To Baby Shee-Wah…. Our precious and “Daddy’s Girl.” You were a tribute to the concept of “man’s best friend….”
We fell in love with you when we saw the expression on your face in the newspaper ad…
We’d already named you “Sheila” before we first went to see you. “Sheila” is an Australian expression for lady. You being an Australian Shepherd and so adorable in that picture, we knew it the perfect name for you.
You were seemingly so wild when we first took you in. We just had no idea you had so much love inside her that you so badly wanted to give, but hadn’t been allowed to your first year of life. You were a wonderful, faithful and loving companion in every sense of the word.
You gave all of us your unmitigated and unconditional love. And you gave us your never-ending protection. You were a wonderful watch dog, so very protective of your home and your family.
You were the strongest domesticated animal I’ve ever met. Had your protection been called into action I pity the person you would’ve sunk your teeth into. They’d have come away with less skin than they started the fight with – if they survived at all.
We who make up your family will always love you and miss you. We’ll miss the many great ways you showed how much you loved us too.
We’ll miss how you wouldn’t go in to sleep until all of us were snuggled in for the night. Only then would you come in and lay down to sleep somewhere close by the bed. And woe betide our sleep if you heard any unidentifiable noises in the night. You were always on guard.
And we’ll miss how in your youth you used to assume “the prime hugging position” on the corner of the bed ready for your good morning/night hugs.
And of course, once you’d got enough hugging in your opinion then you’d growl us out and jump off the bed to assume your sleeping place on the floor. And who could forget how your eyes would turn red when you were about to do mischief?
I remember how in your younger days, you’d sneak back up into bed and lay along the length of my back as I lay sleeping. I wouldn’t even know you were there until I moved then I’d get some more “growling out” as you’d once again jump off the bed back to the floor. You never understood I wouldn’t have made you get down from the bed.
And it always gave us chuckles how you would take offense if anyone moved their feet (sitting in the living room or even in bed and under the covers). You always growled your dissatisfaction at that for whatever reason.
We’ll also miss how we could hear your large and loud bark over engine noise, heater/AC and sometimes even radio greeting us from inside the house as we pulled our cars into the garage. You were just voicing your excitement that your people were coming back home to you.
And we’ll miss how your little bobbed tail would just wag and the sweet expression you’d put on your face so you’d look so adorable and so irresistible when you wanted more hugs and mooches.
Then last fall you blew your knee out. We were thinking because you were so active that keeping you immobile etc enough to heal would be a challenge. You came thru that like a champ staggering the surgeon and the therapists at how quick you were able to recover.
Then sadly, things just really came down on you at once. Your body started failing faster than we could get you treated – hip dysplasia, diabetes quickly adding to your Cushing’s Disease and causing you muscle failure in your back legs all within about 2 weeks.
But, we were told that insulin and exercise should restore your strength and within a couple of days it really seemed to be doing so. You seemed to rally and be responding to treatment and we were so happy that you were on your way back to health. But then just as suddenly the next day you started vomiting blood and…well… that’s never a good sign.
Goodbye, Sweet Sheila. Thanks for your love, your companionship and for all the ways you made our lives more joyful. God; how you will be missed.
You'll always be a part of our hearts,
| Sheila |
| 7, Aug 2016 |
| David and Anita Norris |