Regarding Roxy

I was compelled to end my beautiful girl's life - such as it was - on Friday August 15th at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
That day remains second only to the day Dad died in its infamy.
Well, jeeze, you may say... she was just a dog, how could that compare to the loss of a parent?
Let me tell you.

Anyone who met Roxy knew immediately, she was more than just a dog. She was a bright angelic spirit in a dog's body.

She came to me as one of a million acquisitions of my ex-husband. One that he soon developed a disinterest in. But Roxy and I developed a bond that went far beyond that of owner and pet. She was my haven of happiness in the loneliness of my marriage. We clung to each other like castaways on a deserted island. We kept each other alive, emotionally and spiritually.

The song in the slideshow above, is one I sang to her often. I sang lots of songs to her, to let her know how I felt, among them, "Night and Day", "Isn't This a Lovely Day", "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief", "Somewhere Out There", "Just the Two of Us" and "The Love We've Found", and she always responded by snuggling closer to me or simply gazing at me with those deep, sad eyes.

On September 12th 2001, I let Roxy outside to do her thing. While she was out, the horrors of the previous day overtook me, and I fell into a fit of sobbing. Within seconds, Roxy was banging at the back door, anxious to come in to comfort me.

She always comforted me. She always comforted anyone who needed it.

On the day I let her go... I instinctively sought her comfort out... but she was no longer there.

But when you love someone so much, they become a part of you. I don't mean just the memories. I mean, they actually inhabit a part of your spirit. And when their spirit leaves their body and moves on... a part of you does too.

So, as it was at first, it is at the end... Roxy has brought me a little closer to heaven. Not in a sad way...but in a beautiful way. She's still here with me, but she is oh so happy and peaceful.

How do I know?

I can feel it.

Alex did not come with me to the Burrow. He will be missed to be sure, but my eardrums are ever so grateful!

Needing no introduction... Roxy!

UPDATE 5/24/08 - Roxy had her first visit to the new Vet down here. She has injured one of her pads and is having trouble walking due to her progressing arthritis. The doctor gave me Rimadyl to help the pain, unfortunately, it gave Roxy the runs and...uh... she's incontinent as it is... she spent a week and a half in diapers. My poor girl. She's doing much better now on a strict diet of chicken and rice! Last night she slept ALLL NIGHT!!! Normally she wakes me up about every hour and a half. She is still stiff and achy...but her spirits seem improved.

UPDATE 4/18/08 - Roxy's urinary problems make things difficult, because the yard is not fenced in yet and I have to stand outside with her while she pees - which can take a while. I already have a neighbor who has voiced her concern about there being two dogs here. oooh boy.

UPDATE 04/15/08- In the months before moving to the Burrow, Roxy developed some kind of urinary tract problem which cost $700 to discover...they didn't know what it was!!
Hopefully, without the irritation of Odie and the relative peacefulness of the Burrow, she will improve.

Yeah, that's Joey!

UPDATE 05/24/08- Joey! He's a dum-dum. He's become very barky since the new fence...but he is happy because NOW... he can PLAY...with his ROCK!!!

UPDATE - Joey's fear of abandonment is apparent as he is literally up my butt from morning to nite. But he is settling down a bit. I've gotten the rock out of the box it was packed in, but I'm not going to let him play with it, unfortunately, until I get a fence.

UPDATE 04/15/08 - Those who know Joey will be happy to know that his rock was packed months before the move!! He will doubtless be thrilled to once again be allowed to play with his own toys.

Mozart!!! Alive and kickin'
UPDATE 5/24/08 - Don't mention it if you see it, but my serious and sophisticated Mozart was playing today. I just stared. Of course last night he insisted on getting up on my lap, only to barf without the normal warning... (you know - glurk-glurk-pookit-pookit pookit-baaaahf) ..on my shirt. He's just full of the dickens since he moved here!

UPDATE 4/18/08 - Mozart stared at me through the bars of his pet carrier and scolded me all the way down to the new house (40 minutes from the Barnegat house). 10 minutes from home he started to seize...but I told him to just hold on a little bit more.
Mozart loved the new house immediately.
In fact, it may be brain damage from the seizures, but he's - like - sweet!

UPDATE 4/15/08 - in the weeks before the move to the Burrow, Mozart experienced a series of seizures that drove me to visit the vet (the same vet who charged me $700 to not be able to tell me what was wrong with Roxy). The prognosis was bad. Death loomed unless I agreed to some expensive tests. I refused. I asked for Phenobarb for the seizure despite the vets assurance that this was a bad idea and that Mozart would be dead within the week.
One single dose of Phenobarb and he was back to his old cranky self!

Tinky McStinky
UPDATE 05/2408 - There's a bit too much noise for Tinky's taste here, but she enjoys chasing Mozart and...playing...with him!!!! She hasn't ventured outside, but at least she's made it out of the bedroom!

UPDATE 4/18/08- Tink made the trip in a box because I didn't have two pet carriers. She disappeared soon after arrival, but reappeared in the middle of the night...tapping me on the arm..like "hey, 'zat you? where the hell are we?". She is wary of coming out of the bedroom, but is making tentative exploratory steps into the rest of the house. Which is good, because the poot box is in the utility room, and I'm not crazy about her crapping in my closet.

UPDATE 4/15/08- has anyone seen Tinky lately? She has been having so much fun hiding in my boxes before - and after - I pack away my stuff. I expect to see a lot more of Tinky at the Burrow. She was terrified of Shaun and barely showed her face in the old house.