farewell to our golden Dixie

We had to say goodbye to our beloved golden retriever Dixie, this morning at 3:30 AM

She became suddenly ill and we took her at midnite to Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital. They discovered she had cancer, and the tumor was bleeding out into her abdomen. We were shocked as we thought it was nothing more than bad indigestion, because Dixie- like most golden retrievers- liked to eat horrible, nasty, unmentionable things that made her ill.

We never imagined we would be coming home without her when we left the house, with Lucas soundly sleeping.

I will always remember the way she was afraid of the dark, and would wait at the top of the stairs every evening until one of the boys would come to bed and she would follow.

She couldn't sleep alone.

I get that now.

She had a security blanket, but eventually tore it to shreds. She had to have something cotton in her mouth, as a pacifier. It was always a sock. The boys have 30 pairs among them of mismatched socks because Dixie had to have a new one every day. If there was no sock available, she would grab your shirt and you would become her human pacifier.

She was the cuddliest, sweetest, most gentle animal ever. She loved to ride in the car with us and one year when the boys and I drove to Riggins Idaho she made the trip so much more fun. We were delivering my Mother's ashes to her resting spot and Dixie helped us enjoy what was a somber trip otherwise.

She was 8 years old. We all loved her, but she really belonged to Christian.

I was wondering aloud why we put ourselves through this pain...
Why love something so fragile, knowing the pain is emenant and unavoidable?

I think it's because we are the gift for them.
We are here to enrich their lives and it is our honor to care for them.

I was crying to God one day, asking why he hadn't given me a more loving, caring Mother.
I heard this in reply:
'I didn't give her to you.
I gave YOU to HER'.

And so it is with our pets. They are not ours-we are theirs.

We wonder if God didn't come and get Dixie to keep Nick company? I like to think he needed someone to retrieve his golf balls in heaven! Only trouble with that is the little scalliwag-would never give back! She was more into 'keep away' than catch.

Our hearts are broken once more because we miss her so much already and a huge hole is left in her absence. To be loved by our dog was a gift from God and in spite of our pain, we are grateful.
Rest in peace Dixie
Take care of Nicky

Thanks to my sweet friend Andrea for the youtube link:
God and Dog: