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Little Sally Ride was laid to rest Saturday in the Northwest corner of our property. She loved lying in the sun, even on the hottest days and it seems a good a place as any.
Sally came to us in August 2007 when we lived in New Hampshire. This little pup was known as Ginger at the time and had had 5 owners in the 5 months she had been alive. So with all that change in her life, we figured one more change wouldn’t matter to her and we changed her name to Sally. Now she had been shuffled around so much, she hadn’t been taught anything and didn’t have a whole lot of sense. She also didn’t have a mean bone in her body. What she did have was a heart of gold.
We are pretty good with dogs, but Sally was a challenge. We are grateful for the careful hand of Becky Schimp, owner of The Educated Pooch, who was Sally’s first and only trainer she ever had or needed.
Sally racked up a lot of miles by car. She went with us to Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Riley and twice to Arizona. We had picked up this dog seat from AAA that reminded me of the baskets you use in the grocery store when you just need a few items. It sits high enough in the seat so she could see out of the windows and kept her securely in the seat while allowing her to turn around. She was a good girl riding and never got sick or made a fuss.
Like most small dogs, Sally loved to snuggle. This means not just on the bed, but under the covers. Usually this meant with just her nose and maybe a front paw sticking out. Now she couldn’t get on the bed by herself, so we had one of those pet stairs that she used. I can’t say how many times my heart would be in my mouth when she would tear up or down those stairs. But she was having fun and that’s what life is for. Around the end of October 2010, Sally slipped off the stairs during one of her Speed Racer moments and landed on her neck. The resulting pinched nerve nearly immobilized her. Dr. Helen Ryan of the Buckeye Veterinary Services was her vet here and Prescribed Tramadol and Prednisone that enabled her to live a surprisingly normal life - with the exception of ever using those stairs again. Sally found a new place to sleep in a bin of sweaters in the closet. Her snuggling time was reserved for the sofa which she could still hop on and off by herself.
Sally was her old self up until the summer of 2012 when we suspected she was losing her sight. Whatever had been dormant in her was now letting itself again be known. Dr. Ryan confirmed the blindness but otherwise, she was healthy. Sally did very well negotiating around the house and remained her happy go lucky self throughout the month of January. We noticed her losing her sense of direction from time to time. By mid-February, the medication was having no effect and every day was more challenging than the one before.
With all the heartbreak and guilt I could carry, the decision was made to euthanize her on March 1st. But, that day arrived a week early because she was in so much pain. I must say this was the most peaceful passing that I have been a witness to and owe it to Dr. Ryan.
Sally loved the polartec throws, so we wrapped her in one for her final nap. She preferred the canned dog food that we mixed in with the kibbles, so we included one with her dish. I think she would like the fuchsia geraniums I planted on her grave.
.JPG)
Little Sally Ride was laid to rest Saturday in the Northwest corner of our property. She loved lying in the sun, even on the hottest days and it seems a good a place as any.
Sally came to us in August 2007 when we lived in New Hampshire. This little pup was known as Ginger at the time and had had 5 owners in the 5 months she had been alive. So with all that change in her life, we figured one more change wouldn’t matter to her and we changed her name to Sally. Now she had been shuffled around so much, she hadn’t been taught anything and didn’t have a whole lot of sense. She also didn’t have a mean bone in her body. What she did have was a heart of gold.
We are pretty good with dogs, but Sally was a challenge. We are grateful for the careful hand of Becky Schimp, owner of The Educated Pooch, who was Sally’s first and only trainer she ever had or needed.
Sally racked up a lot of miles by car. She went with us to Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Riley and twice to Arizona. We had picked up this dog seat from AAA that reminded me of the baskets you use in the grocery store when you just need a few items. It sits high enough in the seat so she could see out of the windows and kept her securely in the seat while allowing her to turn around. She was a good girl riding and never got sick or made a fuss.
Like most small dogs, Sally loved to snuggle. This means not just on the bed, but under the covers. Usually this meant with just her nose and maybe a front paw sticking out. Now she couldn’t get on the bed by herself, so we had one of those pet stairs that she used. I can’t say how many times my heart would be in my mouth when she would tear up or down those stairs. But she was having fun and that’s what life is for. Around the end of October 2010, Sally slipped off the stairs during one of her Speed Racer moments and landed on her neck. The resulting pinched nerve nearly immobilized her. Dr. Helen Ryan of the Buckeye Veterinary Services was her vet here and Prescribed Tramadol and Prednisone that enabled her to live a surprisingly normal life - with the exception of ever using those stairs again. Sally found a new place to sleep in a bin of sweaters in the closet. Her snuggling time was reserved for the sofa which she could still hop on and off by herself.
Sally was her old self up until the summer of 2012 when we suspected she was losing her sight. Whatever had been dormant in her was now letting itself again be known. Dr. Ryan confirmed the blindness but otherwise, she was healthy. Sally did very well negotiating around the house and remained her happy go lucky self throughout the month of January. We noticed her losing her sense of direction from time to time. By mid-February, the medication was having no effect and every day was more challenging than the one before.
With all the heartbreak and guilt I could carry, the decision was made to euthanize her on March 1st. But, that day arrived a week early because she was in so much pain. I must say this was the most peaceful passing that I have been a witness to and owe it to Dr. Ryan.
Sally loved the polartec throws, so we wrapped her in one for her final nap. She preferred the canned dog food that we mixed in with the kibbles, so we included one with her dish. I think she would like the fuchsia geraniums I planted on her grave.
