My dear Swifty died this morning.

[UrbScotty]

Swifty was my Christmas present a few years ago. And what a wonderful gift she was!



Swifty was a black lab with some husky mixed in. As you might tell, her eyes were different colors - one brown, the other blue! The folks at the Humane Society named her Swiftie, after Dr. Swift, but we changed the spelling.

For the first eight months after we got her, she was my dog. Or so I would have Mom and Dad believe! I let her sleep on my bed each night. I kept thinking to myself, "I better get to bed before Swifty gets there or I'm gonna have a rough night!" (Make that a 'ruff' night!) She was on my bed wagging her tail when she welcomed me home as a new high school graduate.



Oh, and the walks! For those first several months, the mere utterance of the word "walk" would get her attention! I would take her for a walk every night after Jeopardy - a tradition that continued almost every night I've been home from college in the past four years.

In August of 2005, it came time to part ways - temporarily. I was off to Central Michigan University. From what I understand, she didn't seem to have a hard time adjusting to my absence. We left her home the day I went up to CMU that August, but when my homesick self was about to come home for Labor Day Weekend, there she was in the passenger seat of the van, panting with excitement!

In January of 2006, with me at school and my brother in Alaska, Mom and Dad felt lonely with just one dog at home. So they gave Swifty a rambunctious, yet adorable, sister: Lucy. Here's Lucy on the left, Swifty on the right:



Swifty was by far the best behaved dog our family has had (at least since I've been alive). I will always treasure the walks we took, the fun we had (with Lucy, of course), and the smiles she brought to our faces. She showed us so much love, and we did the same to her.

We took Swifty to the vets about a month ago because she was having trouble breathing. After a total of three vet visits, a loss of her appetite, and a misdiagnosis of what they thought was a respiratory infection, an X-ray revealed she had dilated cardiomyopathy, which is an enlarging of the heart. Few dogs who have it survive more than a year or two from diagnosis.

She didn't really regain much strength. She slept a lot. Our walks were fewer and shorter. We went for one last one earlier this week.

This morning, I woke up to the sound of my mom sobbing and telling my aunt, "she's gone!" Mom had seen her laying on her belly, perked up, in the back yard a little while ago. She moved under the hammock, which was a favorite spot of hers, and passed away there. We buried her just a little while ago.

Thank you for being such a wonderful Christmas present, Swifty.

Rest in peace.

[ThomCat]

1. I am very sorry.

:(

:hug:
I'm glad she was so loved by you and your family. I hope she went peacefully in her sleep.

[hobbit709]

2. R.I.P. Swifty

She'll be waiting for you at the Bridge.

[Phentex]

3. So sorry!

Glad you had the chance to love her! Hugs to you.

:(

[Call Me Wesley]

4. Safe passage, Swifty.

May you be free from suffering. Peace and comfort to you and yours, UrbScotty.

[fizzgig]

5. rest well, swifty

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. My dear UrbScotty...

Aw, sweetie...

I am so sorry for your loss of your precious Swifty...

I hope your good memories of her will sustain you in this time of grief...

And now she's at peace.

Running ahead of you, stopping to see if you're right behind her...

Wagging her beautiful, fluffy tail!


That which is remembered, lives...

:hug:

[fortyfeetunder]

7. My condolences on losing Swifty

She provided you many wonderful memories. Thank you for sharing that story.

[cwydro]

8. What a nice tribute to a good friend.

I have a 14 year old who is losing ground fast. I don't want to have to make the decision and hope she will go the way your Swifty did.

[KatyaR]

9. I'm so sorry about your beloved Swifty.

I lost my precious Maggie this week as well. The house is so quiet now . . . .

I hope your memories of Swifty give you as much comfort as mine of Maggie do me.

:hug:

[DeepBlueC]

10. So sorry for your loss, UrbScotty

The good thing is that she was at home, on her own turf and she got to pick her place. She is still there, all she has left behind is the heaviness of her chest and the burden of carrying around her body. I like to think that in one moment she found she could run again and she loped right for that beautiful Rainbow Bridge, feeling like a pup and full of hope and curiosity.

But still...:cry: It hurts to be left behind. :cry:

Thanks for the beautiful pics. Now I miss her too.

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[dana_b]

11. sweet pup

I'm glad you gave each other so much happiness and I'm sorry for your loss.

[old mark]

12. I am sorry for your loss, and thank you for sharing it with us.

We who have such friends are very fortunate indeed.
Those who do not love dogs have no idea of what they give us.


markO8)

[femmocrat]

13. I'm so sorry for your loss, UrbScotty.

Thank you for the wonderful pictures and tribute to her. She had a good life with you. :hug:

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

14. So sorry for your loss

RIP Swifty

[Spacemom]

15. Godspeed Swifty

:hug: It sounds like you were both very lucky to have each other. I'm sorry for your loss.

[mix]

16. Condolences on the loss of your friend.

Thank you for telling us your story...she must have been a very loving creature.
:hug:

[Demoiselle]

17. I'm so sorry. She looks wonderful.

And don't forget that you and your family gave her lots of love and joy.

[MoonRiver]

18. RIP dear Swifty.

God speed. And my condolences to you and your family.

[Pool Hall Ace]

19. R.I.P. Swifty

What a sweety! Warm hugs for you. :hug:

[Minimus]

20. I am so sorry for your loss. Swifty gave you many good memories so

she will live in your heart forever.

[susanr516]

21. I am so sorry

:hug:

[BuelahWitch]

22. what a beautiful dog she was!

I'm sorry you lost your beloved Swifty. :hug:

[Fire1]

23. I''m so sorry for your loss of such a beloved and devoted

companion.

[Tikki]

24. I am so sorry you lost your friend.....

May she cross gently over the Rainbow Bridge....


Tikki

[Mad_Dem_X]

25. Please accept my deepest condolences.

:cry:

[Gidney N Cloyd]

26. Swifty-- When you get to the bridge, look up my Roscoe. I think you guys would be get along great.

Sorry for your loss, UrbScotty.

[virgogal]

27. Lucky you to have Swifty and lucky Swifty for having you. The loss

of a beloved pet is heartbreaking.

[S n o w b a l l]

28. My heart goes out to you...

Words can't express my sorrow for your loss. :hug: She was beautiful.

[KittyWampus]

29. SWIFTY! Good doggie. Good girl.

:hug: Swifty:hug:

[marzipanni]

30. A nice tribute to your dear Swifty

I thought of "My Dog Skip" when you said you went to college.
I'm glad Swifty and Lucy were there to have fun with you on your school breaks. I always miss dogs when I'm away.
Our old Billie-girl died of a similar heart problem when she was with us at a campground. She had a blue eye, too, because her mom was Malamute/Australian Shepherd. Dogs give something to our souls.
I hope you'll give Lucy walks after Jeopardy , it will be therapeutic for both of you. :hug:

[Dystopian]

31. UrbScotty...

You were given the gift of love for Christmas...
Love is the only true gift there is...
Your love for her...and Swifty's love for you were unconditional...
A beautiful friend, and beautiful photos...
Thank you for sharing Swifty with us in your tribute from the heart...

My heartfelt condolences...
Rest in Peace dear Swifty...




peace~

[Skittles]

32. aw....beautiful dog

Grieve not,
nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk of me
as if I were beside you.....
I loved you so --
'twas Heaven here with you."

--by Ilsa Paschal Richardson

[Shell Beau]

33. That is a beautiful tribute to Swifty.

What a great dog!

My Lolly (10 years old) has also suffered from an enlarged heart. We are treating it with medication, and the doctor assured me she is in no pain. And that is obvious. I know my years are numbered with her. She has beat that enlarged heart's butt for almost 2 years now. Not sure how much time she has left. I just enjoy the time I do have.

Thanks for sharing this! And hugs to you.

[havocmom]

34. Strength to you and your family. Such a lovely dog and a loving tribute

A wonderful Christmas present, indeed.

They leave such a big hole in our lives when they leave us. But we are better for their too-short companionship.

[applegrove]

35. Vibes to Swifty.

[Rhiannon12866]

36. I am so, so very sorry....

Swifty was a beautiful dog and really lucked out to have spent her life with you. I've been there and I understand... ;( :hug:

[JimGinPA]

37. I'm Sorry For Your Loss, But...

Your OP was really touching. We just lost our 10 year old German Shepherd Max in March, and it's sure painful. We were lucky enough to find a puppy to keep our Mitzee company now, but I think about Max every day and smile at the joy we shared.