Collette died today. She was 14 years old. She suffered a stroke over the weekend and didn't come out of it. We watched her deteriorate, and made an appointment to have her put to sleep this afternoon, but the shots weren't necessary. She died peacefully as I put her down on the vet's table.We miss her terribly already. She was the best dog, at least as far as we are concerned. We adopted her at 6 months old in the San Francisco Bay Area. She got to run up and down many California beaches and went camping all over the northern Sierra, in Death Valley, Nevada, and Utah. She knew Yosemite and Joshua Tree, Zion and Bryce Canyon. She saw Washington, DC, Madrid, Spain, and, of course, Paris. She spent a month with us in North Carolina before we all moved to France. Finally, she got to run free in the vineyards behind our house for the last 3 years of her life. We both know she was a happy dog because she made us very happy.
Before she left, I promised her that we would guard the house and keep it safe from birdies, squirrels, and kitty cats. Good-bye Collette.
I'm so sorry, Walt. Although Collette and I never got to bond much because I always seemed to bring around children to plague her, I appreciated her beauty and spirit and the great companionship she provided you and Ken. I know how sad you must feel. Take care.
ReplyDeleteW,
ReplyDeleteYou know how much I loved her. And I know she'll always be your "puppy dog". She'll be missed. Keep chasing those squirrels but stay away from the birds!
Best,
Cheryl
Evelyn has kept me abrest of Colette's course. I recently went through a similar experience, so I can empathize a good deal with your grief.
ReplyDeleteSomehow, dogs just get a very special place in our lives. I know you shared many grat time together and you will remember them for the rest of your life.
Walt and Ken,
ReplyDeleteCollette was the luckiest dog imaginable. We were honored to know her. I especially enjoyed getting to give her those post-walk treats. Our thoughts are with you.
Chris and Tony
I'm sorry to hear about Collette's passing. And thank you so much for your kind words on the death of my own best friend, Tito.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Tito and Collette might have crossed paths at some point -- we lived in Mammoth Lakes, California for the first half of Tito's life, and he got to see a lot of the Sierra (sometimes on his all-too-frequent solo adventures!).
I often think that well over 90 percent of the people who own dogs have no business having them, because they don't know what they have, and never do them justice.
You sound like one of the one in a hundred who truly knew and cared about the "person" you had in your keeping, and you both contrived to make each other's lives wonderful.