Losing A Beloved Friend

I shared a corner of my bed and heart with Cassie, the sweet black Cockapoo in the title picture for Dog Park Central. Cassie was very sick when I brought her home from the pet store. I suspect she came from a puppy mill. She had kennel cough, coccidia and distemper. The vets pumped her full of medication that weakened her immune system and gave no hope for her survival. The pet store offered a refund but I had already bonded with her and knew if I gave her back, she would surely die. (Note: that pet store was shut down shortly after). It was a costly investment to treat her holistically but one I never regretted. Every day for a month, I took her to a vet that specialized in natural treatments where she was oxygenated and treated with numerous herbal potions and detox baths for months. Finally as she rolled into her first year, she was a perky happy dog.

Perhaps it was her start in life that made her the way she was for Cassie was like no other dog. To this day I believe she was a little angel sent from God. She had a way about her that melted the heart of everyone she encountered. She was extremely sensitive to people's emotions. On many occasions she would open the door to share God's love with others... one time a woman visiting my neighbor was sitting alone on the back porch swing lost in her thoughts. Cassie moved next to her, put her paw on her shoulder and gently licked her cheek. Tears began to stream down the woman's face. She looked at Cassie and said, "I don't know what is to become of me." Her family had told her they were going to put her in a memory care facility. She had not spoken to anyone in a week until Cassie touched her. I watched as she fondled Cassie and told her, "you understand, don't you girl?"

After that I took Cassie to a memory care home to see how she might bless others. In the area with extreme cases of dementia a lady was sitting with her head face down on a table not moving.  I thought she had passed out or on. I called for an attendant that told me she sat that way every day and did not speak or acknowledge anyone. I put Cassie on the ground to see who she would approach in the room of ten or so people and she chose that lady. Cassie stood on her hind legs and put her paws on the woman's lap. Nothing happened, so I picked Cassie up so she could get closer to her face. Cassie licked the her ear and the woman sat up and started talking to her. The attendant was stunned.

There were many times when Cassie made a difference, but mostly she made a difference in my life. She helped me heal from personal heartbreak, was my constant companion, brought me comfort, laughter and abundant joy.

Cassie only lived a short time, like a shooting star that burns so bright but lasts only a short while, she died just before her fourth birthday. The symptoms from the distemper returned to claim her. It was truly horrible. The worse part was that in my desperation to save her, I fell into the hands of an unscrupulous vet that performed numerous surgeries she did not need. He claimed he did not know what was wrong with her but on the day I decided it was time to let her go, he said, "I knew it was the distemper symptoms returning." At that point, it was too late to turn back. Her poor body ravaged by the surgies...she could not walk or eat, was blind and having seizures.

After I had let her go, I had to forgive him. I am not sure which was harder. I just knew that if I carried the anger and bitterness around I would never heal. It's very easy to forgive someone you love but it's quite another thing to forgive someone who has hurt you or someone you love. That's where prayer comes in. There is still a place in my heart, a space that will always belong to Cassie and until I see her again, it will remain reserved.

A year later I stumbled into a pet store to see if holding the puppies would help...what happened will be in my next post. Stay tuned!