Posted on

Good night Sweet Athena

Good night sweet Athena, you were the best dog a family could ask for. It was unbelievably hard to say goodbye to you today, but it would have been selfish to let you suffer. I hope you’re in heaven running laps with Maya free from the pain of cancer and safe in the knowledge that your family loves you unconditionally forever and always.

We brought her to the vet after celebrating Taco Tuesday with her. Athena enjoyed her taco even if she couldn’t finish it. We brought her blankets and her brother’s favorite ducks to the vet with us. I confiscated Anakin’s duck, so she could have it with her and have his smell with her at the end. The whole day felt surreal like a movie. I can’t believe we had to say goodbye to her so soon.

In memory of Athena, here are a couple of beautiful poems:

Four Feet by Rudyard Kipling

I have done mostly what most men do,
And pushed it out of my mind;
But I can’t forget, if I wanted to,
Four-Feet trotting behind.

Day after day, the whole day through —
Wherever my road inclined —
Four-feet said, “I am coming with you!”
And trotted along behind.

Now I must go by some other round, —
Which I shall never find —
Somewhere that does not carry the sound
Of Four-Feet trotting behind.

A Good Dog Never Dies – Anonymous

A good dog never dies, he always stays,
he walks besides you on crisp autumn days
when frost is on the fields and winter’s drawing near, his head within our hand in his old way.

Treasured Friend – Anonymous

I lost a treasured friend today
The little dog who used to lay
Her gentle head upon my knee
And shared her silent thoughts with me.

She’ll come no longer to my call
Retrieve no more her favourite ball
A voice far greater than my own
Has called her to his golden throne.

Although my eyes are filled with tears
I thank him for the happy years
He let her spend down here with me
And for her love and loyalty.

When it is time for me to go
And join her there, this much I know
I shall not fear the transient dark
For she will greet me with a bark

Posted on

Goodnight and Goodbye

Early Tuesday morning we said goodnight and goodbye to our sweet Maya. Over the last two years, she had been on a roller coaster of health issues. Since June, however, she had rallied and was doing great until she wasn’t. On the drive up to Orlando, I told my hubby I didn’t think she had much time left. Recently, she had developed a new cough and incontinence.

On September 6, 2009 we brought home the most expensive fish I ever bought. We adopted her from the Humane Society after meeting her at the Petco in Boca. Their were several cute puppies, but she was by far the calmest of the bunch. Her calmness, patience and sweetness were remarkable traits that defined the her. In fact, she was incredibly patient with the boys, who could be quite annoying. Naturally, Anakin (her little bro) could arouse anger and some grimaces out of her,

Maya will always be the fog that changed me completely. Before we adopted Maya, I was absolutely terrified of dogs especially big dogs. I’ll never forget my older brother, upon learning we adopted her, asking me if i forgot that i was afraid of dogs. Nevertheless, my sweet Maya quickly won me over completely. Incredibly, I went from being afraid of dogs to being obsessed with them.

We dropped off her remains late Tuesday morning at a pet mortuary for cremation. Initially, the Hubby was going to dig a hole out near the mango tree. However, we ultimately decided against it. Honestly, I want to be able to take her with us when we sell the house. The mortuary will take a paw print for us as well as out some of her hair in vial. They’ll put her ashes in a beautiful wooden box that we can display. Meanwhile, we’ll continue grieving as we say goodbye and goodnight to our Sweet Maya.