We adopted Asta when she was 4 months old. She was with us for 15 yrs., 9 mos. Asta was never sick a day in her life and I guess you could say she had good genes. She loved everyone and was happy every day. Asta had her favorites when it came to food, that being tomatoes, red peppers and oreo cookies. Of course, she liked to eat anything that I was eating, but she sure liked these 3 things. Asta slept beside me every night, with her head on my pillow, until the past couple of years, as she started to show signs of her age and would wet the bed; as well, she lost her hearing. Nothing discouraged her though and she had tons of energy and would literally prance around,
like the cartoon character, Bambi.
I have 4 cats, and one in particular, Toby, a male, well, he was her favorite. They used to play together and chase each other-it was so funny to watch! She was a smart girl too and knew many tricks, including jumping into your arms, from either a short run or off a chair or the couch. She ran like the wind and we jokingly called her “the silver bullet”. We have a cottage up north and Asta loved the car rides as we always stopped at Tim Horton’s and we would share
some Timbits with her.
She loved going to the groomers because she had her vanity as all girls do and she would strut around afterwards and expect us to compliment her (which we did!). Asta felt the cold so in the fall and winter we would leave her hair to grow and she’d wear sweaters or old sweatshirts the kids had worn years ago – she looked really cute and liked wearing these things. She was such a great companion to me; 4 years ago my dear cat Scarlett died (who I also have a tribute on this site). Well, Asta knew Scarlett was gone and she also knew I was upset about it. She stayed close to me, more so than usual, every day for weeks, doing her best to comfort me, which she did.
I miss her so much it is unbearable at times. I look for her, hoping to see her come running to the front door when I come home. But she’s gone, forever. We buried her in the pet cemetery on December 3. After she died we placed her in a special container, along with family photos, dog biscuits and 2 covers which I wrapped her in, along with a small blanket I had knit. I also buried her in one of her sweaters.
I am thankful that she had such a full and happy life, and a longer life than many dogs ever have. She never suffered, although in the last 2 weeks of her life, her breathing was rapid and that is how we discovered she had a tumor on her lung, by having an x-ray done. I was left with no choice
but to let her go.
Although she couldn’t hear me, I was with her, stroking her and talking to her, and we kept our eyes on each other, until she died. This is no easy thing to do is it? It is awful and the guilt and grief is so huge you almost feel like you are going to burst inside your chest because it hurts. But I know that she would not have lived much longer and it would not have been kind to leave her to linger.
Losing Asta is a chapter in my life which is now closed, as both her and Scarlett are from a time when I had been married and my kids were young. So much has happened and our lives have changed and now that they are both gone, my life will never be the same. I am so lucky to have been blessed with this most amazing and loving free-spirited dog. She adored me and everyone else around her.
I shall miss her always and I hope some day I am reunited with her and my other beloved pets.
That would be the best gift ever.
With me always,
| Asta |
| 29, Nov 2005 |
| Linda |