Eulogy for a "Good Girl"
Daniel MacIntyre
Sunday, June 26, 2005 (my 6th wedding Anniversary)
My dog Pepper died. She was about 7 1/2 years old. She was part
Australian Shepherd and part something else. She was a "Good Girl".
Those were the words of praise I used for her when she did what I
wanted her to, but they were true in a much deeper sense as well. I
didn't say them nearly enough. She lived for a kind word or a gentle
hand from anyone in the family. She was gentle as dogs go. She loved
to run. She never bit me.
We got her from the Humane Society when she was about a year old. She
had been left there by her previous owners. They left her because
they were expecting their first baby and didn't want to be troubled
with a dog as well. They said she wasn't housebroken, but she didn't
give us any troubles.
We didn't know it, but when we got her, she was pregnant. She lost
the puppies shortly after we found she was carrying. We only found
out at all because we tried to have her spayed. The first time we
took her in, they said she was anemic. The second time, they figured
out why. The place we were staying at wouldn't allow puppies, so we
were afraid we were going to have to take her back. We had called
just about everyone we knew and finally found a stranger who would
take her in until she had the puppies and weaned them. She miscarried
the next day.
when we first walked her, before she was trained, she would literally
spin on her leash. She started off running back and forth as far as
it would let her, but then would get so excited that she didn't bother
with the straight part. She ran in a tight turn not much bigger than
she was - so fast she would tear up the ground - at times leaning so
far into the turn, she looked like she was almost laying down - other
times spinning so fast, she only looked like she was touching the
ground at all for convienience. She loved to run.
For a while, we were not sure if she could bark. She was a very timid
dog and seemed to be shy around everyone. She was almost pathetically
eager to please.
She was with us through almost twenty moves, the births of both our
children, several job changes and pretty much every important event in
our lives. She was joyous when we were happy, supportive when we were
down. She was a good girl.
I wish I said it to her more often.
My dog Pepper died. She was about 7 1/2 years old. She was part
Australian Shepherd and part something else. She was a "Good Girl".
Those were the words of praise I used for her when she did what I
wanted her to, but they were true in a much deeper sense as well. I
didn't say them nearly enough. She lived for a kind word or a gentle
hand from anyone in the family. She was gentle as dogs go. She loved
to run. She never bit me.
We got her from the Humane Society when she was about a year old. She
had been left there by her previous owners. They left her because
they were expecting their first baby and didn't want to be troubled
with a dog as well. They said she wasn't housebroken, but she didn't
give us any troubles.
We didn't know it, but when we got her, she was pregnant. She lost
the puppies shortly after we found she was carrying. We only found
out at all because we tried to have her spayed. The first time we
took her in, they said she was anemic. The second time, they figured
out why. The place we were staying at wouldn't allow puppies, so we
were afraid we were going to have to take her back. We had called
just about everyone we knew and finally found a stranger who would
take her in until she had the puppies and weaned them. She miscarried
the next day.
when we first walked her, before she was trained, she would literally
spin on her leash. She started off running back and forth as far as
it would let her, but then would get so excited that she didn't bother
with the straight part. She ran in a tight turn not much bigger than
she was - so fast she would tear up the ground - at times leaning so
far into the turn, she looked like she was almost laying down - other
times spinning so fast, she only looked like she was touching the
ground at all for convienience. She loved to run.
For a while, we were not sure if she could bark. She was a very timid
dog and seemed to be shy around everyone. She was almost pathetically
eager to please.
She was with us through almost twenty moves, the births of both our
children, several job changes and pretty much every important event in
our lives. She was joyous when we were happy, supportive when we were
down. She was a good girl.
I wish I said it to her more often.
TreeGoddess
On Jun 27, 2005, at 7:36 AM, Daniel MacIntyre wrote:
-=-My dog Pepper died. She was about 7 1/2 years old. She was part
Australian Shepherd and part something else. She was a "Good Girl".-=-
I'm so sorry. Thank you for sharing about her. My dog, Nigel, is part
Aussie Shep too and maybe Lab. He's *awesome* and I've had him for 11
years now (all except the first 8 wks of his life) and he's slowing
down. Thank you so much for telling us about Pepper. I will keep her
and your family in my heart and thoughts. Now I'm going to love on my
doggy and show him some extra appreciation today.
-Tracy-
coolcrew
Sorry to hear about Pepper. I had a G.S he was a rescue dog too. I got him off a bloke who was nasty to him when he was a year old. He gave me 13 years of devotion and in the end had to be put down cos of inoperable cancer. 2 years ago I found another G.S - this time a girl. She was another one no one wanted. Terrified of men and tried too hard to please. I watch her play fighting with dh and it is hard to remember how scared she was of him when she first came home. She follows me everywhere and would die for me. Another good girl. The words mean a tail thumping wag which includes her whole behind. I know in the scheme of things her life is short but she is happy and I am so pleased she is here. RIP Pepper.
Ruth
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Ruth
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jlh44music
I had to have my 11yo rescued greyhound put down about 2 months ago. I
know this isn't necessarily an unschooling topic, but it IS part of
life and part of families. Sending comfort.
Jann
know this isn't necessarily an unschooling topic, but it IS part of
life and part of families. Sending comfort.
Jann
Linda Knauff
We lost our "good girl" Christmas week--also a rescue case, though she was a much-loved pony, not a dog.
May you always keep her with you in your heart and find the peace that comes with time.
Take Care,
Linda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
May you always keep her with you in your heart and find the peace that comes with time.
Take Care,
Linda
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