Author: Alexis

Dearest Sophie girl,

I cannot believe you are gone. This is our first night apart and the grief is overwhelming. I have loved you since the day I laid eyes on you. Grandma and I went to see you everyday. The people let us sit in a special room to play with you and you of course peed everywhere! Luckily Grandma and I weren’t too worried about that or you would of been gone a long time ago 😉 I went to see you everyday and begged Mom and Dad so much to let me keep you. I wanted you more than I wanted anything in my entire life!

One day Grammy and I went to go see you on our daily visit and you were gone. My 7 year old heart was just ripped open. I still remember looking up trying to hold tears back because I didn’t want the man to know I was such a wussy. When we got back to Grandma’s we began circling every pet ad in the paper, we even went as far as calling a lady about a Dalmatian for sale.

When it was time for Grandma to take me home I saw my Nana’s car in the driveway. I always loved having both my nannies and grammies home and the same time! Dad didn’t waste any time on telling me I had left a “HUGE MESS” on the couch before I went to play with Grammy. When I looked on the couch there you were! You were so precious and small and white! Your coat hasn’t been that white since! I remember how you looked so vividly. I remember jumping over that couch so fast to get to you. I remember everything about that day. I was so proud to have you as my dog. I remember walking you through the neighborhood and feeling so cool with you on the end of the leash. I remember when I had the excellent idea to let you rollerblade with me and you pulled me all the way down that hill on my butt till it was bleeding! Mom cut that activity out real quick. I remember taking you swimming to Nana’s pool. I remember the day you were so small and you were trying to sniff the pool vacuum and fell in. I remember I was so hysterical when I jumped in to save you and I remember rocking you back to warmth in that towel and mom and nana laughing at how dramatic I was being. But you were my baby.

As I got older lots of changed happened in both of our lives. We got another dog, which then had puppies. We were all so delighted to have a house virtually full of dogs, except you. You were the one who rules the roost and you had lots of trouble with that. As you got used to the puppies you began to treat them like your own, which turned out to be a real blessing because Maddie got lost in the cornfield and you were left with the responsibility of taking care of her pups, which you did without difficulty. You were always so full of life and so excited. You have lived with our family in four different homes. You also befriended Katiedog and LET her live with us too! You saw me through college which is something (lets be honest) that is nothing short of a miracle!

I have so many, many memories with you Sophie girl that I could write for days. When you got sick earlier this year and I was away I was so worried but I knew you would be ok! And you proved me right! When you were sick I called Mom and had her put me on speaker phone and I talked to you. I remember secretly racking up long distance phone bills when we would go on vacation and you would stay at the house. I was always embarrassed when dad would check the voicemails when we got back only to hear me calling out your name. I just wanted you to hear my voice, but dad said I was probably driving you mad, which is probably true.

I knew after you got sick this year that we didn’t have much time. I just thought I would have more warning than just an hour. When I left for dinner last night Sophie I never knew you were that sick or else I wouldn’t have gone. I thought when your nose was bleeding that you had cut it on something. Searching for the wound I learned it was coming from your actual nose. The blood was easy to manage at first but then your poor little snout because covered in it and I could tell how uncomfortable you were. I hated coming home from dinner and seeing you run to me covered in blood. I wish I would have never seen that because now that image is burned in my mind. Even in your last hours of life you still had spunk. When the vet said it was time you were still excited and wondering what was going on as we put you in the car. Your last moments of life are so hard to think about because I never wanted you to go like that. I am so sorry for whatever pain you were going through and could not communicate to us. When I saw you quiver and shake I knew it was time to get it over with so your suffering could stop.

Sophie, the memories you have given me and this family are so great. There will not be a single time with I don’t laugh about your human-like snoring or your ability to get so excited over the word “outside” or especially “bones!” I will miss your happy little prance you did whenever you got excited. My 16 years with you were the best time of my life. No other creature has helped me get through growing up like you have. I wish so badly you were here right now stinking up the room with your nasty breath or begging for a bone. You were the most spoiled precious creature I ever layed eyes on and I will miss you more than I could ever express.

Tomorrow Dad, Mom, Dani, and Alyssa will begin to bury you right next to Bubba. Strange how your lives began and ended relatively close in time. We intend to place you with the Minnie Mouse blanket that you stole from me (I’m still a little bitter about that) and maybe a few of your toys. Please forgive me if I keep “the boot” that was your favorite toy and I think I will keep it. I think you will be happy out by the lake and I know Bubba is ready for his playdate to be back. We miss you both SO much already!

I just hope heaven is equipped with lots of bones or else you will undoubtedly show them the Sophie girl SASSY side which I know very well.

Love you so much baby girl.