SWEETIE OUR DOG

Greetings and Salutations Pet Lovers.

NOTE: Be sure to click on the collages to get the full blown picture.

Today at 4:45 A.M. our dog Sweetie passed away in my arms. She was a little over 15 years old...that would be 105 in dog years...and was a treasure and joy in our lives.

Brenda brought this little bundle of fur home from her hairdressers one day...and I thought...what kind of dog has she brought home. Up to this point...we had two other dogs...one a German Shepherd named Bogart... and a black Lab named Roxie. Now here it was with a little mini-me bear looking thing called a Shih tzu. My first problem was how to pronounce the name of this animal without sounding like I was cussing at someone named Sue. Ya gotta have the right emphasis on the name with proper intonation.

Immediately we looked at her and said that she was a sweetie...and thus the name Sweetie. Phillip was just starting kindergarten when we first got her...and made it all the way through his college years.


Sweetie was an odd little dog. I use to call her my cat dog...because...she acted more like a cat than dog at times. When you would put your hands under the covers in bed...and move your hand around...she would pounce on the hand and follow it everywhere that you would move it. Then she would start scratching at the hand. When you called her...at times she would ignore you and come when she was ready. In the mornings when she would wake up...she would bark for me to come in to take her outside...and as I approached her... she would stretch out as elongated as she could and again move her front paws in a scratching motion...and wait for me to give her the morning massage. Oh she had me trained well.

Brenda took her to obedience school and was the main trainer of tricks. Sweetie would sit...shake hands...play dead when you shot her with your fingers...and then roll over before you would give her a treat. In her later years she would not wait for the commands but just run quickly through the tricks just to get us to hurry up and give her the treat. Eventually she trained us to the point of bypassing all tricks and just give her the treat.

Phillip would love to pick on her...play with her feet...wrestle with her...as she growled...and played back...and then he would cradle her in his arms and tenderly rub her belly. When he would stop rubbing the belly...she would take her two little paws...and grab at our fingers to continue on with the rubbing.

For years...we would open our house to anyone who did not have a place to go for Thanksgiving (for whatever reason)...and Sweetie was ready to greet whoever came over...and wait for any morsel of food to drop. This dog was really thankful...for Thanksgiving.

As she got older...she began to have health problems...poor eyesight, hearing going, arthritis, possible tumor/lung caner...breathing difficulties...but she would always respond to medical treatment at the Animal Care Veterinary Hospital. This is a great group of people who really do "care" about your animals/pets.

In the past few weeks...she has been not eating as much, loosing weight, breathing heavier (due to medications), and more lethargic. Of course we would take her to the vets...and spend more money on her than we would our own health care (or at least it seemed like it)...and Brenda and I would look at each other and agree...that it was worth the output...we do love her.

Last night...Sweetie was more restless than normal...breathing heavy...but not in pain. We were up and down most of the night with her...and I would pick her up and let her lay close to my side and that would seem to ease her for a couple of ours until around 3:00. I got up with her... took her out...she just stood around and I picked her up and brought her back in...and she then had difficulty standing. I picked her up...Brenda got Phillip up...and I just sat in the chair in my office holding her...rocking her...petting her. She was not in any observable pain until about 40 minutes before the passing...but...as I whispered into her ear, prayed for her, prayed for us...the heavy breathing ceased, she rested...and breathed her last breath. Our Sweetie was at rest.

Me, Brenda, and Phillip said around and remembered the good times from beginning to end with her. I personally ended up in my shower weeping...and casting my cares on the the God of ALL comfort...which includes even in these time with our dog.

Many years ago...during a two year period...while I was in graduate school...my Mom died, my Uncle died, Brenda's Mom died, and My Father died. Part of living is dying...and the hurt, the pain, the grief is there. My God got us through those hard times...and even now...when I think of them...I tear up...but the grief does not overwhelm me. God is the God of ALL comfort. He is concerned with the biggest concerns to our dogs passing away. I know that dogs...are not human...but they touch our human emotions.

Thank you for reading this Rambling and allowing me to release my emotions via my fingertips.

I pray...that no matter what you are going through...the good, the bad and the ugly...that Romans 8:28 will become very real in your lives.

"We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor], ALL THINGS (mine: the good, the bad, and the ugly) work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose." (Romans 8:28 The Amplified Bible)

Love and Tender Hearted Kisses
Rodney, Brenda, and Phillip