Daisy

Though she had papers she came from the flea market, not a reputable breeder. It was a warm June day four summers ago, when I picked her tiny body up and held her close to me. She licked my face with her pink little puppy tongue, and I hesitated to give her back. We were headed to the car, and she was filling my thoughts, but I didn't say a word. After I buckled my seat belt, Verne asked, "Aren't you going to bring your dog home?"

I was back to the seller before you knew it, and claiming her for my very own. She nestled down into my lap, and made herself at home. And I named her. Daisy.

It wasn't long before we realized how smart this little pup was. She was learning new tricks by the day and was obedient for each one of us. She learned to sit, stay, come, roll over, dance, balance, shake, and her favorite trick, jumping through a Hula Hoop. Anytime the hoop came out, she wagged her little tail and got very excited.

She had a crate in the corner of our bedroom where she slept each night, but before too long she made her way into the bed, curling up by my side and snuggling close. If I moved at all, she'd move right back up against me.

Shortly after her first birthday, we noticed Daisy's lack of enthusiasm for the Hula Hoop trick. She got excited when we brought it out, but seemed hesitant to jump through it. Occasionally we could coax her, but not for long. It was then that we noticed her bumping into walls at certain times, particularly if the lights were low.

A trip to the vet confirmed what we suspected. Daisy was going blind. She had severe cataracts, and couldn't see well. The vet told us she'd be totally blind within a year, and that she would have severe discomfort, but that there was nothing to be done for her. "Take her home, and continue to enjoy her", we were told.

We've been amazed at how well Daisy has coped. She knows our home well, and only very occasionally would she run into a wall. As long as there weren't stray objects around the house, she was fine. She continued to play fetch, tirelessly.

As well as she was coping with the loss of her vision, she was still in pain. She rubbed her eyes and the top of her head with her paws trying to alleviate the pressure that was built up. She tired more easily, and  became jumpy, barking at every little sound. And worst of all, she started snapping once in a while when she was startled.

Last evening, she was startled by a noise outside, and when Autumn tried to pick her up, Daisy bit her. She was very sorry, and put herself in time out under my desk, but it had already happened. Sometime in the night, Daisy left our bed and went to sleep with Autumn. She had never done that before, and I think it was her way of apologizing.

Nevertheless, I called the vet this morning, and made an appointment to have Daisy put down. I couldn't take a chance that she'd bite again, no matter how sorry she was. I held her as she passed, and I cried.

She was giving me those little puppy kisses right up to the end. I miss her terribly already.

Collin had the foresight to take quite a few photos this morning, and I'm so glad that I have those to remember her by. She was a good friend, and I'm going to be lost without her.