In Loving Memory of Chelsea

It is with profound sadness and a very heavy heart that I write this e-mail.

Yesterday early evening our beautiful Chelsea was put to rest.  It seems like yesterday in which I opened an e-mail from Sheri with Petraits for a dog looking for a forever home.  I torture myself daily opening countless of these e-mails but this one spoke to me.  Looking out from that picture were some of the most soulful and sad eyes I had ever seen.  With the picture was a brief description of an old girl.  Now as you all know we had already had 2 dogs and 2 rabbits and had just a few weeks back tried to adopt another dog, Charger who thru no fault of his own just did not work in our home.  So I printed the picture in order that I could bring home to Rudi and start my work explaining why we just HAD to have this old dog.  In the meantime I showed her picture to the girls in the office and it was unequivocal to all that she was the ugliest dog and why would I want her.  This was not going to deter me so home I went and was met with “no we are not getting another dog”.  With knowing me you will not be surprised that I do not take no easily and I asked that we just go look at her, that we did not have to take her home but we had to give it a chance.  So after some work on my part and thought on Rudi’s, back and forth with the foster home and the rescue agency we finally took the long drive to Lockport to meet her.

A little of my personal history with dogs.  I grew having a Whippet, a Golden retriever and in my early adulthood an Alaskan Malamute all big dogs with big tails.  Then when Rudi and I got our first dog together Oliver it was a little Cocker Spaniel with a little tail as Cocker Spaniels are.  Our 2^nd dog together, Miss Peabody was as well with a little tail.  Now I have seen Cocker Spaniels with tails but find it so odd.  Also Cocker Spaniels as they get older as I guess with any dog there is the propensity for skin issues, moles, tags growths etc.  I always said no dog of mine was ever going to have that. Yuck how would I ever be able to pet them?  Well…………….

Chelsea not only had horrible skin problems but horror of horrors a tail!!!!!!  It did not matter I took one look at her and it was love at first sight.  I started crying so hard probably scaring the foster mom and adoption agency but I knew I had to have her.  I have been wrong many times with people but never with a dog.   This dog had such neglect but in my eyes she was one of the most beautiful dogs I had ever seen and I knew she was for me.  So home we brought I am sure a scared and uncertain dog to join our home.  Along the way we stopped in Geneva one of my favorite towns as I wanted her to have beauty and happiness in her life and we were going to have her experience all the things that we enjoyed.

 We finally arrived home and no better dog could we have asked for.  She never complained, never asked any questions even and especially thru all the of the procedures that we had.  We had an amazing 11 months with her until that horrible night when we brought her to the emergency room and they told us that she had no chance to make it thru the night.  I knew better.  I looked at her asked her if she was ready to go and she told me no.  So major surgery she had and came thru that wonderfully.  It was not until approx. 4 weeks later that it was determined that she had Kidney failure.  We tried everything with her but it became apparent that not only was she not getting any better but to the contrary worse.   But in the meantime we had her birthday party replete with a real cake, hats, singing, presents and her friends and family who loved her.  We also had many wonderful walks, little trips and warm days in the sun.  In fact her last day was one of the most beautiful.  I took the day off, Rudi was off and so in the car went Rudi, me, Chelsea, Oliver and Miss Peabody.  Our first stop was to the Fabyan Gardens in Batavia for a walk among the formal Japanese gardens, the river and ending with a lay down for all in the park grass.  Then it was off to Geneva for her final walk in the city of her first walk with us and then a final walk in the dog park in St. Charles .  Along the way we stopped for some Roast Beef for her and a couple of bites of cake from Caribou Coffee.  Our final stop was our back yard where we spent her final 2 hours. 

 Up until the end and I mean the end her tail never stopped wagging.  That tail that I was so horrified to see is the thing I will always remember her best for and love the most.  She taught me so much about real courage, real beauty and what we think is beautiful but what really is and grace.  People had and have said to me how could you adopt an old dog as you had missed out on their best years?  I disagree I think Chelsea ’s best year was her final year and I would not have had it any other way.  I only hope that more people open their hearts.  I love Chelsea and I know that I will see her again with all of my other animals and my mom.