Were do I begin? Snuffy was my heart and my soul. She has been with me forever, and will always be in my heart. I got her as a pup,or I should say she got me! when I lived on a horse farm. At age 10 weeks, when I brought her home, she was already house broken. She feared nothing. She had the attitude that the world was put here just for her. I was her chauffer, maid, cook and companian. I did her bidding. She loved everyone and everything, and they loved her. She was a hunter, a fisher and a teacher. She would go Dove hunting with my husband, inspect his deer that he brought home. Go fishing with the both of us, loved the trips we took on the boat.
She has been with me through 3 moves, a marriage, death of my father and of my husband, choosing my next love, our first house, and our move to the mountains. She helped me to decide to share my home and our love to help rescue other dogs and find them homes. She helped 8Ball realize that not all people were bad, she taught her to be loving and assertive and nurturing.
The last few years we realized Snuffy had become deaf. Exactly when that happened we don't know. Like many floppy eared dogs, she had been plagued with on and off ear infections,caused by allergies. She hid her secret well. She knew our moves and our thoughts. She knew when Ralph went into the kitchen, it was generally for something good to eat! She was there in a heartbeat. She knew when we were about to do anything, she knew what it was and whether she wanted any parts of it or not. She could read our minds and our hearts.
Me and Snuffy, 15 years ago, the begining of our journey together.
Me and the "girls" on the deck.
Snuffy loved to play stick
8Ball,Cricket and Snuffy in our new yard.
Snuffy enjoying the winter sun by the backdoor
Snuffy in the living room of our new home
These last three pictures were the last ones taken of Snuffy. She only wanted her picture taken when SHE said it was ok. Like I said the world was here for her, everything on her terms. Six weeks earlier she had been diagnosed with stage 4 Lymphoma. We had no warning until it was too late. We gave her meds to make her comfortable, she got to eat whatever she wanted, chicken mcnuggets, pizza, etc. When she stopped eating, I knew she was ready to go. She went to the "Bridge" in my arms. She is at peace now. The hardest thing I've had to do. We are having her cremated and will scatter her ashes on the back hill, where the deer and other wildlife come, she'd like that. The world was here for her, now she will be, as always, here with her world.
15 years is a long time, but never enough time. I still look for her laying beside me while I work on the computer or sit on the deck. I still look for her at feeding time, but she no longer comes. We shared the journey of life together, I thank her for that. I thank her for the escapades we enjoyed together. I thank her for the strength she has given me, the forgiveness she always showed. She always had a smile and a kiss, no matter what. I am the person I am today because of her.
Be at peace my love and know we will be together always!
Don't know what Rainbow Bridge is? Click "here" to read a beautifully illistrated poem.
