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Cassandra Abigail 1991-2006



 
 
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  #1  
Old January 13th 06, 07:21 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
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Default Cassandra Abigail 1991-2006

Cassie crossed the Rainbow Bridge today. In the end, there
was no other decision I could make. She'd lost all pleasure
in life, and easing her way out was the only way I had left to
help her.

Cassie lived a good long life. She was 14 1/2 years old I
remember the day I got her. She was rather dropped in my
lap by an aunt, so I never saw her before I went to pick her
up. I'd only ever met one Sheltie, so I was expecting her to
look just like Lassie. Imagine my surprise when what I got
was a tiny dog with no hair, a *huge* triangle head, and her
tail tucked between her legs!! I thought it must be a joke!
But of course her hair grew. And grew. And kept growing
for something like 3 years. In the end, she was absolutely
gorgeous. She was a soft buttery brown with black ink poured
over top. She had a wide, beautiful snow-white ruff around
her neck, and the cutest little ears that stuck straight up. And
her downward facing tail looked just right.

She was the best dog a woman could have. She was my first
dog as an adult, and my companion through life. She saw me
through marriage, and two kids, and finally a new puppy. She
bore all changes with grace and dignity, and even in her last
days kept that puppy in his place.

Cassie was not a typical Sheltie in all ways. She was very
calm in the house, and almost never barked inside -- at least
in her younger days. Yet she let loose like a bolt of lightning
outside. I can still remember her streaking around the back
yard of my first townhouse, and standing on her hind legs to
look over the fence. She had a face that almost always
looked sad in repose, but when she moved, her entire body
expressed pure joy. She was brave and true, and considered
it her mission in life to chase away all thunderstorms from our
property. She was good at it too -- every single one left....
eventually. When we moved to a house in the woods, she
was in heaven. She had squirrels to chase, the occasional
toad or turtle or even snake(!) to bark at. She had her own
stream that she could go splash in or drink from. And of
course she had one or two unfortunate encounters with
skunks!

Her last years were not easy ones. The arthritis came
first, then the cataracts, deafness, and senility. She had
to be shaved due to recurring skin infections, so she lost
her beautiful coat as well. But she bore it all stoically,
and she'd be with us still if that damn cancer hadn't come
along. It was finally too much for her. She'd been going
downhill quickly in the last weeks. About a week ago
her face started swelling. Last night was when I knew
we'd reached the end. I took her out to potty, and she
started retching violently and stood throwing up for several
minutes. She came in and slept peacefully through the
night. This morning the swelling had worsened severely.
She was uninterested in eating, had trouble even breathing
or swallowing with her mouth so swollen. I took her to
the vet at 11:00. She complained a little at the needle
prick, but her eyes closed peacefully almost immediately,
and her heart stopped beating mere seconds later.

I will always miss my friend, but my heart is glad knowing
that there is an end to her pain. I do believe that she has
crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and that she is in a happy
place now, her spirit soaring as she used to do when she
was young.

God speed Cassie. I love you.

Bizby


  #3  
Old January 13th 06, 07:34 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
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Default Cassandra Abigail 1991-2006

On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 13:21:49 -0500, "bizby40"
wrote:

Cassie crossed the Rainbow Bridge today. In the end, there
was no other decision I could make. She'd lost all pleasure
in life, and easing her way out was the only way I had left to
help her.

Cassie lived a good long life. She was 14 1/2 years old I
remember the day I got her. She was rather dropped in my
lap by an aunt, so I never saw her before I went to pick her
up. I'd only ever met one Sheltie, so I was expecting her to
look just like Lassie. Imagine my surprise when what I got
was a tiny dog with no hair, a *huge* triangle head, and her
tail tucked between her legs!! I thought it must be a joke!
But of course her hair grew. And grew. And kept growing
for something like 3 years. In the end, she was absolutely
gorgeous. She was a soft buttery brown with black ink poured
over top. She had a wide, beautiful snow-white ruff around
her neck, and the cutest little ears that stuck straight up. And
her downward facing tail looked just right.

She was the best dog a woman could have. She was my first
dog as an adult, and my companion through life. She saw me
through marriage, and two kids, and finally a new puppy. She
bore all changes with grace and dignity, and even in her last
days kept that puppy in his place.

Cassie was not a typical Sheltie in all ways. She was very
calm in the house, and almost never barked inside -- at least
in her younger days. Yet she let loose like a bolt of lightning
outside. I can still remember her streaking around the back
yard of my first townhouse, and standing on her hind legs to
look over the fence. She had a face that almost always
looked sad in repose, but when she moved, her entire body
expressed pure joy. She was brave and true, and considered
it her mission in life to chase away all thunderstorms from our
property. She was good at it too -- every single one left....
eventually. When we moved to a house in the woods, she
was in heaven. She had squirrels to chase, the occasional
toad or turtle or even snake(!) to bark at. She had her own
stream that she could go splash in or drink from. And of
course she had one or two unfortunate encounters with
skunks!

Her last years were not easy ones. The arthritis came
first, then the cataracts, deafness, and senility. She had
to be shaved due to recurring skin infections, so she lost
her beautiful coat as well. But she bore it all stoically,
and she'd be with us still if that damn cancer hadn't come
along. It was finally too much for her. She'd been going
downhill quickly in the last weeks. About a week ago
her face started swelling. Last night was when I knew
we'd reached the end. I took her out to potty, and she
started retching violently and stood throwing up for several
minutes. She came in and slept peacefully through the
night. This morning the swelling had worsened severely.
She was uninterested in eating, had trouble even breathing
or swallowing with her mouth so swollen. I took her to
the vet at 11:00. She complained a little at the needle
prick, but her eyes closed peacefully almost immediately,
and her heart stopped beating mere seconds later.

I will always miss my friend, but my heart is glad knowing
that there is an end to her pain. I do believe that she has
crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and that she is in a happy
place now, her spirit soaring as she used to do when she
was young.

God speed Cassie. I love you.

Bizby


That was a beautiful tribute to a treasured companion. Releasing her
from the pain and discomfort of old age and terminal illness was an
act of faithfulness that a dog like Cassie would respect and honor. I
am very sorry for your loss.

Mustang Sally


  #4  
Old January 13th 06, 07:46 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
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Default Cassandra Abigail 1991-2006

"bizby40" said in rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

I will always miss my friend, but my heart is glad knowing
that there is an end to her pain.


That was a wonderful tribute.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.
  #5  
Old January 13th 06, 07:46 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
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Posts: n/a
Default Cassandra Abigail 1991-2006

On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 13:21:49 -0500, "bizby40"
wrote:

Cassie crossed the Rainbow Bridge today. In the end, there
was no other decision I could make. She'd lost all pleasure
in life, and easing her way out was the only way I had left to
help her.


Oh geez - such a lovely tribute to make me cry today! Cassie sounds
wonderful and I know she'll be missed more than imaginable. How
joyous that we can free them when we need to. The bridge is full of
amazing company, so she's undoubtedly having a blast.



--
Janet B
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bestfr...bedience/album
  #6  
Old January 13th 06, 07:48 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
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Posts: n/a
Default Cassandra Abigail 1991-2006

"bizby40" wrote in news:QeWdnfpyZdIiclreRVn-
:

God speed Cassie.


I'm so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you.

--
Catherine
& Zoe the cockerchow
& Queenie the black gold retriever
& Rosalie the calico
  #7  
Old January 13th 06, 07:51 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
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Posts: n/a
Default Cassandra Abigail 1991-2006

On 13 Jan 2006 18:46:00 GMT, Rocky , clicked
their heels and said:

"bizby40" said in rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

I will always miss my friend, but my heart is glad knowing
that there is an end to her pain.


That was a wonderful tribute.


--
Janet B
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bestfr...bedience/album
  #8  
Old January 13th 06, 07:53 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
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Posts: n/a
Default Cassandra Abigail 1991-2006

On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 13:21:49 -0500, "bizby40"
wrote:

God speed Cassie. I love you.


i'm sorry for your loss. as hard as it must have been to let her go, it
was the most compassionate, caring, and respectful thing you could have
done for her.

--
shelly http://www.cat-sidh.net

You are responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are
responsible for your rose.
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
  #9  
Old January 13th 06, 08:05 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
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Posts: n/a
Default Cassandra Abigail 1991-2006

On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 13:46:49 -0500, Janet B
wrote:

The bridge is full of
amazing company, so she's undoubtedly having a blast.


Boy, isn't that the truth. There are some awesome dogs and cats
there.

Mustang Sally

  #10  
Old January 13th 06, 08:33 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
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Posts: n/a
Default Cassandra Abigail 1991-2006

"bizby40" wrote in message
...
I will always miss my friend, but my heart is glad knowing
that there is an end to her pain.


Godspeed Cassie.

And thoughts and prayers are with you all who are left behind.

~~Judy


 




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