Oh our dear, sweet Snickers... We got the email for rescue at a time when I was beyond exhausted and truly needed a week or two break to get some sleep before taking in another momma and her babies. We needed to clean out the garage, move the puppy pen around to clean under it, and so many other business details needed done, that do not get done when there are a momma and puppies to care for.
However, there are times when I see a picture of a dog and my heart SCREAMS at me - "Go get her/him." Okay, admittedly this is much more often than not, but sometimes I cannot get my head to overcome my heart. My heart wins, responds to the email and tells the shelter, "We'll take her and her puppies."
Obviously we did go get Snickers and her adorable little bear cub looking babies. That evening when I got her home, I got my children inside, then Snickers and her babies settled all before my husband was home from work. When Chad came home, I took him to the garage, he immediately turned around and came back in the house. He had tears in his eyes.
"What's up?" I asked.
"You can't do this to me," he says.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
He says, "Maddie."
You see, Maddie was our first baby. Chad and I got Maddie as a puppy after we had only been dating about 4 months. We spent many weekends at the dog park, or walking along Clinton Parkway. We had play dates with friends and their dog. She was there when Chad proposed. She was there when we brought Kay Lee, Aly and Jeffrey home from the hospital. Maddie laid by their bassinet, or beside them on the floor.
As we have gotten to know Snickers, they have some of the same mannerisms - how they lay, how they play, how they live on a schedule like clockwork, how they nuzzle our hand for pets, that unique scary bark - but give it a second and you'll be her best friend.
Maddie would have been 7 years old in November 2008, however she went to Rainbow Bridge in October of 2008. We were devastated when she got sick and passed and will never forget our beautiful, amazing girl.
It has been pure joy to have Snickers in our home the past 3 months and know that when she leaves us on Sunday, February 13th (yikes, that is Chad's birthday... we might have to adjust that) but she is going to a great home to a family that will love and spoil her as we have. It is the ONLY way we would let her go.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. It is hard to get over the death of a dog. We get so attached to them and it seems we do not have enough time with them. Thanks for opening up to us.
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