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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 |
#2
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Cassandra Abigail 1991-2006
"bizby40" wrote in news:QeWdnfpyZdIiclreRVn-
: 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. A lovely tribute to a lovely dog. -- Marcel and Moogli http://mudbunny.blogspot.com/ |
#3
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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 |
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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