So long Sadie

We always know this day will come and now it has come for Miss Sadie.

Back in the fall of 2010, the only dog I had was Rocky (click for the link to my post on Rocky) and he was not doing so well and I worried and fussed over him constantly.  One day, the neighbor said she had found what seemed to be a lost dog and suggested I come over and meet the dog.  So I did.  It was Miss Sadie. 

She was soaking wet having been found wandering along this remote gravel road in the pouring down rain.  But she was beautiful!  A gray faced elderly Golden Retriever.  I opened the sliding door of the van and she hopped right in, jumped up on the seat and settled right down.  So it was decided.  She came home to live with us.

It was perfect timing and she was the perfect dog to fill in as our new companion.  She was sweet and well mannered and Rocky and Sadie got along as though they were old friends.  No guarding the food or jealousy over who got petted first.  She helped me to be more relaxed with my old boy Rocky, took my intense focus off of him and just spread it out a bit.  We all perked up.

They don't look so perky here, you will just have to take my word for it!

All except for Charlie, my big black cat.  But he eventually came around.

Sadie loved to roll around on her back in the grass and the snow.  She loved to chase the tennis ball and play with toys and to go swimming. 
 youtube video showing Sadie at the river

Always such a polite lady, she didn't jump up on people but welcomed their attention and petting.  She had a problem with her breathing and panted heavily when she walked around. 
Sadie Breathless
It got worse and worse as she got older until eventually she would have incidents of her breath stopping entirely.  We thought she had died several times but then she would gasp and come back.  The past few months have been rough to watch her dragging around.  She had bad arthritis and was slightly paralyzed in her back legs.  Maybe because she always liked to lay with her legs behind her.

But she seemed to be one of the happiest of dogs, always greeted me with a smile.

She couldn't go for walks any more but would still play with her tennis ball and follow me all around the house and yard.  

She reached the grand old age of 14 back in January this year.  It has been a blessing to be her caretaker these past nearly 4 years.

Sadie was a lovely, loving, sweetheart of a big red dog and she will be much missed.  You brightened up my life and I thank you for that gift.  We won't forget you, Sadie.  Say "Hi" to Rocky for me, and all the rest of my gang.

 ♥♥♥