Cleo...
I'm taking a break from art posts to pay homage to a lovely old lady.
Just over a year ago, at the end of March, 2012, I lost my heart dog Owen. Just 2 weeks shy of his 15th birthday. His passing left us boxerless for the first time in nearly 20 years.That void was filled 10 days later when, with the help of Tracy Hon of Chico Boxer Rescue, I volunteered to foster a senior special needs girl who had been at the Sacramento county shelter for 3 months. Her time was up and - not for lack of trying on the shelter and Tracy's parts - she was out of time.
I drove down to collect her on her "death day".
She underscored everything wonderful about opening one's home and heart to a used-up old dog; yes, she was blind. She had tumors all over her lovely body. Her hearing was so/so, her teeth rotting nubs, her ears were full of scar tissue, and she had a pretty significant cardiac arrhythmia.
BUT she was also house trained. She was crate trained, spayed, easy with other dogs, not bothered by our 7 VERY dog-friendly cats, quiet and friendly with people. And always happy. Always.As naturally as she came in and claimed Owen's big bed for her own, she also claimed our hearts.Now, a little over a year later, and quite likely in her 13th or 14th year, she's telling us she's ready to go now. There's pain, little strokes, the indignity of incontinence. A heart on it's last legs, and a rapidly shrinking world.
That's OK - we had her much longer than we expected, and have never regretted our time with her.
I won't ever think of her and be sad - what's to be sad about? We got as much as we gave (or a little more), and too, are able to give her a far better end than the shelter could have. Dr Mike will come Wed and we'll help her across the bridge, in her own home, on "her" bed. Till then, its cookies and premium canned food and peanut butter bones without end.
So, I guess I just wanted to share our sweet old gal with you.
She was just a backyard-bred boxer, but if I could give her a good registered name, she would be BoxerTribe's Always Look On The Bright Side
Yeah, that's her. That's our Cleo...
Thanks for listening.
More art soon.
CMCK
When she's awake, every step is tough, but in her dreams,
the bunnies run for their lives!
the bunnies run for their lives!
Awwww C, what a beautiful way to remember the very special Cleo. She has been a big part of all our lives through you! Enjoy your time with her and I'm sure Owen will be there to greet her as she joins him and so many others at Rainbow Bridge. Love the registered name you have given her! Very fitting for this special ol' gal :-)
ReplyDelete((HUGS))
What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful girl and a fitting name :) Thank you for everything you have done for her and for sharing her with us.
ReplyDeleteIt still breaks my heart to think of sweet Cleo laying on the hard floor in a shelter for 3 months. Thanks to Tracy for working so hard to get her to a loving home and to you and Jeff (and the kitties!) for providing it. As Rhonda said, thanks for sharing her with us. I'm humming her song..... xoxo
ReplyDeleteOh what wonderful short ride for Cleo! I' m glad she had this last year with you! You have me tearing up reading your tribute
ReplyDeleteTo her.
I have loved reading your stories about her and enjoyed seeing her pictures. Thank you for saving Cleo and sharing her with us. Hugs to you all.
ReplyDeleteWow, Cathi, thank you for all of the info, and especially this lovely tribute, which is also a tribute to you and yours, although not intended to be. How blessed she was to go to your home with all of the cats, beds, treats, etc. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMarilyn Benoit, Las Vegas
A beautiful tribute to a beautiful soul! Thank you for saving Cleo and sharing your home & love with her ~ I love that smile on her face as she's heading up the path! God Bless
ReplyDeleteIt feels like I'm losing one of my own. Thank you for giving her dignity and a wonderful year. Sylvia
ReplyDeleteThat was a wonderful tribute to a beautiful lady. Thanks for making her last year so special.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful tribute to Cleo. So eloquent and evocative of the beauty that she has added to your lives. Yes, I did smile, but I also teared up a bit.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely and loving tribute. Cleo sounds much like my Lulu - blind, horribly arthritic with joint deformities and HD. The difference is that she was born that way with so many genetic abnormalities. The othere difference is that she came to us as a foster, at Christmas time. To make a long story short, she was only supposed to be with us 3-4 weeks. That was 10 1/2 years ago. She fooled everyone. It was thought she was 7-8 yrs old and on her last legs. Turns out she was less than a year old. She is cranky, opinionated and demanding, not to mention quirky. But she is so funny, so brave and so naughty she makes us laugh every day. Her story was published in a book, she has friends and admirers every where she goes and will probably outlive all the Boxers we've had.
ReplyDeleteI will tell her about Cleo and tell her....when her time comes, to look for her at the Bridge. Two cranky old biddies, making room for visiting puppies, and sharing bullies.
Cleo has been "well loved and it shows". In the end that is the most any of God's creatures can strive for - knowing and being loved.
I'll be thinking of you tomorrow sweetheart and will look at the night sky to see an ascending silver streak making it's way. Marlene
could you share the name of the book, Marlene?
DeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to a beautiful lady. Thank you so much for giving her a wonderful year. I hope I can do the same for another old guy or gal someday.
ReplyDeleteBless you for giving Cleo a very loving, last year! As I've read your posts about her, I've wished I could just reach out and give her a big hug and kiss. She was beautiful and will be missed! See ya across the Bridge, Cleo!
ReplyDeleteI keep coming back and reading this great tribute. As I sit here with tears in my eyes I think of all my boxers past and present and I hope that when something happens to me my dogs will become Cleo. Of course I have a written plan and my friends know about it. I just hope they get the love and dignity that Cleo has enjoyed. Thinking of my last 5 boxers, and those of all my friends, I know there's plenty of company for her.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason hadn't seen this before. Amazing how a "chance" thing works out. When I asked you if you could help I had no expectations at all, knowing you had just lost Owen and your busy life but had to try. Rescue people like me are relentless. I never get angry at a no but it doesn't keep me from calling again on another dog. I wasn't disappointed.
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