An End and a Beginning
Apr. 24th, 2006 01:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dancinghorseThanks to the many friends, on and off lj, who sent good wishes today. I was Ms. Cool until I got halfway there, realized how quiet Shadow was being in the back seat, and realized she knew where she was going. The vet concurred that it was time; you know how it is, you always wonder if you've made the decision too soon, but she said there was nothing left to salvage. Shadow went to sleep while I held her, and she knew I was there and wanted me there (and emphatically did not want strangers touching her), and that was the way these things should be.
She was a good dog. I got her the year I bought DHF, as a watchdog, because at that time the place was 15 miles from anywhere and very rural. Jennifer Roberson, who has always been my dog-finding person, told me about this wonderful dog she had seen at a herding trial: a backyard-bred, paperless but obviously purebred Doberman who was too sweet to be a guard dog and the owners had been trying to give her away without success. Mostly I think she thought she was a herding dog; she lived with Aussie shepherds and she was a good herding dog in her day. "This one is a winner," Jennifer said, and I agreed to meet her and most probably take her. Katherine Lawrence and I went to Phoenix and met her, and found this lovely, small (55 pounds in her heyday) black-and-tan Doberman with a docked tail but in the English fashion, she still had her ears. She was as sweet as advertised, gentle and kind, and rather neurotic, having been given away three times but always brought back for one reason or another (she ran off if off lead, she would eat the cats' food if she could get at it). Since my new place has a secure yard--the previous owners, both sets, were dog breeders--and I didn't mind feeding the cats on the counter, those were not problems for me. And she came home and she lived with me and she did her job as a watchdog; she would growl at strangers who came near me, and she stalked the yard very nicely, as sleek and dangerous-looking as she was. Nobody ever messed with my house while she was in or around it.
She stayed young and lively for a long time; she really didn't start to get old until last year, at 14, when she slowed down considerably and developed arthritis in her neck. That was when I got Spot, knowing how much Kaz would miss her when she went. She lasted rather longer than I expected actually, and was, arthritis aside, healthy and glossy and cheerful until very recently. Then everything pretty much let go at once.
And now the first and oldest animals of DHF are gone. The goat is still here, buried in front of the dogs' yard. Shadow will come back from the crematorium in a week or so, and her ashes will be scattered among the cottonwoods. She's been invited back; someday I expect a dog or cat or even horse will come here who looks at me in a particular way and I'll know. For that matter, if I look out late one night and see a sleek black shape patrolling the fence, that will be welcome, too. She was a good soul.
And that's today's ending. It's also a day for beginnings of a sort: Ephiny was born four years ago today. She's now officially a mare instead of a filly, and it's time to put together a bridle for her and teach her that part of a Lipizzan's life--though she won't be ready to sit on for some time yet (slow grower, no back muscles to speak of). Next year she'll finally get her Pooka and see about making her first Pooklet. Meanwhile she gets to be a kid for a while longer. She gets hugs and carrots and Attention and all the good things a horse here expects on her birthday. And life goes on.
She was a good dog. I got her the year I bought DHF, as a watchdog, because at that time the place was 15 miles from anywhere and very rural. Jennifer Roberson, who has always been my dog-finding person, told me about this wonderful dog she had seen at a herding trial: a backyard-bred, paperless but obviously purebred Doberman who was too sweet to be a guard dog and the owners had been trying to give her away without success. Mostly I think she thought she was a herding dog; she lived with Aussie shepherds and she was a good herding dog in her day. "This one is a winner," Jennifer said, and I agreed to meet her and most probably take her. Katherine Lawrence and I went to Phoenix and met her, and found this lovely, small (55 pounds in her heyday) black-and-tan Doberman with a docked tail but in the English fashion, she still had her ears. She was as sweet as advertised, gentle and kind, and rather neurotic, having been given away three times but always brought back for one reason or another (she ran off if off lead, she would eat the cats' food if she could get at it). Since my new place has a secure yard--the previous owners, both sets, were dog breeders--and I didn't mind feeding the cats on the counter, those were not problems for me. And she came home and she lived with me and she did her job as a watchdog; she would growl at strangers who came near me, and she stalked the yard very nicely, as sleek and dangerous-looking as she was. Nobody ever messed with my house while she was in or around it.
She stayed young and lively for a long time; she really didn't start to get old until last year, at 14, when she slowed down considerably and developed arthritis in her neck. That was when I got Spot, knowing how much Kaz would miss her when she went. She lasted rather longer than I expected actually, and was, arthritis aside, healthy and glossy and cheerful until very recently. Then everything pretty much let go at once.
And now the first and oldest animals of DHF are gone. The goat is still here, buried in front of the dogs' yard. Shadow will come back from the crematorium in a week or so, and her ashes will be scattered among the cottonwoods. She's been invited back; someday I expect a dog or cat or even horse will come here who looks at me in a particular way and I'll know. For that matter, if I look out late one night and see a sleek black shape patrolling the fence, that will be welcome, too. She was a good soul.
And that's today's ending. It's also a day for beginnings of a sort: Ephiny was born four years ago today. She's now officially a mare instead of a filly, and it's time to put together a bridle for her and teach her that part of a Lipizzan's life--though she won't be ready to sit on for some time yet (slow grower, no back muscles to speak of). Next year she'll finally get her Pooka and see about making her first Pooklet. Meanwhile she gets to be a kid for a while longer. She gets hugs and carrots and Attention and all the good things a horse here expects on her birthday. And life goes on.
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no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 01:40 pm (UTC)A lovely tribute to a lovely dog.
this seems somewhat irreverant, but damn, now my mascara is running
And Happy Birthday, Ephiny!! Carrots and Hugs for you!
no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 01:42 pm (UTC)Ephiny was born four years ago today.
Wow. They grow up so fast, don't they?
no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 01:42 pm (UTC)D.
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Date: 2006-04-24 01:46 pm (UTC)May your memories stay bright.
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Date: 2006-04-24 01:58 pm (UTC)I grew up with 2 dobermans - they were amazing creatures and I often still think of them with love.
Jeanne
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Date: 2006-04-24 02:33 pm (UTC)I'm so sorry for your loss.
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Date: 2006-04-24 02:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 02:50 pm (UTC)Hugs.
And a Bon Anniversaire to Ephiny.
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Date: 2006-04-24 02:55 pm (UTC)And Happy Birthday to Ephiny!
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Date: 2006-04-24 03:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 03:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 03:29 pm (UTC)*hugs*
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Date: 2006-04-24 03:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 03:49 pm (UTC)Requiescat in pace.
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Date: 2006-04-24 04:07 pm (UTC)And my congratulations to Ephiny for reaching official mare-dom.
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Date: 2006-04-24 04:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 05:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 05:13 pm (UTC)this seems somewhat irreverant, but damn, now my mascara is running
Yes, yes, yes. Thank you for saying it for me.
*hugs and pets all around*
no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 05:21 pm (UTC)(hugs)
sue
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Date: 2006-04-24 05:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 05:44 pm (UTC)Happy birthday to Ephiny. Such a pretty mare.
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Date: 2006-04-24 05:55 pm (UTC)*blurry screen virus*
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Date: 2006-04-24 06:39 pm (UTC)i hate that dogs get old and die. it, well, it just sucks. we had out springer spaniel put down this winter, and my friend lost 4 out of 5 dogs in the past year, and man. it just never gets easier. sigh
*hugs*life does go on, but in the mean time, hugs are always welcome :)
no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 06:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 07:56 pm (UTC)I hope you see her soul again soon, and know she was blessed to be with you.
Adieu Shadow
Date: 2006-04-24 08:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 09:13 pm (UTC)Sympathy
Date: 2006-04-24 10:14 pm (UTC)My deepest regrets,
Sean
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Date: 2006-04-25 03:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-25 10:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-25 10:24 am (UTC)Best to you and the rest of the critters.
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Date: 2006-04-25 10:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-25 10:38 am (UTC)And happy birthday to Ephiny.
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Date: 2006-04-25 03:12 pm (UTC)And it is appropriate that the circle is there, with Ephiny.
I am thinking of Shadow and you.
On the Wheel of Stars
Date: 2006-04-25 05:47 pm (UTC)Robin
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Date: 2006-04-26 09:13 am (UTC)---L.
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Date: 2006-04-26 04:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-28 09:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-28 11:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-08 01:38 am (UTC)Glad you can also remember this day as Epiny's BD. That helps me, when it's a dual day.