[rottie2mom]

When I returned from the vet's this morning, my husband sat down to the computer and wrote this tribute to our sweet little angel...

I need to tell a story.

Have you ever wanted something in your life that you knew would make you whole? I think I may have found that one day. She looked rather large compared to the others. She sat in the middle of this huge dish surrounded by food and milk. She didn't bother looking up, she just kept eating. Her hair was kind of puffy. When she finished eating, she milled around and looked at me. She smelled me. She galloped around and hid under the couch behind me looking out. I knew that she was the one.

A few days past with doubts about whether I could get her. I picked her up one night, stuck her in my coat and headed home. She fit in with the others well. She grew and grew and grew. She never really needed much training, it was almost as though she was born to be good. She wasn't perfect though, she'd roll in poop whenever she got the chance. Sometimes she just couldn't help herself, and she would eat the poop too. I got mad at her when she chewed up things that belonged to me.

OK...she had her problems: poop eating, submissive peeing, seperation anxiety. But she smiled. She really did smile. She'd smile the minute I walked into the door. You see, we had a ritual every morning: I'd come home from work and let her out, she'd smile at me; I'd let her in and feed her. Then give her her two pills with peanut butter. Yea, she wasn't in perfect health; torn ACL. Doc said wait till it's bad and we'll fix it. I was hoping that day would come. She would still run like the wind though, sometimes it was like she wasn't even sore at all.

This was our life for three years. She slept a lot more and wasn't really that hungry, but she STILL smiled.

I had to give her to someone today. He can take better care of her than I can. I feel mad, sad, relieved and very guilty. I told her I loved her. She looked at me as I got up, I told her to get her rest.

I hope the day never comes when I forget her beautiful smile. She was, and forever will be, my little Sheba girl.

We love you Sheba.

Love,
Dad

This day is VERY hard. The Dr. gave us a book to read that she hopes will comfort us.

We knew the day would come when we would eventually say goodbye...but not when she was 3 years old, and not when she was extremely sick but still looked so healthy....and still could SMILE.

We love you little Sheba girl and not a day will go by that we don't think about you and all the joy that you brought to our lives. :)

God speed little one......mommy and daddy and C-Zar, Sampson and Cleo love you very much. Please come around once and awhile and play. And don't forget to SMILE to all your buddies up at the bridge....talk to Delia....she knows exactly what you went through.

Big sloppy kisses and hugs. And don't forget to look for Smokee...I know he wasn't expecting you so soon!!

Love,
Mom