In Loving Memory of our Precious Maggie.

March 11, 2003~April 21, 2009

We will forever remember you.

Maggie was the best dog anyone could ever ask for. She filled a void in our home when we found out we could not have children. She was like our first born child who we loved more than anything.

Yesterday, April 21st 2009, Lee and I had to say our final goodbye to our precious baby girl. She had spent the last week of her life at the Vet Hospital hooked up to an IV due to complications of Pancreatitis. She lost 3 lbs during her stay, and only weighed 11 lbs when she left us so unexpectedly.

We were so excited to find out earlier that morning that she would be coming home. I called the vet that morning and they said she was doing well and they were getting ready to discharge her. A few minutes before I left work they called and said that she was having trouble breathing and they couldn't release her to come home. I called Lee and we rushed to be by her side. The Dr. had taken some X-Rays and found that her organs were enlarged and most likely she was going into multiple organ failure. She saw a mass surrounding her pancreas which she thought was pancreatic cancer and told us that it was terminal. We asked her why the biopsy that was done a couple weeks earlier didn't show anything. She said that it was unrelated, and they had no way of knowing for sure unless they did a pancreatic biopsy. She said that we could send Maggie up to Salt Lake for some special tests and a biopsy, but then we wouldn't know anything for at least 3 days. Had Maggie not been struggling so much for breath, we would have considered that, but she was suffering. She was struggling for air and we couldn't bear to see her like this. We all came to the decision that it was best to let her go. That was the hardest decision of our lives. Lee handed Maggie to me and signed the paperwork, then we said our goodbye's. We told her how much we loved her, and that we would never forget her. She left this Earth with us by her side. It was so quick. We immediately questioned if we did the right thing. Was this actually happening? Is she really gone? This feeling is so surreal. That moment was so horrible and I couldn't bring myself to let her go. She will forever be in our hearts. There is a special place in heaven for her, and I know she is there waiting for us and watching over us.I can't believe I had to go home without her, knowing she would never come home. I wish she could have spent the last week at home with us, not hooked up to an IV. I wish she was stable enough to bring her home for one last night, to tuck her in one last time, and allow Syd to say goodbye to her. We miss her so much and all Lee and I could do was hold each other in our moment of grieving and vow to never forget her.

We are so thankful to Dr. Carolyn McGuire, and her loving staff who cared for Maggie in her final days. They were so compassionate and cried with us and told us they had never seen a Min Pin that was as sweet as Maggie. She was in good hands and we will forever be grateful to them.

We are also so thankful to our wonderful friends and family for helping us through this time. You don't know how much it means to us, and we are so blessed to have each of you in our lives.

There is an explanation given as to why dogs live shorter than us. It is simply this...



People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life-- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right? Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.



So with that being said we should always try to...

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

& Speak kindly.



Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:



When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.


So with all that said, my goal for life it to try to be the person my dog thinks I am. If everyone did that, then I really believe that this world would be a much better place.