Daisy Mae

 My dog Daisy Mae died on April 20, 2012, her "birthday".  It was the day we celebrated her arrival into my life 10 years ago.  She was a Humane Society dog and I'm not really sure why I picked her other than she had short hair so I figured she wouldn't shed much.  (Wrong!  She was a prolific shedder and her short, bristly hairs are permanently embedded in our couch.)  But, picked her I did and she ended up being the best dog a girl who never had a pet before could pick.  As long as she had food and a soft couch, she was perfectly content.  Well, maybe not perfectly.  I brought her home on a Friday and we settled in.  I went grocery shopping on Saturday and was bringing the groceries in when Daisy decided it was time to make a run for it.  I have a very distinct memory of her prancing down the street, tail up in the air, happy as can be to have a little freedom.   All I could I think of was slinking back to the Humane Society, head hung low, having to tell them I lost my dog after less than 24 hours.   It was the first of many attempts on her part to hit the open road.  Much to her disappointment, I always managed to wrangle her back.

She was my dog when Rich and I met.  He told me at the time that was one thing that attracted him to me was the fact I had a dog.  She was a match maker too.  Her brought her her very first toy- a squeaky rope duck that she tore into.  She loved that thing and would squeak it non stop until it was nothing but shreds.

Rich and his dog Haile introduced us to camping and Daisy LOVED camping, mainly because it gave her a chance to try and run away again.  We ended up having to tether her, but it didn't stop her from being excited.

Rich and Haile also had an awesome leather couch, which Daisy immediately claimed as her own.  We went for 9 years with no place for people to sit because Daisy had the couch.  Oh, you could fight for some space if you were really desperate but you'd better plan on some company!

More exciting than running away or the brown leather couch was food.  Daisy lived for her meal time.  About the only thing that could get her off her couch was the rustling of the food bag.  Any opportunity for food that presented itself, she took full advantage of.  If we accidentally left the pantry door open, 50 pounds of dog food, gone.  If you were leaving the next day for the Grand Canyon and carelessly left your $300.00, fully stocked back pack in easy reach- gone.  If you got up to answer the door and left your omelet, hamburger, tortilla on the table- gone.  She would stand patiently behind Haile waiting for her to finish her bowl and swoop in to lick the remnants.

Life was pretty good- walks, camping, unlimited food (if she timed it right) and then BOOM!  life changed.  Along came Jordan and suddenly, no more walks, no more extra food, banishment to outside/bathroom/kennel.  She never gave up though.  On Jordan's first day home, she was right there to greet the newest addition and welcome her into the family.  It was a relationship that would be awesome for both of them.  Jordan, being an only child, had a built in friend and playmate (although she was a little lazy!) and Daisy had unlimited attention, whether she wanted it or not.

We could not have asked for a better "kid dog".  Daisy had more patience and put up with more kid "abuse" than any dog should have to.  When Jordan got old enough to take the dogs for a walk, it was a good reward for  everything Daisy had to deal with.  God love her.

 Daisy was getting old though and starting to get white around the edges, moving slower, losing her hearing, having more trouble getting up on her beloved brown leather couch.  We moved to Denver last May and she loved being in the sunshine, rolling in the grass and going for walks in the hills.  I was a little worried about how she would handle the snow and cold but she just loved being outside and took it all in stride.

 Daisy died on a beautiful spring day, the kind of day she loved.  Warm enough to lay in the grass and roll a bit for a good scratch.  I knew that day would be her last.  Dogs truly do tell you when they are ready and I knew when I checked on her in the morning, it was time.  I had to carry her up the stairs because she was too weak to make it on her own.  We got to the vet and I held her, rubbed her velvet soft ears, looked into her beautiful brown eyes and told her how important she was to me, to Jordan, to this family.  I watched her soul leave her eyes and she was gone before the vet could administer the medicine.
She was an amazing, trouble making dog who taught me a lot about myself.  She was a wonderful friend to Jordan and never met a person who didn't love her.  Heaven is a happier (but with less food) place because Daisy made it.  Rest in peace, sweet girl.

April 20, 2002- April 20, 2012