Little Dog

I had always wanted a cocker spaniel because I thought they were so beautiful. As a child, there were pets in the house, but they were never really mine. As an adult, I had a couple dogs that I didn't get to keep because I had to move so much. Then I met a wonderful man that I married in September 1992 and we decided to get a cocker spaniel. My brother Keith had a friend who bred cocker spaniels and they had one little female left. Her name was Cinnamon. That was you, Little Dog. That was in November 1992. When I brought you home you were all ears. We decided that Cinnamon wasn't what we wanted to call you so we kept calling you "little dog". That's what you were to us. Just a sweet, beautiful little dog. You used to get off your leash and take off running at 1000 miles an hour and your daddy would run after you. You finally stopped doing that!! Then we moved into a little house and got a new puppy - who we named Big Daddy - a Shepard. He was so little that he could walk under you. The two of you stayed in the house together during the day and one day your daddy caught you tearing up newspaper and peeing on it. We thought it was the puppy. It really was funny how you tried to get that "intruder" in trouble. We still laugh about that.

Then we bought a new house and you moved in with us. All was great - you had 2 acres to run in and chase bunnies and birdies and get on trails. Your little nose and lips were raw. Then near Christmas of 1999 we noticed that you were losing weight. I took you to the vet and Dr. T. said that you had diabetes and that it was a very big commitment for us to take care of you. We did it because we loved you. Then in February 2000 we noticed that you were running into things - you were developing cataracts from the diabetes. So we taught you new words - steps, watch out and wait. You did so good going up and down the steps. Then one day about 3 or 4 months ago we discovered that your right eye was swelling. You had glaucoma in that eye and then developed it in the left eye. We would put drops in your eyes, but they didn't help. Then you started pacing, panting, you were uncomfortable.

We made a very difficult decision. On July 27, 2002, we decided that you had suffered long enough. We let go of our selfishness in keeping you with us and allowed you to go to Rainbow Bridge. That was the hardest thing for us to do. You were our life, our light at the end of a long difficult day. You were the center of our world and we miss you so very much. I have never felt as much love for or from anyone else in this world as I did, and still do, from you. We love you so much and are very sad and shattered because we can no longer play with you and you don't welcome us home anymore.

I brought you home and into our lives and hearts in 1992. In 2002, I brought you back home. You are now in the center of the mantle. Fitting - you were the center of our hearts and souls as we were for you.

Run and play pain free my baby girl. We are getting better as the days go by. We miss you and love you so very much and are deeply saddened because you are not with us. Knowing that you are no longer suffering from the pain in your eyes and head helps us. We still talk to you as we always did. Big Daddy looks for you all the time. Let him know you are ok. I don't know how to complete this - I don't want to say goodbye - so I will say - I love you and miss you so very much, and I will see you again one day. Hugs and kisses from mommy and daddy.

 08/02