Remembering Poppy - Thanks for indulging me

[Jane Austin]

(Sunday night)


Poppy never had a bad day in her life . . . until about 4 days ago.


I don't think she was ever sick a single day before this, and she smiled all the time, even after her joints became old and stiff.


I've never known a dog who just felt so dang good all the time. You could tell she was a happy girl and felt just great - - all through her life.


This last year, as she became more and more unsteady, she got rolled a few times by the younger and more rambunctious crew. She never let it bother her and just got up and toddled away, telegraphing "I meant to do that".


The last month or so she became completely deaf, but her sense of smell and her keenness for human company never left her.


She had the brightest, happiest eyes you ever saw. Until a few days ago.


Remember the year at Goldstock http://www.goldstockonline.com
when Yankee Rescue had a big pile of "pre-loved" stuffed toys for sale? Poppy didn't content herself with just stealing as many as she wanted. She finally just plopped down in the middle of them as the Toy Goddess she was. :)


And then there was last year when, unbeknownst to us, she toddled all the way up from our cabin to the big hall where she made herself at home at the Tigertail Treats booth - - naturally. :)

Long before that, though, Poppy was making her way through life as The One and Only, The Original, Waterloo Lickerish Lollipop, CDX, JH, WC.

When she was really young, I was amazed every day at new evidence of how smart she was. Once I remarked that I'd bet she could learn to read if I just took the time to teach her. The next morning we found that she'd pulled all the books from the bottom shelf of the hall bookcase. :)


She also must have thought my son's sheepskin diploma from Hamilton College was a verrry thin lamb chop. She found the rolled and tied diploma on my desk and ate it before we'd had time to frame it. :(


Once when she had a litter of puppies, she caught a squirrel in the yard and was inside and almost to the whelping box with the unfortunate creature before Mr. Fish intercepted her.


And then there was the time she and a litter of tiny puppies were staying with Sue Ntion while we went to Westminster. Sue was awakened in the night by the ghostly sound of "bump, scratch" "bump, scratch" repeated somewhere above her. Stealing out into the living room she didn't notice at first that the tall birdcage, usually centered on her coffee table, was missing.


But following the mysterious sounds, she found Poppy almost to the top of the stairs, pushing and pulling the cage, its feathered inhabitants still inside, on their way to . . . .? What she had in mind for the hapless lovebirds, we'll never know. Maybe they were making too much noise for the nursery environment. I'm just glad Sue caught up with them before she could carry out her plans.


I'd really hoped that some super-duper antibiotics would help her snap back, but she slipped slowly away from us. Although she walked into the clinic on her own Saturday, she drooped during the night and was almost unresponsive all day today.


Tonight her breathing became labored and she didn't even stir when Mr. Fish, Romeo and I came in to visit her. Up until tonight, she had managed a few thumps of her tail. Not tonight.


Rather than make her stay there among strangers, however kindly - - perhaps making it through the night, perhaps not - - only to have to be transferred to her regular vet tomorrow morning, we let her go tonight.

I know she's chasing squirrels somewhere Over the Rainbow but, damn, I miss her.


We welcomed Poppy and her four sisters into the world fourteen and a half years ago, and we were there as she left us tonight.

I pray that she feels none of our pain at this final parting.


Thank you, Poppy, for being the very best dog there ever was.


Poppy was the great grandaughter of our first Golden, Taffee. Still here to carry on her line are Brewster and PJ, and Hamlet Farber, up in Indiana.


Waterloo Lickerish Lollipop, CDX, JH, WC. May 4, 1991 - November 13, 2005.

[beam me up scottie]

1. I am so sorry for your loss.

I know how devastating it is to lose a member of the family.

How lucky you all were to have known and loved each other.

RIP Poppy


~LMM

[RebelOne]

2. My eyes are tearing up reading your post.

Sorry for your loss. But she did have a long and happy life with you.

[yy4me]

3. Its a special treat to read your story. For those of us who love animals,

it brings a tear to our eyes. I sit here patting the best yellow lab there ever was and understand exactly what you are going through. When her time comes, we will remember her the same way. Different stories, same love. You will miss your friend forever but will be comforted by such great memories.

[SW FL Dem]

4. Poppy was beautiful;

I am so sorry for your loss. Poppy was obviously well loved and had a long (but never long enough) life.

[demnan]

5. She sounds like a wonderful dog

and she had a wonderful life. I'm sorry for your loss! :hug:

The lady who cared for my cat Lily's mother said that the mother cat was constantly going out and catching birds and mice and sneaking them live into the house to show the kittens how to hunt. I'm sure your Poppy was doing the same thing, just giving the pups an "education" in hunting.

Our pets make wonderful parents, don't they? I've often regretted that I never had a female cat with kittens in my house, but then again, it would break my heart to part with them.

[Jane Austin]

6. Poppy was an amazing mom. She has some kids with amazing

accomplishments, to show for it.

If anything, she was over-indulgent and I don't think I ever saw her discipline any pup - - hers or anyone else's.

Thanks for your note.

[ernstbass]

7. What a wonderful tribute to Poppy

[Jane Austin]

9. Thank you. I sent that to a couple of Golden Retriever lists I'm on

and people who knew Poppy are sending me their own rememberences of her.

I'm still tearful, but I'm laughing, too.

[superconnected]

8. Condolences on your loss.

She clearly had a great home while she was here.

[Jane Austin]

10. Well, we were blessed to have her.

Poppy was a beautiful gift to us, and we loved every minute of her time on Earth.

My only regret is that we've never lived where there was a pond. Man, she would have loved that. :)

[Beaverhausen]

11. I'm so sorry...she sounds like a very sweet dog

and it sounds like she had a very happy life with you. And a peaceful end as well. :hug:

Thanks for sharing stories about her life with us. I love the birdcage story and the squirrel story especially!

[Jane Austin]

13. Yes, she was. And we were lucky to be in her company for so long.

Thanks.

[Eurobabe]

12. Aww, so sorry you lost your furkid...

Goldens are wonderful dogs, my friend has two and they are the light of her life. Yes, no matter what, neither of them has ever has an "unsunny day" either...just their ebullent personality.

Bless you in your time of sorrow... the 48%er menagerie

[Jane Austin]

14. Thanks for understanding.

They really are something, aren't they?

What's a 48% menagerie?

Love your avatar and sig picture :)

[IndyOp]

22. 48% menagerie?

That's the menagerie of DU poster '48percenter' -- his name, his menagerie -- furbaby family that is --

I am sad to hear of your loss - thanks for adding the pic. As my Golden says (when wading/running through any and every puddle he can find): "Water Gives Golden Retrievers Magical Powers!"

:hug:

[Robeson]

15. I'm so, so sorry....

...:hug:

[ET Awful]

16. RIP Poppy you beautiful golden pooch.

:cry:

What a gorgeous girl she was, and what a wonderful tribute.

My condolences on your loss. :hug:

[japple]

17. What a lucky dog! Sniff...

and what a lucky Mom you are. She sounds like a very special dog. Aren't we all blessed to have our furry companions. Rest in peace, sweet Poppy.

[BrklynLiberal]

18. I am so sorry that you had to say goodbye to Poppy. She sounds like

she was one of those once-in-a-lifetime furbabies.

I guess she was lucky to have found someone who appreciated and loved her as much as you did. I am sure she knew that up until her very last moment.

Your loving tribute had me sobbing...and remembering the loss of my special furbabies, especially my baby boy, my GSD, Sasha. These furbabies are so incredible in the unconditional love they give, and the love they inspire.

How wonderful that you were able to share your life with such a loving and happy soul. There is no doubt that she will always be there watching over you.

Your pictures of her are beautiful.

[yorkiemommie1]

19. sending hugs your way

i know how you feel. i'm so sorry.

[Batgirl]

20. much sympathy

I noticed Poppy's pic in some other posts and of course was bowled over by how cute and happy she looked. So sorry for your loss.

[roguevalley]

21. dogs are so lovely. your baby sounds like she had an old soul

she's in the summerland, having the time of her life with the baby you see in my sigline, by darling Tippy. I wish only peace and hugs for you and yours. This is a terrible sorrow but it gets better. I just wish I could hug you. Take care, honey.

[superconnected]

23. I was thinking today about my dog that died when I was 15.

5 years after she died I was still looking at my side and over my shoulder, expecting her to be there. I had her through childhood.

It didn't get better until I got my cat - mismatch - whom I got at age 21 - 18 years ago. Mismatch is still with me btw.

I hope you are better now about poppy but I suggest you not wait so long to get another pet. A dog would be splendid. But cat or dog will do. It was a long time ago, but I remember it's what finally got me over the feeling that she was naturally supposed to be there.