For The Love of Jenny Sue

Yesterday was a day that no pet parent wants to do. A day that had laughter but lots of tears. Please bare with me because I don't know if this will be a short post or a long one. 

On December 29th 2016, hubby and I took Jenny Sue to the vet and when we left she was wrapped in a her blanket that said "I love mommy, I love daddy" her body had no life left in it. 


We set our beautiful baby girl free. 



spaniel side of face
Free from pain, free from diabetes 
In my mind, She has regained her eyesight and her hearing.
She is free. 
For the last 8 months, Jenny's health has deteriorated. We knew what was happening but we wanted just a little longer with her. She was having good days and bad days. Her bad days started outnumbering her good. 

On good days she was able to go out to potty, eat her meals and give awesome kisses. On her bad days, she would shake , stand for 10-30 minutes in one spot staring off into space. I would put her outside and tap her sides to give her the cue to go potty. She would just stand there for the longest time and then make her way to the door. She would come in and potty in the floor. 

She started getting lost in her own yard. So many times I would have to go out to the farthest part of our yard and pick her up to bring her in. Sometimes she would get lost in the house. It was hard to watch but we wanted to hold her a little longer. 
Spaniel in a hat
When she was having a good day , it would make our heart soar. She had a lot of spunk for being blind and deaf. A couple of weeks ago she got a hold of a chicken bone. I reached down to take that chicken bone away and she tried to tear me up. She knew it was me, she didn't care. She wanted that chicken bone and made it quiet clear that she was willing to fight for it. She lost that battle because she didn't need a chicken bone. 

The next morning I got up and she had pooped in my shoe. That was her way of telling me she didn't appreciate the fact I took something away from her that she really wanted. When she was 3 years old and a strange dog came in our yard. She was the only fur baby at the time and she was daddy's baby girl through and through. We brought the dog in and called the number on the tag. The owner was at work but said he would be there as soon as he could get here. Hubby picked this pup up and started loving on it. If looks could have killed, he wouldn't be here today. She did not like the fact that her daddy was loving on a strange dog. She ignored him the rest of the night. She wouldn't look at him when he talked to her. He kept telling her she was the only baby in his life. Didn't matter. She was mad at him. 

The next morning he got up and made his usual walk to the bathroom. As soon as he took a step, he felt the ooze of something. He hopped on the other foot and felt the same ooze on that foot. He was screaming and cussing so loud that he woke me up. When I turned on the light, there was a minefield of shit in the exact same path as he took every morning. No matter where he stepped there was a small turd. We still to this day say that she did it on purpose. When he seen her he told her he could wring her neck. She let out a sound that sounded exactly like HA! She went in the bedroom and jumped on the bed with me and let out a sound of relief. 
Spaniel tilting her head.
You didn't want to make her mad. You would get shit in your shoes or in your pathway. I can tell stories about when she would get mad and she would let you know it too. You never left a RC or a beer sitting around. She liked both. She would knock whatever you had over and start lapping it faster than you could get to her. She always waited until you were not near your drink. So many people have lost their drinks while at our house. She was the party animal. 

We referred to her as the italiano pup. She loved spaghetti, lasagna, anything with a tomato base. I think she watched Lady and the Tramp too much because her favorite scene was the spaghetti scene. 
Lop eared rabbit

She was the best wabbit wangler you ever would see. She grew up through puppyhood with a rabbit named Prince. He loved to stay in the backyard during the day and he would come in at night. I would open the door and tell her to go get Prince in and she would find him and they would do their chase all threw the yard and he would come in then go straight to his cage. He wouldn't come in unless he seen her coming out to get him. He would sit in the yard looking toward the house and wait. They had a game they played. Sometimes Prince would chase her into the house. They were best of friends. 
Poodle and spaniel sharing ice cream.
When Carma came into the family , Jenny accepted her. They had a love of orange sherbert ice cream and that was their treat once a week. They had to share the same sherbert. They wouldn't eat one by themselves. Jenny Sue adored ice cream. The family trips to Sonic was the highlight of the month for her. Unfortunately, we had to stop that last year when the ice cream would cause her terrible diarrhea. She was never satisfied with just a tablespoon of ice cream. She would fight you over your ice cream. 

She was a talker. She would make sounds that almost everyone understood. We understood everything she said. She would tell you she loved you, she tell you no and she tell you she was hungry. 

When she lost her sight , we didn't treat her no different. We continued to play the games she loved and she continued to play them. Her ears became her eyes. She could play fetch like a dog with full eye sight. She could swim, go for walks without a leash, find her toys and anything a dog with sight could do. She was amazing. 
spaniel in a red hat
She knew how to make the faces that would melt your heart and get what she wanted. When she was young, her spots formed a bunny head between her eyes. I always said she was meant to be ours. She was also the favorite grand dog. She had a t shirt that said "Favorite grandchild".  She would give you a hug and just mold her body into yours. She was perfect. 

She traveled everywhere with us. She was welcomed in everyone's home and we were not allowed to leave her at home. She was loved by many. Sometimes I think we were only invited because of her. 
  Spaniel in hands
We never imagined all the love that one teeny tiny pup who was born in a no kill shelter could give. Nor did we ever think of all the memories and moments that she would give. She was a good puppy. Never was a bit of trouble. She was sassy and had a ton of spunk. She is what we needed. She was perfect. 

It really was hard watching her grow so old in the last few months. Just looking at photos of her from last year versus what she looked like yesterday was a real eye opener. We couldn't fill her up. She was always hungry, yet she was losing weight everyday. She was a walking skeleton. The vet always told me that when she stopped eating is when it would be the end. We didn't want it to get to that point. It didn't stop us from wanting to hold her a little longer. 

We rearranged our lives because of her. We know longer traveled as a family because one of us had to stay with her. We didn't want to stress her out by letting someone else take care of her. We adjusted our budget in order to add her needs like certain foods, medicines, eye drops, needles for insulin, and special treats.  That is what you do for your family members. 

puppy with stuffed animal
When she first came home with us on Jan. 1 2003, she had a special stuffed animal. We always called this stuffed toy "mama dog". She had to have mama dog with her to sleep. When she got older, she would hunch mama dog. She was not spayed because she started having seizures and our vet said we should wait. We waited and waited and then we decided not to put her through the surgery. You can have a unspayed female without "accidental" pregnancies. Its called a watchful eye. 

Friday was a good day for her. No accidents, felt good and was full of love and kisses. She kissed me all the way to the vet's office. She kissed us both while in the office. She also peed on the floor, cut a terrible smelling fart and shit on the floor. She kept me busy cleaning up after her. She had a good day and it was a good day to travel. 
Spaniel giving kisses.
She is free. No more bad days. She was a good girl. She was perfect. 
We held her a little longer but we knew we needed to let her go. 
She is buried with her mama dog and wearing her "favorite grandchild" shirt
We couldn't be selfish any longer. 

So tonight when you look in the sky and see that star shining bright,just know that is our Jenny Sue. She shared love and joy with everyone she met. 

I love you, Dammit Jenny Sue. 
You will always be our baby girl. 
Love you to the moon and back, Mama


40 comments:

  1. Beautiful Tribute to a beautiful girl,she'll be waiting for you when its time but in the meantime she's having fun with the odd look down just to see what you're all upto,xx Speedy

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  2. Godspeed Jenny Sue! Everyone should be so fortunate to have a friend like you once in their life.

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  3. BEeutiful tribute, very precious memories. It is never simple to say today is the day. We do it out of love. Jenny Sue was wrapped in love every day along the journey.

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  4. Sorry for your loss. She sounds like a wonderful dog.

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    1. She was. She was one of a kind. Thank you for your condolences.

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  5. Such a beautiful tribute. I'm so terribly sorry for your loss.

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  6. The love and laughter and dammits will remain in your heart forever. Fly Free, Jenny!

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    1. Yes they will be. She will be in our heart forever.

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  7. Jenny Sue was a tough old dog. She lived a long, full life. Love to everyone there, and love to Jenny Sue, who is free and pain-free at the Rainbow Bridge.

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    1. She was. The stories I could tell would leave you in stitches. Like the time we thought she had mumps. Found out she fought a bee over a RC. She drank the RC and ate the bee. Nothing stood in her way of her drinks.

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  8. I'm so very sorry for your loss.

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  9. She sounds like a special girl. So sorry for your loss.

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  10. We are so very sorry for your loss. Jenny Sue sounds like she was quite the character who filled your life with joy. Hold on tightly to those memories.
    Jan & the crew at Wag 'n Woof Pets

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    1. Jenny Sue was quite a character. She let you know exactly what she wanted and you knew when she was happy and when she was mad.
      Thank you

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  11. I am so sorry. That is a beautiful loving tribute to her. ♥

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  12. I'm sorry I am a month late offering condolences but what a touching and beautiful tribute.

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  13. What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful girl. My sincere condolences to you, Bunny and your entire family. With this blogpost, the world gets to "see" the wonderful life she provided to you and you to her. xoxoxoxox

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    1. Thank you Darlene. She was a very special girl who touched many people's hearts.

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  14. I'm so very sorry for our loss. Tender moments commemorating the loss of your sweet friend. I hope recalling those earlier days help soften the loss. ღ

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    1. Thank you. Memories of her make me smile and always will.

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  15. We're so sorry for your loss. That's a wonderful tribute, thank you for sharing your memories with us. We send you comforting purrs and gentle headbonks. Purrs

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    1. Thank you for the purrs and headbonks. We appreciate it.

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  16. There is no greater heartache than having to say goodbye to a beloved pet. I am so very sorry for your loss. {{{HUGS}}}

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  17. What a beautiful tribute to the special relationship between us and our furry family members! My tears flow for the hole in your heart while I smile at the stories of Jenny Sue's antics. Thank you for sharing with us. Love & licks! Denise & ~Shasta

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    1. Thank you for taking time to read our tribute. Hugs

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  18. I'm so sorry for your loss. This post was a wonderful tribute to her. She was so blessed to be yours.

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  19. Oh, Bunny, I am so sorry to hear about Jenny Sue. Your tribute to her is beautiful, touching, and describes the place she held in your family and your love for her. She had a strong personality and in time you will be able to laugh at some of her antics.

    All of the support and kind words you said to me this week, I am sending to you. In spite of having other pets, Jenny Sue will leave an empty place. And as you said to me her memories will live forever.

    When talk to BJ, I'll tell him to look for Jenny Sue. Love you and thinking of you.

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  20. Jenny Sue sounds like a very special and wonderful dog. I am watching my sister's Pug grow old too fast, so this hit pretty close to home. Sending you healing thoughts.

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  21. This is the hardest part. When we adopt an animal we do so knowing full well (well hoping in some part actually) that we will outlive them, but that never ever prepares us for the pain of that day.

    and losing a loved one, no matter the circumstances, is never easy.

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  22. that is beautiful tribute to jenny sue. the pictures of are wonderful and you stories made laugh and cry. it brought to mind my last days with bj and i'm crying still.

    remember, no upper case anything because of my broken wrist.

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