by Author Name Withheld 114

Created on: January 01, 2007   Last Updated: April 30, 2007

Growing up we never had pets. I didn't know what I was missing. When I married, I married an 'animal' person. Once the kids started coming along so did the pets.
Having been there and seen how much joy and companionship a pet of any kind can add to one's life, I can't imagine that they wouldn't be in Heaven!
We had our cockerspaniel the longest, her name was Uga when we got her and we just left it at that since she was already about 8 months old. She was the sweetest dog you'd ever encounter. She had feelings, we knew she did because when she got mad about something she would walk to the wall and stare at the wall. No matter how many times you called her name she wouldn't respond. Not until you let her know you were sorry for whatever you had done to offend her.

Then along came Baby, a black cockerspaniel that someone tossed out of a car into our yard. I never could figure out why. Unless she had been stolen and then tossed when the criminals couldn't unload her. She was absolutely the best kid dog there ever was. She was alittle on the DUH! side but she was a great companion for Uga.
One Thanksgiving we awoke to find Uga almost lifeless. My daughter and I called the local vet and he met us at his office.
She had been poisoned and was near death. He gave us two choices. Put her to sleep or pay $350 for a blood transfusion and hope it worked.
Yeah, like I'm going to tell my 12 year old daughter that we're killing her dog on thanksgiving day! And besides, when I looked into Uga's eyes I knew I had to at least try to save her. So out came the checkbook and Uga was admitted for treatment. The vet's dog was the donor. A couple of days later, Baby showed signs of the same poison, my husband's hunting dog came to the rescue this time, donating the needed blood to save Baby's life.
Neither of the dogs ever came back to full health, and in less than a year both were gone..Baby went first, in her sleep.
The night Uga died was a sad one. At 2am we were in the garden digging her grave. My husband said he couldn't stand the thoughts of her just 'laying there'. So the service was performed and she was laid to rest. Tears streamed as we dug her grave and put her to rest.
I have to believe that they are in Heaven, loving the little children that are there. Playing endless games of ball and enjoying many tummy rubs and countless hugs every day.

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