Goodbye, My Sweet Friend

Sunday, June 21, 2015 (Father's Day).  I was told by my father that we may have to put our sweet German Shephard down.  She was always so lively and loyal but her back hips were starting to give out on her to the point where she would fall to the ground.  My father told me it would most likely happen this week.

Thursday, June 25, 2015.  I went to pick up my two dachshunds from my parents house after work and noticed the sheets that were once on my parents living room floor (to keep the rug clean due to 3 dogs constantly on them), were no longer there.  I looked around in the backyard to see where Heidi may be.  Since my parents were heading up to the river I thought maybe she was at the kennel.  When I asked my dad where she was, he grabbed the remote to mute the TV and told me that he put our sweet Heidi down on Tuesday. My mom came in the room to say, "Lisa, I thought we told you we were going to have to put her down."  I thought I'd at least get a warning, or a message from my parents letting me know what day they were going to take her in so I could at least say one last goodbye.  I didn't feel like she was ready to go just yet. I don't know if it was me being in denial that the dog I grew up with since I was in High School was in her last days, or what, but I did not feel that she was ready to go just yet.  She still had a lot of life left in her despite her hips giving out on her.  She didn't seem to be in pain.   



Heidi helped me through all my breakups, all the heartache that high school brought on, and was my companion into adulthood. She loved to swim, and had my parents trained because she would wait for them to tell her to go to the bathroom.  She was funny, clumsy, and full of love. She started off as the puppy from hell, from chewing on literally everything and being crazy aggressive to becoming one of the sweetest dogs I knew.  As big as she was, she was a huge teddy bear.  I still remember picking her up from the breeder, carrying her in my arms all the way home.  She never truly knew how big and strong she was because I remember laying out in the backyard and for some reason she though she was a lap dog and would lay across me.  She was too heavy for me to lift her off me, so I just let her lay and enjoy the sunshine.  I remember teaching her to swim, and from that day on she fell in love with the water.  It was hard to keep her out of the pool. 

I don't know if I am more angry or sad that I didn't find out until two days later.  
I wish I could give you one last goodbye, one last hug, and take one last swim with you.

RIP Heidi girl, you were a princess, loveable, a beast, but so full of love.  I will miss you dearly.