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Sophie is Gone

3K views 42 replies 42 participants last post by  Harleysmum 
#1 ·
My heart is broken once again. My precious Sophie went to the Rainbow Bridge this morning. I knew when we adopted her at age 11 yrs 5 weeks back on Feb. 17, 2015 that we would not have her a long time, possibly even just months. But we had her 1 year and 8 months.

She had been with her original owners for 11 years, ever since she was 5 weeks old. We picked up her and she was so scared on the 100 mile ride home. She had no idea what was going on. But she soon learned that this was her home and we loved her and soon she was acting like she had been with us her entire life.

She paid no attention at all to birds, cats, possums, other dogs. She very rarely barked. During the winter she would scratch to come in and if we didn't open the door soon, she let out a single woof. Only 2-3 times did I ever hear bark a true bark, 3-4 woofs over something. She loved people, and as with all goldens, love attention. If she saw our Great Pyrenees getting attention, she pushed in despite an almost 50 pound weight difference.

She loved her teddy bear, which they sent with her. she loved to run around with a stick and then chew on it. She loved to roll in wet grass and go out in the rain. She loved to nap in the cool sand under the cedar tree, sand the sun never touched. In winter, she loved to sleep on the sofa at night, nap on her pallet on the floor during the day. And she loved her nightly dessert. We have dessert every night and leave a tad in our bowls on on our plates for the dogs. Moose gets Jerry's, Sophie got mine. She would stand there, those bright eyes shining, ears perked watching for me to hold the dish out so she could clean it.

During the time we had her, she had one hot spot. She had 3 seizures, the last in early August. That is when we found she was also anemic. A couple of weeks later tests were made and no reason could be found for her anemia. We started her on Adequan due to her bad hips and knees and it helped her so much. She was even wanting to go for short walks once again.

Monday she was constipated and didn't want to do anything except lay under the tree. I called the vet to find out what I could give her and they told me pumpkin. I put some on bread and she loved it. We made her stay in and only go on leash so we could watch to make sure she pooped. She pooped yesterday morning. We were doing yard work and she followed us around, tho often laying down to rest. Last night she would not eat her supper, tho she did eat the little piece of bread with pumpkin on it. We thought maybe she had eaten the food Moose had left from breakfast (dry kibble). Then last night she hardly touched her little dab of ice cream--and she loves ice cream.

I let her out at 5:30 this morning and left the door open but she didn't come back in. When I got their brafast at 8:00, I went out to get her and had to help her up, her backend just gave out. She went into the grass ot pee and just sat down to pee and I had to get her back end up. Started towards the house and just went down. Her breathing seemed off,. I took her tad or bread with pumpkin out and she wouldn't even sniff it. I looked and her gums were white. And I knew it was time.

called my vet and they said they would send someone out to help us get her in--know our ages and bad hearts. Son came over, but he has shingles on his back and not much help. We followed in our car and then they left us sit with her for about 15 minutes saying goodbye while she could hear. I held her head, Jerry rubbed her back as she went to sleep. Before that I had cut a clipping of her curly fur on her chest to keep. We stayed with her another 10 minutes or so. They called the crematorium to come and get her. Her ashes will be buried in our back yard with the boyd of Hunter and the ashes of Kaycee, Buck, Honey and Shaggy. They all loved the yard and their ashes should be out there in the place they loved to be.

I know it has only been a few hours, but I just had to talk about my Sophie Girl. She came into our lives so scared and left knowing she was so loved. The puppy pictures were given to me by her former owners.

RIP my so very sweet little curly red head. You will live forever in our hearts.
 

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#4 ·
Sandra, I'm so very sorry to hear about Sophie, I know what a beautiful, special girl she was. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.
 
#7 ·
Beautiful photos of a lovely girl. I'm so sorry for your heartbreak.
 
#9 ·
Very sorry for your loss.

Halfway through, when I read anemia, I knew exactly where this was going.. I just lost my boy a bit more than a month ago.
 
#17 ·
I am so sorry to hear about Sophie. I know she meant a lot to you both and I know also how much you will miss her. She was a very lucky girl, to have spent the last part of her life in a home where she was so loved. (I love the photo of her helping the dishwasher do a good job. She was quite a character, wasn't she?!)
 
#18 ·
What a lovely, sweet red head! I too adopted a senior red head and our time with her was too short. You obviously came into her life for a reason. To give joy to her last days. And you did. The pictures and your wonderful tribute say it all. Bless you for being there for her!
 
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#19 ·
My condolences to you and your family. You gave Sophie a wonderful life and she enriched your lives as well. So sorry.
 
#25 ·
Thank you everyone. We are still reeling. Tonight I went to her feeding spot to get her pan and remembered she was gone and would not be there to eat. As we watched TV Jerry said it didn't seem right to look over to the side where her pallet had been and not see her laying there. We had a dessert tonight that the dog had not cared for and when we had it I would put a spoon of ice cream in in a seperte bowl for them. I got out two bowls. I took two treats out of the treat jar before shutting everything down in there for the night.

Jerry put her pan in the garage in the stack of of crock pans we have used. No dog every used another's pan, so I have pans for Hunter, Buck, Kaycee, Honey, Shaggy and now Sophie's is there. He took up her pallet and washed and dried it. But we could bring ourselves to take up the mat we put her food pan on every night.

I lost my first dog in 1956 and have lost so many since, and everyone hurts beyond belief. But I know you true dog lovers totally understand. Thank you so much for your kind words.
 
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