Bee
Posted on June 27, 2011
Today we said goodbye to our sweet Millie aka "Bee". She came to us in 2003 from GRRACE(a Golden Retriever rescue organization). She came with noise anxieties to thunderstorms, fireworks, and for some reason, the beeping of my stove top. She soiled a lot of carpet, ruined a lot of shoe racks, and went through several spot bots. But she was also a certified Delta Pet Partner Therapy dog and brought smiles to the elderly in nursing homes. She participated in the United Way Day of Caring three years in a row with my employer and brought smiles to disadvantaged children that didn't have much to smile about, she saw my daughter off to the first day of school for 5 years, and she always participated in every social event we hosted at our home....by sprawling out in the most inconvenient spot. She acted old....until a neighbor who was watching her for me let her out on her own....and she suddenly became a puppy and ran for the hills(you know who you are Lynn Akerhielm). She loved frosty paws, lying on the cold floor, sleeping in our shower.....and she loved, loved, loved.....SNOW... Just like me. She cooperated every year for the Celebrity Kids Christmas card photo shoot, she let my daughter operate on her, and my Sunday school kids lay on her. She never ever barked....unless we forgot that we let her out to potty and she wanted to come back in. She loved to roll in dead things. She had bad breath....and she was an amazing creature. At first I thought her dramatic weight loss was depressing because we brought a new puppy into our home. Then someone pointed out to me that maybe she was just waiting to make sure a suitable replacement had been found before she let the massive tumor in her belly take her down. Today the pancreatic cancer was confirmed.....and she refused a frosty paw. What other data does one need. Our life long vet, Dr Mike Havens at Parkside animal hospital in Fishers, helped us say goodbye. My good friends gave me great advice on how to make it special..as we haven't said goodbye to a family pet in over 8 years. We took candles, a blanket from home. My daughter gave her one of her favorite webkinz.....we read a couple poems. I snuggled up behind her on the floor like i used to do at home....she finally seemed relaxed. It was over very quickly....her family present incuding my nine year old daughter who was amazing...so glad she was there. We wrapped Bee up in the blanket.....snuggled the webkinz in with her....tucked in the poems...and gave her a final kiss. She looked so cozy....I wanted to take a picture....but it didn't seem right....so we said our goodbyes.....for anyone reading this that has said goodbye to a beloved pet....you are in tears right now. Me too...but now they are tears of gratitude that she is free of her labored breathing and obvious pain. If you read this in its entirety....thank you. She was a special dog and will be missed.
