[2rotties2luv]

My heart is so sad, I haven't been able to post until today. I lost my beloved companion, Sierra, to hemangiosarcoma on May 5th. She was 9yrs and 1 month old and had only been ill for 2 days, when the cancer was found on her heart and spleen by ultrasound at the Emergency Animal Hospital. She had been sleeping more the last few months, but otherwise seemed healthy and behaved as usual. But her heart had been so damaged by the cancer that the vet gave her 2-3 weeks at the most. Looking at her, I saw the light had gone out of her eyes, and she was in pain and so I decided to release her. I spent the morning with her, said I would come back that evening, as my daughter wanted to come and visit her to say goodbye. My daughter spent most of the afternoon with her, and was able to take her outside for awhile. My regular vet, Robin, cancelled her late afternoon appointments and came to visit Sierra and to say goodbye. I brought my other rottie, Jazz, with me and held her as she was given the injection and passed away.

Sierra wasn't a beautiful rottie - she was too tall, she had a stocky body with thin legs and delicate feet, she had a fox face (pointy nose) and she carried her ears back like a greyhound. But, OH, she had the biggest heart and she loved people and gave so much.......

Sierra was a special rottie and is missed by many. We were a Delta Society Pet Partner Team and had worked providing canine therapy since she was 4 yrs old. We visited every other Saturday at a nursing home (the Saturdays in between, I visited with Jazz, who is also a therapy dog), and the residents just loved her. There are many amazing stories of her interactions with the residents at the nursing home. We also provided a dog-bite prevention presentation every year at several inner city and suburban elementary schools. Many children loved her, and many asked me where they could get a dog like her. Just about everyone who met her was won by her happy, friendly manner. She was calm, confident and wonderful with people, and she had wonderful manners. Everyone who handled her, vets, vet techs, groomers, boarding kennel, trainers, Delta Society evaluators, every one of those people told me that she was an exceptional dog.

I've received cards, letters, phone calls, flowers and numerous contributions to several canine organizations have been made in her memory, and I've been astonished at how many people's lives have been touched by Sierra. While I've really appreciated all the support I've been given, I still miss Sierra SO much. I don't think I could bear to go home if my home were empty. I'm so lucky to have Sierra's equally wonderful little brother Jazz to come home to.

Thanks, all of you nice folks for listening, and for understanding.......

Susan