I had to put my dog Shelia to sleep today.
It was possibly the hardest thing I have ever done.
Her name was Shelia.
It's important that you understand something about this dog.
Shelia was given to me when she was 9 months old.
Shelia was an abused dog.
She had been raised in a house with some small children that I'm certain
tortured her.
Shelia was also the most amazing dog that you ever saw.
When she was a pup she would run and jump against the fence
vaulting herself 8 or 9 feet in the air.
The closest that I can describe it as, is a skateboarder off a half pipe
She would do that for hours.
She was also the meanest dog you have ever met.
Not vicious, but just mean.
She once made 3 Rot's back away just by snarling and giving them an evil look.
Shelia and I made the newspaper at a dog show once.
But most of all Shelia simply wanted to belong.
I don't think a day went by that Shelia took for granted.
Every meal was appreciated.
And every morning was greeted.
Shelia was a hard dog to love.
She would never come up to you and asked to be petted.
She would usually sit by herself and stare off into some other world.
But she always had a smile on her face
and a bright glimmer in her eyes.
She was just that way.
Her last day, after a horrible night of sickness
I awoke and Shelia had her head up and was ready for the day
She walked a short distance out of her bed and collapsed under my computer
table
Ace, my other dog was already under there, and his tail was smacking her in
the face
And I looked at my dying dog, knowing what I had to do,
and there was her smile and a slight glimmer in her eyes.
I think, for the first time in her life
while knocking on deaths door, she finally had what she always wanted.
She knew she belonged and always had.
Goodbye Shelia, you gave me more that you will ever know.
Tim