The passing of a sweet soul- in loving memory.

It has been a difficult day today. Rose fought as long as she could. She had her good moments and bad moments. But today her time had come and she left us, even though she didn't want to. The drugs made her comfortable, and little by little as the day wore on, she had her ups and downs of rest and struggles. Throughout the day, I would carry her outside to let her do her business and at one time she collapsed as though she had given up; I picked her up and held her and provided her with all the things she loved. She even coughed a bark wanting a yogurt treat. By late afternoon, her tongue soon changed color and I knew that her heart was not getting enough oxygen. I was preparing to take her to the Emergency clinic; making the appropriate phone calls, but she quickly faded before we could take that journey. I sat beside her as she lay in her soft bed in her crate and petted her and talked to her. She knew I was there, cocking her ears to my voice, as she took her final breath. I feel better that she left us within her home that was familiar to her than with strange people in a strange and scary clinic. I was able to be there with her to say my final farewell and the last "Rosie is a good girl."

She came into my life as an 8 week old puppy and lived a long and happy life with us to the age of 13 1/2 years. As she aged, her health deteriorated with a collasping trachea, and plagued with food and pollen allergies. Not wanting to put her through a surgery that was known to fail to correct the collapsed trachea, the Vet provided her with various medications to make her more comfortable. Her heart eventually became enlarged and soon took up all the available space squeezing her lungs and closing her trachea.
She always feared the Vet's clinic of is strange smells and animal cries, and I'm content that she was able to cross rainbow bridge at home. It will be strange to come home and not hear her talking yodel and happy greeting, or hear her demanding yapping when it's dinner time, or when she is determined to eat a stray Kleenex, or to sneak into Natalie's room to find a piece of paper to chew up when I'm trying to snatch if from her.

I will always hold fast to the fond memories and feelings of pride as she stole the hearts of everyone around her watching her prance around the obedience training ring or when we took walks down the street. She was a bundle of life and happiness. Her big brown eyes twinkled with alertness and intelligence. And for a little girl being so smart as she was, we soon had to spell "cookie" backwards because she knew what we said when we spelled c-o-o-k-i-e trying to keep her unaware of what we were saying. We couldn't fool her. She would cock her head at me when I told her she was a "pretty puppy" and always watched me, reaching up to give me a kiss on the chin. She was a big kisser and loved to give me kisses all the time. She knew when I didn't feel well and would try and lick all the pain and suffering away. She was such a sweetheart and wonderful companion even though she did have her moments of being quiet a pill around the house. She loved me with all her heart as I did her and she fought long and hard for many months to stay by my side and in our family. In the end, I was beside her side comforting her as she grew tired and slowly gave in to what her heart was choking out. For such a sweet soul that didn't want to go, I know it was difficult for her, as death is hard to understand, fearing the unknown of what lay ahead. However, in my heart I know that God will hold her tiny spirit in His hands, and I will always love her and I know she knew it in those passing seconds of her life.
There is already a sort of void in the house with her gone. She will be greatly missed each and everyday. She now can rest in peace and hopefully if there is a place in heaven for these little loving spirits; she will once again be able to prance and play, tossing her toys up over her back and in the air or growling viciously as she shakes her toy rolling on top of it with all the zest and life she once had.

August 5, 1996-February 28, 2010. AKC - Deb's Sweet Sunset Rose, aka: Rosie, nickname: "Fuzzy-butt."

Away from Dogster for awhile

I've been away from Dogster for a while because I've been in bad health for a long time. However, Mom found a food that happened to make all my itchiness go away! Its so nice not have to scratch or itch! Mom says the Vet told her to try this Hill's Perscription Z/D food and even though I'm not crazy about the flavor ... I don't itch anymore.
Now all I do is cough. It's so hard to breathe. My nose is usually stopped up because I do sneeze a lot, my eyes water, and the cough is always there. Mom finally started giving me some medicine, but I don't mind it if I get it in peanut butter! I hate the cough medicine, that taste absolutely nasty! Mom and I are usually fighting over me taking it.
The doctor says my heart and lungs sound good, but I started doing a lot of bathroom time ... I squat all over the yard and potty several times too. I don't know why ... maybe I'm just getting old and this is normal. She also said that my trachea is probably collasped more and that's why I wheeze and cough a lot. It's not fun, and I'm tired of coughing. Mom doesn't like it either and pokes that nasty cough medicine down my throat! Gag!

Rose

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY!

It's my birthday today. I guess when you get this old, it really doesn't mean much. It's just another day full of itching, sniffing and rolling in the grass. Mom doesn't like me rolling, she fusses at me when I come running to her carrying half of the entire yard grass in my fur. I can't help it ... I smelled something that I just had to roll all over on it.
I did get a few treats and a big hug from Mom ... I love fresh cut apple slices and sweet potato treats. Yum.

Rose

Feeling old

I've been away for awhile ... as each day passes by I feel more of my age setting in my bones. I don't play much anymore and just lay around watching the Shelties play. Mom holds me on her lap when I insist to be held. It really makes Anna fussy, but that's too bad ... I was here first.
I still have the itchy going on ... Mom still gives me my peanut butter treats .... and a pill to help with my allergies. I've lost a lot of my coat because I won't leave myself alone with all the scratching. Mom says she's thinking of putting baby booties on my back feet. Like that's going to happen! She better not! I'll have those stupid things off in a second! I just have to scratch!
Mom changed my food over to straight meat with no grain to see if it would help, but it hasn't much.

I've got to go scratch now ...

Itchy Rose

Christmas

Christmas was fun this year. Mom gave all of us special Christmas stockings that she hung on the fireplace mantle. I got a couple of plush squeak toys and a rawhide candy cane. Then Mom gave us all some special dog cookies. Unfortunately, I scared Mom too badly and accidently swallowed my cookie whole which was too big for me to swallow and I fell over and collapsed, unable to breathe. I quickly coughed it up since it was breaking up in small pieces. I was okay, but Mom was so upset she wouldn't let me chew on my rawhide anymore.
I played with my new toys, showing off to my family that I still have what it takes to toss them in the air and growl at them. However, I haven't been feeling very well for sometime. My allergies are worse and my coat is starting to get thin on my back. Mom is concerned that might be my thyroid and plans to take me to the doctor to have blood work done. I hate that! I don't like needles. I'm really itchy and worried with a spot on my back. My medicine isn't working anymore. The coughing and itching is such a bother these days. At least Mom is there to make me feel comfortable the best way she can.

Until next time .....

Rose.

Thanksgiving Holiday

Oh! I just love the fall season! Mom says I've been acting a bit crazy and playful more so than usual! Well, I feel good ... love the cool air in my hair and the warm sunshine in my face when I lay out across the top step of our back porch in the mornings. I still have my cough, I don't think that will ever go away, and Mom seems to think that my hair is getting thin. But, I feel spunky and playful all the same. Nothing too exciting has happened lately ... but I did get some pieces of that wonderful smelling turkey! YUM!
Mom has been super busy but she always seems to have time for me and my fur family to take a little R&R and play time!
Thanksgiving was yummy ... I can't wait for the snow to come! Mom doesn't like it much when I get out in it ... there always seems to be these big snow balls hanging all over me when I come back in the house!
Until next time ....

Rose

New Pictures ... *sigh*

Another tramatic day again! Mom decided to take some pictures of me and my family. I so don't like having my picture taken! Mom just happen to get some good pictures I guess; she put them on my profile. Jazzy was whispering in my ear that I needed to do what Mom asked me to do ... but ... she just doesn't understand how scared I get when Mom brings out that camera.
I could only take so much of this mess. Mom got so mad at me when I snapped at her hand a couple of times when she was trying to get me to look at her. I wound up in my crate after that. Mom didn't even speak to me when she gave me my dinner. I don't like it when she gets mad at me. I guess I'm just getting too old and cranky for all this stuff. Jazzy and Anna told me about how they got to wear pumpkin jackets and sitting real pretty for the camera ... I just don't want anything to do with it, that's how I feel about the whole thing! *sigh*

Rose

HORRIBLE Day!

Mom MADE me pose for a CAMERA! I didn't like it at all! She had this woman there with a camera taking pictures of Anna & Jazzy. Cameras are so dreadful. They have these bright lights and they flash and make all kinds of noises. I get so scared of them. I don't know why Anna & Jazzy think that cameras are so great! I get these panic attacks, I just want to be invisible. I try to hide, but Mom finds me. She wanted me to do my ballerina twirl for a cookie, but when I saw that light in the woman's hands pointing at me ... well, pffff! I'm leaving! I headed down the hall to find some place to become invisible.
Mom tricked me though. She got me outside with Anna & Jazzy and MADE me sit there in front of them. Anna whispered that I had to look pretty. It was all I could do to stay in a sit position. I so wanted to be invisible, that camera was near by! Mom gave me a big hug and a cookie for such a horrible ordeal. I'm so glad it's all over.

Rose

An Adventure to the Scottish Games

Mom took me on an adventure walk to a place called the Scottish Games. It was so neat! There were a lot of people milling about, and I could hear these drums and bagpipes playing. Some of the people wore some really strange clothes, and a few of them talked funny too.
Mom carried me most of the time so I wouldn't get stepped on and it helped me from coughing so much. Wearing a halter leash can be a real burden for me. There were so many people. A lot of kids wanted to pet me on the head, and one little girl gave me a kiss on the cheek and a little hug. That was pretty cool.
I met a few Scotty dogs that were a bit over bearing, and a couple of Westies that were in my face, loud and verbal!
I even got to see what looked like a giant monster. It didn't scare me because I couldn't tell what it was until Mom picked me up and held me up to see it better. It sniffed me, blowing it's hot breath on me! It made me blink. Mom says they call it a Clysdale horse, but whatever it is, it was really, really big! I didn't like it sniffing me too much either.

After we left there, Mom stopped at this place and had some food brought to the car. Oh! The smell of that food was sooo, sooo good! I couldn't help shivering with excitement! You know what? She let me share a few of her french fries! I really love french fries! Yummm! Mom doesn't let me have too much so I can keep my womanly figure!
Then we went to a store that had so many cool doggie things, and I got to eat a few tiny peanut butter bone cookies! Just my size!
What better way to end such an exciting day ...getting sniffed by a horse, kissed by kids, and gobbling up some french fries, munching on a few treats and taking a well deserved nap for the drive home.
Such a queen's life ... sigh.

Rose