When Sophie passed in January 2018, we weren't thinking about adopting another dog right away. However, Sophie was concerned about doing something to help with our sadness and grief. From her post at Rainbow Bridge, she began to search for a suitable candidate. She found another rescue Shih Tzu that looked somewhat like her. Peaches had recently arrived at Northstar Shih Tzu Rescue following a difficult life in a puppy mill. Sophie communicated to Marie that we should look into adopting her.
When her foster mom brought her to visit us for the first time, she showed her desire to come live with us by waving her paw as they were about to leave.
We quickly adopted Peaches once she had recovered from spaying and dental work. (Sophie had communicated the proper name "Peaches" to Marie). She quickly became part of the gang with Bella and the cats.
Our time together was a short two years, but this was enough time for her to blossom. The loving grooming provided by Heidi Bulmer allowed Peaches to grow her hair out and become the diva that made Sophie proud.
One of the highlights was our fall trip in 2018 to a cabin on Lake Superior in Lutsen. Sophie had absolutely loved Lake Superior, and called it the "Godess Lake", so Peaches got to experience it as well.
Just as Sophie had enjoyed countless miles in our pet stroller, Peaches did as well.
Peaches accomplished something quite wonderful during her two years with us...she embedded herself firmly into our hearts, and enjoyed the camaraderie of an adoptive "sister", Bella. She blossomed as a lovely diva, as Sophie had done.
Our time was cut short because life in a puppy mill puts a lot of miles on a dog. By the time she came to us, her 10 years of breeding in the mill had taken its toll. Her body was still intact, but her brain had been damaged. Fortunately, this didn't really show up until near the end. When she started her decline in the late fall of this year, it wasn't obvious that she was developing dementia. All we could see was increased anxiety and then trouble sleeping at night.
Near the end, the only thing that calmed her was when I cradled her in my arms and held her to my chest. It was quite a touching bond, the memory of which I shall always treasure. Unfortunately, my arms could only hold her that way for so long. Her long hours of barking and pacing during the night must have been difficult to bear.
It wasn't until the very end that we realized what our senses had been denying...that Peaches suffered from dementia. She had mostly checked out already, leaving an empty shell. The bond created by holding her kept a spark alive within her, and the day before she passed, she made a valiant effort to rally and at times seemed much like herself, only to lapse back into tormented anxiety as night descended.
We have had many fur babies leave us over the years. It's always a difficult decision, and human nature is such that we want to cling to them as long as possible. However, the flip side to that is the fact that they try to hold on in the midst of their suffering simply for our sake. This was made abundantly clear when our beloved German Shepherd Elaine passed in 2011. I resolved that I would not ask them to suffer once it became apparent there was no hope of recovery and they were looking ahead to reunion with their loved ones at Rainbow Bridge.
And so, our beautiful time together ended. The pain is eased a bit by knowing that she goes on in spirit. Sophie reported that they arrived at Rainbow Bridge this morning following a 12 hour journey (that's how long it always takes for some reason). Sophie will keep us posted. One of the first priorities will be healing Peaches' mind as they gather all the fragments of her soul that were lost during her years of suffering in the mill.
Peaches will be restored and continue on in some form. Perhaps she will choose to reincarnate, as our cat Bun did. In any case, she lives on in our hearts.
Farewell, dear Peaches. It was such a privilege to have held you so close.
Lynn Savage
When her foster mom brought her to visit us for the first time, she showed her desire to come live with us by waving her paw as they were about to leave.
We quickly adopted Peaches once she had recovered from spaying and dental work. (Sophie had communicated the proper name "Peaches" to Marie). She quickly became part of the gang with Bella and the cats.
Our time together was a short two years, but this was enough time for her to blossom. The loving grooming provided by Heidi Bulmer allowed Peaches to grow her hair out and become the diva that made Sophie proud.
One of the highlights was our fall trip in 2018 to a cabin on Lake Superior in Lutsen. Sophie had absolutely loved Lake Superior, and called it the "Godess Lake", so Peaches got to experience it as well.
Just as Sophie had enjoyed countless miles in our pet stroller, Peaches did as well.
Peaches accomplished something quite wonderful during her two years with us...she embedded herself firmly into our hearts, and enjoyed the camaraderie of an adoptive "sister", Bella. She blossomed as a lovely diva, as Sophie had done.
Our time was cut short because life in a puppy mill puts a lot of miles on a dog. By the time she came to us, her 10 years of breeding in the mill had taken its toll. Her body was still intact, but her brain had been damaged. Fortunately, this didn't really show up until near the end. When she started her decline in the late fall of this year, it wasn't obvious that she was developing dementia. All we could see was increased anxiety and then trouble sleeping at night.
Near the end, the only thing that calmed her was when I cradled her in my arms and held her to my chest. It was quite a touching bond, the memory of which I shall always treasure. Unfortunately, my arms could only hold her that way for so long. Her long hours of barking and pacing during the night must have been difficult to bear.
It wasn't until the very end that we realized what our senses had been denying...that Peaches suffered from dementia. She had mostly checked out already, leaving an empty shell. The bond created by holding her kept a spark alive within her, and the day before she passed, she made a valiant effort to rally and at times seemed much like herself, only to lapse back into tormented anxiety as night descended.
We have had many fur babies leave us over the years. It's always a difficult decision, and human nature is such that we want to cling to them as long as possible. However, the flip side to that is the fact that they try to hold on in the midst of their suffering simply for our sake. This was made abundantly clear when our beloved German Shepherd Elaine passed in 2011. I resolved that I would not ask them to suffer once it became apparent there was no hope of recovery and they were looking ahead to reunion with their loved ones at Rainbow Bridge.
And so, our beautiful time together ended. The pain is eased a bit by knowing that she goes on in spirit. Sophie reported that they arrived at Rainbow Bridge this morning following a 12 hour journey (that's how long it always takes for some reason). Sophie will keep us posted. One of the first priorities will be healing Peaches' mind as they gather all the fragments of her soul that were lost during her years of suffering in the mill.
Peaches will be restored and continue on in some form. Perhaps she will choose to reincarnate, as our cat Bun did. In any case, she lives on in our hearts.
Farewell, dear Peaches. It was such a privilege to have held you so close.
Lynn Savage
