BH CD CGC TDI TT
April 13 1988 —- March 3 2000
Rottweiler
It has been a year now and the pain of losing my
beloved soulmate has not lessened.
Everyone now is sick of hearing me say “Borita used to do this…”
and “Remember when Borita did that?” and “Too Bad Borita wasn’t here”.
I know it is getting old but it hurts like it was yesterday.
Sometimes I hear her tags gently jingle and I know she is with me.
Sometimes I can still smell her scent on an old toy.
Sometimes I call her when I am walking alone in the woods.
Sometimes I threw a stick for her…..then my heart sinks because the
stick has not moved. I can feel her presence overwhelmingly at times.
She never stays long just a few minutes here and there.
We thank The LORD for our cat Sheena she has been a
steadfast loyal friend. She misses her to.
I had packed up Borita’s bed that the two of them used to share.
I didn’t want it to get dirty saving it for the new Rottie puppy that will
someday fill my heart again. But I pulled it out the other day and said
the he– with it. At first it killed me to see it. But then I saw that the cat took
comfort in it. She has laid there almost 24/7 since then.
When we pick her up to take her to bed with us she screams in protest.
I wonder does she think of the times they shared napping on this bed?
Is Borita’s scent still there for her?
When I am nervous at night and I feel I need I need someone extra to
look over me I hang up Borita’s big fur saver collar on my door knob.
It brings me comfort. I hold the collar in my hands and imagine she is in it.
Someone found her old collar tags in the woods.
They asked me if I wanted them. I could not take them.
It is just another reminder she is gone from this earth.
Here is her story it is long but if someone finds comfort in knowing that
the bonds they shared with their pets do matter and you do have a right to
feel grief it will be worth it.
No matter how long you grieve it is your right and no one
should ever be little that. ! They wouldn’t tell you to get over it if your child died.
How do they expect you to get over the one true friend you had in this world?
BORITA ROTTWEILER-FRIEND PROTECTOR LOVE OF MY LIFE
Borita filled many roles in our lives. Devoted friend confidante’
loyal protector and accomplished show dog.
As a Certified Therapy Dog she enriched the lives of many lonely souls.
Eleanor at Greenbriar especially will miss her. She loved her dearly
and I have not yet found a way to tell she that Borita has crossed
over to the Bridge. Her mischievous mind entertained us for hours.
Comedy came easy for her. When Tom’s senior Rotty Mojo
(who was twice Borita’s size) was chewing happily on his favorite tennis ball,
Borita barked her fiercest bark right in his face. Of course she scared
the daylights out of him and us (we thought a fight would ensue).
Mo was so startled he spit out the ball with such force; it “conveniently”
landed between Miss Borita’s greedy little paws.
Then it was SHE happily chewing on Mojo’s favorite tennis ball.
If there was ever any doubt of how intelligent she was this dispelled all
of them in about 30 seconds.
Never once did she fail to greet us at the door even on days her body
ached with the pains of aging.
Never once did she disobey a command or give up a game of
“get the bad guy” even though she may have been suffering.
She lay by our sides when we were sick. Her constant vigils comforted us.
So in tune with our emotions she rejoiced when we did she grieved
when we did and she was ready to play or kiss us at the drop of hat.
Her unselfishness was extraordinary. She aged gracefully on the outside.
Many people thought she was a pup by her muscle tone sleek coat,
and zest for life. The only give away was the gray muzzle and the gray
between her toes. Unfortunately unaware to us she suffered silently inside.
Her courage and stoicism befitted a true hero.
We treasure the time she graced our hearts. Her devotion to MAMA was
heartwarming and I know never in my life will anyone love me the way she did.
She enjoyed seeing the cows and the horses laying on our couch
swimming hiking and just going for long rides.
She would sit in the back seat with her body half up and half down
and her nose pointed to the heavens basking in the sun.
True contentment was apparent. Oh yes and we thank her for showing us
all the wild animal tracks during our hikes. As avid wildlife observers,
we would have overlooked many signs of the wild if it weren’t for her
keen sense of smell. Her body would indicate if the animal was large or
small and approximately how long ago it passed by.
We also would have missed all the animal scat (which we had to try to beat
her to so she would not ingest it)-that we WON’T miss.
We would have missed out on a lot of exciting moments if it weren’t for
her keen sense of smell. Her intelligence and ability to learn
quickly was amazing.
I have trained a lot of dogs but she excelled.
In a matter of minutes she learned to howl with us carry her food dish
(we had to deposit treats in it) and to pick up things that I dropped
from poor muscle control. If I fell on ice she would rush to my side
and allow me to lean on her for support even though her back hurt.
She overcame her fear of water and learned to swim at the age of 7 years.
She competed in Novice and Veteran’s competition and won many prizes.
That didn’t matter to her; being by my side was her life’s joy and reward.
She received her Begleithunde title at 10 years. What an achievement!
She was terrified of gunfire but when the helper fired the 2 blank shots
during our trial she stood steadfast by my side.
Her whole body quivered and she wanted to bolt (the helper would
have been sorry) but she remembered our training sessions
and had faith in my judgment that I would not let anyone harm her.
I was sorry though and vowed to her that she would never have to
hear gunshots again. What a good girl she was.
She was so well-behaved and unintimidating (unless you stepped too close
to my car) in public I could take her anywhere. In the mall to sit with Santa.
She fiercely protected home body and property. Yet she was gentle and
patient with little children whose hands sometimes got so excited they
would pinch her ear or pat a sore spot. She never once showed them teeth.
They loved her. It was very seldom that I walked down the street that someone
didn’t comment on her beauty or good manners.
She was not a conformation Champion (she was SG rated in the German Ring)
but her beauty was undeniable. She had refinement soulful brown eyes
nobility and a presence that I doubt we will ever known again in our lives.
The squirrels will miss her. First she wanted to chase them but then she
accepted them as she did the ducks and respected their right to enjoy life.
I hope she can forgive us for being selfish and not being able to accept her
pain or the possibility that she would die alone in agony gasping for air afraid.
We hope we did right by her.
She will be sadly missed by Papa Karen and Kenny Bubba Princess
Kitty Grammy Greenbriar Nursing Residents and the girls at the
Dunkin Donuts drive-thru (she loved the munchkins).
We will never forget her dancing body smiling face ears of silk or
deep expressive brown eyes. I will never forget the way she idolized me.
I was flattered. She followed me from room to room until her body became tired.
She would “protect” me if my boyfriend got too close to me.
She would not growl or show teeth just jump up and face off with him.
That was her way of subtly saying to him:
“I love you but I love MAMA more so back off Mister.”
These images will be forever etched in our hearts.
Her passing has shattered our lives. We know with time it will pass and
we hope she will never know the pain and agony we endured today
when we made this heart-wrenching “DECISION”.
We held her and kissed her peaceful body long after it was over.
Our love was so deep and pure for her but in the end it couldn’t save her.
We thank GOD that her last walk in the woods was enjoyable and
relatively pain free. And we thank GOD for letting us hold her as she
crossed over and for bringing this very special little human
(who incidentally was dressed in a Rottweiler suit) into our lives.
She is missed and we mourn her passing.
A strange sidebar: 4 days before Borita passed something strange
happened to us. My boyfriend arose and leaned over the bed and started
patting Borita’s head and body (we only had one dog).
Well almost immediately I awoke and starting leaning over my side of the
bed and starting stroking her as well. He said “come on Borita” as
he started to leave the bedroom. I said “she is right here next to me”
and he said “no she isn’t she is on my side”.
I had to turn on the light to show him she was on her bed next to me.
I would have heard her moving from his side to mine but I didn’t and
besides she could not have moved that fast upon rising because of the arthritis.
Anyway she let out a scream when she arose to get her breakfast a
few minutes later. We think that this: Either her physical body was on his
side of the bed and her spirit was on mine or vice versa.
We think she wanted to leave us but could not bear to cause us so
much pain. We think she decided to fight the cancer.
She went to the acupuncturist later that day and seemed
improved and relieved.
She was comfortable that night and the suffering started Tuesday morning
when the “incident” occurred. She suffered over the next 3 days.
With what information we were given at age 12 years with so much
lung damage her prognosis was poor and the end was inevitable
within the next month. Bleeding to death was possible.
We chose to end her suffering and begin ours on Friday a.m.
While we waited for the vets she appeared to have stopped breathing,
but each time I was able to call her and shake her out of it.
I think Borita did not want to leave us until she knew we could be strong.
Please tell me of any similar experiences.
I want to reach her from beyond to guide us through this grief and Pain.
We promise we won’t keep her for long just until our strength returns.
PS. Sadly Eleanor passed away silently a few weeks ago.
I know Borita met her at the GATE and is now able to
comfort her as she did on earth.
I am eternally grateful for this web site and would like to thank all the
volunteers and the guests who have made contributions.
Maybe someday our pets will mean more to this world than “property” does.
Maybe someday companion animals will no longer be euthanized by the millions,
abused and generally treated as garbage by 50% of the world’s population.
I can only hope and pray as I recount the faces I have seen in the rows
at the local shelters.
Just maybe…
Denise
| Borita |