Song Now Playing:
~ Ave-Maria ~
~ A Tribute To Michael ~
As Written By His "Mom" Angie of
"Kaskia Shetland Sheepdogs"
"Michael"
(BIS CAN.CH.Kaskia Man In The Mirror
C.G.C., US PTS.)
5/1/88 to 6/5/01
I held him in my hands
as he took his first breath,
and I held him in my arms as he took his last.
Losing a pet is never easy. As someone once told me, you just set
yourself up for heartache the minute
you give your heart away,
but I wouldn't give up the 13 years of great memories I had with Michael for anything. Just over two weeks ago he had surgery for a ruptured cecum which involved some peritonitis.
They had to remove a good bit of his bowel in the process. He made it through the surgery, but just couldn't pull off a full recovery.
We couldn't get him to eat. Today the diarrhea was just involuntarily leaking from him and the sites where he was getting injections were
starting to bruise. He really
seemed uncomfortable and I couldn't bear
to see him in pain.
So I made the painful decision to let him go.
Michael was always such a proud boy,
always keeping himself neat and clean. If it was raining,
he would poop on the sidewalk
rather than get his paws wet in the grass and "stinky" things were a definite "no no"..
I'm sure his dignity was tested these past two weeks. I shall always wonder if the decision I made was the right one,
but I feel it was the best one for Michael. No matter how much technology you have available, sometimes it is never enough.
We gave him our best. The best Doctors, the best medicine and the best love, still sometimes is not enough in the master plan.
I feel blessed
to have the greatest doctors, ones who
will spend hours
in surgery trying to save your dog's life, ones who will sit on the floor
with you when your baby is recovering,
just to reassure you and be there for you,
ones who will listen to your phone calls,
at all hours, offer encouragement and
reassurance, and ones who
will do everything possible to help find out
what is going wrong,
and gently help you "let go" when the time comes. Ones who have a heart and compassion and will cry with you.
Thank you guys.The girls at work who have listened to my incessant questioning and blubbering, who have
helped with Michael at work,
putting in catheter's, taking x-rays, giving meds, and being there for us till the very end, for shedding tears with me. It means the world.
Your hearts are big and I am blessed. I have the best friends, ones who have given me many prayers and thoughts, and who have helped me through this difficult time.
You have been there for me and I appreciate it. I thank each and every one of you.
I also feel blessed that I work in a profession
that allows me the advantage of
taking my pets to work.
These past weeks, I have been able to be with Michael almost 100%. I have never had to leave him home alone. He's had the best.
It also allows me the ability to truly understand and be compassionate to others that need to face the same unfortunate loss that I am now experiencing. I wouldn't change any of it.
I've had some great
memories of Michael over the years, his baby
antics, his first show, his Best in Show win in Canada, his first litters, all his puppies, the way
he loved to rub on pillows and hair.
The way he liked to sleep upside down with all four feet in the air. I can see him in his
children and grandchildren.
I am grateful for the 13 great years we had together. He was a great dog.
Today was a beautiful day, the weather was perfect and we spent some of it
outside in the sun.
Michael lay by his favorite spot,
and his daughter Ruby laid next to him.
Maybe she could sense something.
If I knew I wouldn't break the spell I would have gotten the camera. Ruby is a "free spirit" and isn't the type of dog to lay beside anybody else.
She is always on the go, but yet here she was, lying next to "Dad". It was very touching. Michaels loss has left a big hole,
I feel like the end of an era has passed. We've had many "firsts" with Michael. You feel like life is slipping away and you can't hold on.
He has many great dogs to welcome him at the "Rainbow Bridge". His mother Mandee and grandson "Raffy" will be there to
greet him I'm sure.
Now that I've told you how blessed I feel and how grateful I am, let me tell you the feeling still really sucks, it hurts like crazy. I may have many dogs, but each one is so very special and their loss is felt greatly. It rips your heart to shreds.
But I'm glad to have had the "dance". And I've already told the rest of my guys,
I'm due a "wake up in the morning to find the old timer peacefully passed away in their sleep" kind of experience, say at 25+ years of age???
I hate having to make difficult decisions. Steve always fusses that I don't like making decisions
... well this is why.... because the ones I
do make are "giant ones".
Thanks for listening,
and for all your prayers,
thoughts and love.
~ Love, Angie ~
~ A Note From Lois ~
I want to
take this moment ...
in extending my deepest sympathy to Angie
and her whole family, in
the loss of their beloved Michael.
All of the above words are quoted from
Angie herself. I was so touched and moved
by her beautifully written letter,
that I just had to do a webpage around it.
I hope Angie's letter brings peace to
anyone who is or has gone through the loss
of a beloved pet, It is for that reason
that I am doing this page,
also it is my gift to Angie.
This was one of the hardest homepages
to do, bringing tears
to my eyes, everytime I read it.
The above picture of Michael on this
page, was also taken by Angie,
just two days before he died.
I also want to thank Angie, as hard
as it must have been for her, in keeping us all
informed on Michael's condition,
on a daily basis she did this via email.
Angie is truly a remarkable lady
and lover of all animals,
and I am very proud to have her as a friend.
Thank-You, Angie!
I was very fortunate to have known
this wonderful dog. And he will be
sadly missed by so many.
Just look at his "Titles" that he has earned,
one being "Best In Show"
in Canada, Wow!
Well Michael, you will always be
a Champion in my book.
So now Dear Michael,
it is now time for you to spread your
wings and fly high to the ...
God speed you, in your final journey, and may
you always rest in peace, free
of all pain and suffering...
Don't be afraid, as you cross over the ...
For you are not alone. We all love you.
And so very proud of you!
Our Little Sheltie Angel ...
"Michael"
Here Is Another Picture of "Michael"
As the "Champion" He Is!
This Site Was Built and Designed By ...
Please Visit Angie's Own Homepage
And Meet the Rest of Her "Kids"
"Kaskia Shetland Sheepdogs"
Please Click On the Banner Above
To Email Me!
