4.17.2012

Dog Years



Fourteen years ago, Lauren and I had a litter of puppies to choose from: we chose the beautiful red pup with curly ears huddling in the corner, shy and uncertain.

{Top: Susanna and Sadie, 1999. Middle Left: Micah. Middle Right: Jonah}


{Top Right: Lauren, Susanna, Mikaela, and Melanie, sleeping under the stars with Sadie. Bottom Right: Jonah once again using Sadie as a pillow.}

And from that day when she joined our family of four girls as a rascally puppy who chewed through everything (including hoses, house siding, chickens, and trailer wiring) and taxed our impotent training efforts, she has grown with us and won us over long ago with her loyalty, love, and playfulness.


{Top: Mikaela, Lauren, Sadie, Susanna, Micah, Jonah, and Melanie.}

She insisted in following us around everywhere. When a toddling Jonah tried to escape down the driveway, we found him with Sadie by his side. We regularly biked to our neighbors to babysit, and Sadie would lope alongside of us, laying patiently at their house until it was time to head home. And when we went for a morning run a few weeks ago, assuming that we could sneak away without Sadie noticing (even though she had never missed a run before), we were once again astounded by her careful watchfulness over us. Despite her arthritis and hip displasia, and unbeknownst to us, she hobbled after us, until she fell in the road and could go no further.



Yesterday, we had to put our beloved dog to sleep. She rests now next to a creek on a grassy hill, which has been known as "Sadie's Hill" for the last decade because of her affinity for it.


12 comments:

  1. Awww...I am so sorry for your family's loss :( pets can be such a part of the family and it's heartbreaking when they must leave us.

    ::hugs:: to you all! <3

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  2. Awww. I'm sorry, Mika :( She was a sweet dog.

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  3. Raquel--yes, she definitely felt like part of the family! We're feeling her absence already.

    Sarah--thanks, girl! A sweet dog she was indeed.

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  4. I'm so sorry Mikaela! This made me cry. I know what its like to loose a special dog. In fact, I lost one not too long ago... Sadie sounds SO sweet and faithful... what a neat story. I'm so sad for your family's loss - as it sounds very great indeed. Some people might think "Oh, it's just a dog!", but I'm definitely one to disagree with that. Dogs can mean so much too!!

    Thank you for sharing all the old pictures. I'm thinking of you!!

    Much Love,

    ~ Savannah

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  5. Awwee! My family had to do that to our dog...
    She looks like a really nice dog! :)

    ~Eden
    www.edensevaluations.blogspot.com <--Giveaway!

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  6. Thank you Savannah! You know, I used to be one of those people who thought "oh, it's just a dog!" but Sadie definitely changed my mind over the years! I guess you can't really understand it until you've had a dog for that long and then lost it.

    Eden--it is so hard, isn't it? I would have much rather that she died on her own. But golden retrievers are just so loyal and faithful...they don't give up!

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  7. Awww... I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. :( Animals become part of the family over the years, don't they? What a faithful friend... she sounds like a sweet dog.

    Blessings,
    Mikailah~

    www.maid4him.blogspot.com

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  8. Mikailah--you're sweet. Thanks for the comforting words!

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  9. So sorry to hear this! :( A friend of mine just lost her dog recently as well. It is so difficult losing a pet, they become such a big part of the family! Sending a big hug your way!

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  10. Marie Danielle--thank you! Hugs are the best.

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  11. Fellow dog lover here...
    I am SO sorry about the loss of your beloved pet Mikaela. I know it is hard to lose one that has been faithfully a part of your life for so very long.
    May the Lord who created Sadie be with you and bring you comfort. Hugs to you and your family.
    God bless,
    Aimee

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  12. Aimee--your words are such a comfort. God has also been our comfort and strength during this time! Thanks so much for your sweet comment.

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