Rest in Peace

I know I am a crazy animal person. But, each of them talk to us in different ways and leave a little piece of themselves with us and take a piece of us with them when they go. I truly believe, that people who take care of those that need it the most are the nicest people. Stray animals really need our help. It's true when our fosters go to furever homes and it's true when they leave this earth. Over the years, we have had many foster dogs in our homes. So many people say they could never foster because it's hard to let them go. It is hard. I cried the first time and I still cry when they leave. But, I keep doing it. Each dog that leaves me to go to a furever home means that I have the space to save one more life.

We have fostered for Eskie Rescuers United because I'm a little biased towards American Eskimos.  Some of them have gone to furever homes and then left the earth.

The first loss was Sierra Snow 

She was feisty and wiggly and so very cuddly. She did think she was in charge and that did sometimes cause some conflict in the house. She was very possessive of me and The Girls were a bit jealous.  More so than some of the others, I didn't want to let her go. She would wiggle when you sang her song. She knew she was special. She went to a family who loved her very much. But, just a few weeks after she was adopted, I got a call at work I never expected. My friend from ERU told me to sit. Sierra Snow was gone. The night before she stopped eating. And for Ms. Piggy, that was a sure sign of a problem. She was rushed to the emergency vet and didn't make it through the night. A lot of hearts were crushed. We still don't know what happened. Sepsis and multi-organ failure according to the autopsy. No one knows why.

Next was Nikko

 He had such a hard life. He lived tied to a clothesline until the family decided they didn't want him anymore. He was sweet and gentle and frail. He had no idea what a kind touch was and wouldn't look at us. He had tear stains that were so crusted. When we soaked them off, his tender skin was raw. He stole our hearts and stole the heart of a true angel also. Susan wanted him immediately. He flourished and was wonderful and happy for a few years. But, he was lost to bladder cancer. His brother Jack missed him, and Susan honored him by continuing to adopt more eskies in need of homes.

 2014 has been a tough year. 

First was Flurry

She was one of my favorites. Probably the smartest eskie we've had. She would have been amazing at agility. And she would have been amazing in the circus. She was so smart, and talented, that she was able to open the lock on the doggie door and let herself out even when we had it closed. Unfortunately, it only worked one way and she locked herself out more than once. She was lucky to be adopted by a great family who was as smart as she was. She was pampered, and loved, and well-trained. She sent me a card at Christmas this year and told me how happy she was. Then, a week later, an email I couldn't imagine . . .she was gone. During one of the only pleasant days in the DC area, she was outside and ate a bulb. 24-hours later she was gone. Poison. She will be missed terribly.

And then it was Wilbur

He  came from a filthy horrible high-kill shelter. So lucky that he didn't have heart worms. He had cauliflower ears and was cute and wiggly. He got his name because he LOVED food and would squeal like an excited piggy when he thought there was a chance for a treat. He was well-loved by his family and they wrote a few weeks ago to let us know that he was no longer "Mr. Fuss and Bluster." The bad days outnumbered the good and everything they did to accommodate his bladder cancer was no longer enough.

I miss them all and wish they were still on the planet. But, I take comfort knowing that I helped them to have a decent life with families that loved them. And I take comfort knowing they are at the Rainbow Bridge and, if I'm lucky enough to go to heaven one day, I will play with them again.