.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM0703.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM1024.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM0777small.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM0838small.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/RYAN.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM1465.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM1469.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM1521.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM1618.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/agileollie/HPIM1814.jpg