If Dogs were Like Cars--A Goodbye to Rosie

I worked on this post days ahead knowing it would be too hard to write when we actually had to say goodbye. Now, it's time to publish.
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If dogs were like cars, we could keep the 'oldies but goodies' running by just replacing the broken parts. Sadly, when dogs get broken, they feel pain and fatigue. Our best efforts to 'keep them running' buy us time, but eventually their bodies fail.

It took us a long time to learn what was making Rosie so ill years ago. It was diabetes. It took her sight but she didn't seem to care. She was loved and felt secure. She accepted the insulin shots without complaint.

A year after the diabetes diagnosis, we found she had cancer. We removed what cancer we could see and hoped there wouldn't be more issues. Thus, we got another year that wouldn't have been.

I believe there is a Heaven and I believe pets are there. I can't imagine Heaven being a place where that kind of pure love isn't celebrated and rewarded.

She was six years old when she blinked and grinned her way into our hearts four years ago. We will see that grin again when we too arrive in Heaven. Her sight will be restored. She will be fat and full of energy and love. She'll likely be digging holes in the dirt and chasing critters. She will be happy and whole.

She was such a gentle, loyal soul. I think she hung around so long because she loved us and wanted to please us. Finally, we had to let her go because WE loved HER.

Thank you to all who have loved her with us via this blog. I believe a proper goodbye should include a tribute to her, so I'm choosing to share snaps of happier times. In memory of sweet Rosie...