Feb. 27, 2009 - A Remembrance for Sparkie
I once knew a dog. She was a fairly large dog that I had known since I was eight. And I had always thought her sweet. But it wasn't until the summer of 2007 that I really realized just how sweet she was.
By this time she was older, around fifteen or sixteen years, I believe, and she was having medical problems. She had trouble going up and down stairs, and often feel, and besides that she was going blind.
When I first went over to let her out, I pittied her. She had a lump at the base of her tail, her fur seemed to be thinning across her body, and a little red mark on her forehead. She looked to pittiful. But if I dog can be depressed, or feel sorry for theirselves she wasn't. She didn't seem to know that she was sick, and should be sad. She was just happy. Happy to see people, happy to get a dog biscut, happy to have time outside to smell.
Later, that winter, I got to see her jump for joy when the snow came, or at least, try to jump for joy. She had trouble walking, how much more so jumping! But she tried, and ended up with a little hopping motion that was just so cute. She wasn't sorry she couldn't run or jump, she was just happy to be out in the snow!
And a couple times that Winter, when she slipped through the door while I wasn't looking, she would try to run, and it was adorable, because she was so slow. And I could catch her in less than a minute. Still, she tried.
I also happen to think that she would have stopped anything for a dog biscut. If a burgalar came equiped with enough dog biscuts, she'd have let him walk right on in, I think. She loved them, and would gobble them down in a couple bites. I used to give them to her and her friend, Arizona, before leaving, because I could not bare the way they looked at me as I left. But if I didn't leave quickly after giving Sparkie her treat, if I was slow, trying to get Arizona to take her treat, I would have to give Sparkie another when she came looking for it.
But as time got on her medical problems got worse. Sixteen is very old for a dalmatian. She had more trouble walking, and took a couple of good falls while I was watching her one of the last times.
Then my nieghbors didn't go on vacation for several months. I was sure they would at least go to Florida in December, they had told me they always did. But they didn't.
Then, finally, in February they asked if I could pet sit at the end of the month. I joyfully accsepted, but I was worried. I couldn't remember if they had said "Sparkie and Arizona," or just "Arizona."
Two weeks later I went over to their house to get the key. As soon as I stepped into the house my heart sunk. I couldn't hear any dog claws on the hardwood floors. Then it got worse. They explained to me where Arizona's food and water is, and how to walk her, but said nothing about Sparkie, and still I did not see her. Finally I asked.
"Is it both dogs?"
"No," she replied, "We had to put Sparkie down this Winter."
I could have burst into tears right then and there. I had know what she would say. I had suspected it for two weeks. I hadn't seen her outside, or heard her bark, which I knew so well, for quite a while.
I quickly finished up there, and began the walk home, longing to bent my tears. I sat on my tree swing and cried.
She was gone.
That was the cold hard truth. I will never see her again on this earth. I'm glad she's out of pain, in heaven with Jesus, but I miss her oh so much!
Even as I sit in the house with Arizona now, writing this, I'm crying because the house feels so empty. Arizona is cute, and I love her too, but I miss Sparkie, and I just want her back.
But Sparkie did live a good life, she lived to be almost seventeen, I believe, which is very old for a dalmatian. She had a sweet little canine friend, and two good owners. And now she is out of pain, living happily, and, I like to think, playing in the snow in heaven, where she can really jump in it. But I still miss her. As I see her leash hanging on the coat rack, it brings on a wave of fresh tears. She was one of the few dogs I loved as my own, and I'll never, ever forget her.
Comments
Mar. 1, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Purpleclad
Aww, I'm so sorry :(
Mar. 1, 2009 - <em>Untitled Comment</em>
Posted by SFFauthoress
Aww. I'm sorry Katie.
*hugs*
I know what it's like to lose a dearly loved animal. At least she is happy and healthy now, out of pain. That's the silver lining to this whole thing. She will never suffer again.
Still. *hugs* I hope you are okay. Try and have a good day. I'm sure it was hard to see her sick and having a hard time walking and running around. :(
~Anna
P.S. I figured out how to do my blog layout, and so 'Unearthly Inhabitant' is up and running. :) If you could chekkit out, I'd appereciate it.
Edited by SFFauthoress on Mar. 1, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Mar. 3, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Daethia
No! I was just kidding! :D
*poke*
