We got her when I was ten years old, after I told my mom I wanted a dog like Lassie. She had always grown up with collies, so we started visiting the Humane Society once a week to see if a collie would pop up. One never did, but it was a blessing in disguise. One day, while we were about to leave the Humane Society with the disappointment of knowing there still wasn't a collie for us, we saw a little Sheltie being brought in. She was terrified, only a few months old, and absolutely gorgeous. I said, "Mom, it's a little collie!" and about two weeks later Lady was ours.
She was the best dog I could have ever imagined. She took to me immediately because, during the adoption process, I left a worn shirt in her pen at the Humane Society for her to snuggle with. Ever since we got her, she was always my dog. She followed me everywhere.
Lady was incredibly smart. Even as a puppy she learned tricks faster than any dog I have met since. If I was in bed, my mom could tell her, "Go wake Renee up!" and she would run into my room and jump on top of me. When we got another Sheltie puppy, named Shania, Lady welcomed her to the family by finding one of her rawhide bones and dropping it at Shania's feet.
It was my eighteenth birthday when Lady became sick. She couldn't keep any food down, and appeared sluggish. Since she was only eight years old, I expected that she just had a little illness. After a few days, though, she didn't get better. When we took her to the vet, they told us she had Lymphoma, cancer in her lymph nodes. My world was crushed.
Lady survived for about six weeks after her diagnosis was made. She was put on steroids to make her quality of life better, but we knew that she was running out of time. Every time I left home, I feared that she would be gone when I came back. She slept in my bed with me every night, and I would tell her, "If you don't make it until morning, know that I love you with all my heart."
One day, I woke up and looked at her laying on my bed. No matter how sick she had been, she always looked happy and content. But that morning, she looked up at me and her eyes were sad. She looked like she was in pain for the very first time. It was as if she was telling me, "I love you too, but I have to go now."
She was euthanized on January 31st, 2009. Lady was my baby, the very first dog that I could call mine. She trusted me to take care of her and give her the very best at all times, so I know that I made the right decision when I helped her leave this world. I like to think that she understood what was happening as I told her, "Your time on Earth is done now. You're going to go to a very special place, and one day I will be there too, and we'll see each other again."
I believe she knew what I meant.
I miss you very much, my beautiful girl. Thank you for eight wonderful years. I look forward to the day when I can see you again.
<3
Rest in Peace Lady
