Learning to Say Goodbye

I've decided that the crappy part of life is that it ends way too soon. 

We lost our precious dog, Betty last weekend.  She was our first pet, before our children, before having a house, before having real jobs.  She was truly a part of our family.

Betty was a most interesting dog.  She resembled a dingo, funny looking girl, with really big ears.  In fact, we even called her RBE sometimes.  We first met Betty at Petsmart when they were doing a Love a Pet adoption event.  Betty had been brought in with a rope around her neck; the employees thought she was a junk yard dog.  She ran over and peed on my foot and right then I knew I had to have her.  We brought her home and she ran around our small apartment like a mad dog.  She would pee on the floor every time we came home and tore up the carpet during thunderstorms. 

As Betty grew older, we all learned so much.  Betty learned to go pee only outside and we learned how to replace carpet.  She never did grow out of her fear of thunderstorms, although once her hearing went out, she stopped tearing up the carpet.

Betty turned out to be such a great dog.  She loved back packing and would swim in a lake for hours.  She once lead us right to the camp on a rainy night in a forest so dark, you could barely see your hand in front of you.

When we brought home our children, she loved them immediately.  She was very protective of them and was so patient as they climbed all over her and pulled her tail.  She scared the bad guys away and helped us to feel safe.

Six years ago, we were told that Betty had Cushings and had only six months to live.  Those vets didn't know Betty very well.  She lived those six years with a happiness, energy and love for life that only a dog can have.

When we brought home our puggle, Miley, four years ago, Betty accepted her as her own.  She cared for her and loved her.  They were best buds.  Miley is so lonely without her momma dog to care for her.

The last few months of Betty's life were difficult.  She would watch the other dogs swim at the lake, longing to be able to join them, but just not sure enough of herself to do it.  She had a hard time walking on the laminate floor and sometimes her legs would slide out from beneath her and she would get stuck.  She would only eat her dinner if we mixed it with chicken broth or some other yummy treat.  She had gone deaf and blind.  Although her death has been hard, I know she is out of pain and is running around on Rainbow Bridge.

Betty lived a much longer life than we ever thought.  Those extra years were a gift to us.  She was a great dog and she will always be a part of our family.