Bon Soir Sweet Girl

My little dog Daisy had not been well 
since this past holiday season.
At that time she was diagnosed with 
congestive heart failure.
And although she had many good days since then,
the bad days seemed to come 
more and more frequently lately.
Yesterday I made the decision it was 
time to let her go.
I was with her until the end
and she went very peacefully.

Today has been a day of remembering. 

I am remembering my 
constant walking companion of many years. 

 I cannot begin to tell you how many acquaintance 

I made on our walks because of Daisy. 

 I am remembering her love for her toys 

and how she lived for me to toss them

 into the next room 
so she could chase them down.

  I am remembering my constant evening companion, 

on her pillow snoozing and snoring 
at my feet as I knitted. 

    Most of all I am remembering 
her absolute favorite thing 

of lying on her back 
so I could give her long belly rubs.

Daisy keeping me company while I stripped wallpaper.

Let me be completely honest, 

Daisy was a high maintenance girl 

and could drive me absolutely nuts.  

She was a barker from the very beginning 

and I tried EVERYTHING to train her to not bark.  

It was a real compulsion with her. 
Once she started she could not stop.  

We did the training sessions at Pet Smart.  

We tried the ultrasonic anti barking device 

that emitted high frequency sounds 
only Daisy could hear.  

She wore an anti-bark collar for a while. 
She was on anti anxiety meds for a while.

  We got a calming pheromone atomizer.  

But still... she... barked.  

And she drove me crazy.

Daisy and her cousin, Chaos

But still…
she was my “Daisy-Doodle,
the Brown Noodle."

Daisy and her newest cousin, Cooper

She was my "Baby Girl." 
She was my "Pretty Girl." 

She was my “Sweet Girl.” 

But most of all 
she was my dog

and she will be missed.
Sweet dreams Sweet Girl.