Post by lotsoffreetime on Sept 13, 2010 18:06:34 GMT -5
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our little Beagle-Chihuahua (Be-huahua), Kasie today, at the age of 15 & 1/2 years. She passed away peacefully in my arms this morning, joining her best friends, Barney (a Westie), and Smokey (a Siberian Husky) across the Bridge.
I rescued Kasie from a shelter when she was 1&1/2 years old. But, really, I think she rescued me.
From the start Kasie was a mystery to me. Obviously loved and cared for, she was paper-trained and well-socialized to dogs and cats, and she adored women wearing kerchiefs. But she had never seen grass, had never been on a leash, and showed definite signs that she had been abused. It took her a full year before she would give me kisses. But she would never let me out of her sight, and she followed me everywhere. She even slept snuggled up inside of my sweaters, as close to my heart as she could. Her separation anxiety was so bad at the beginning that she would howl and bite at her crate until her mouth was bleeding if I left her. I had to take her to doggie daycare at a Vet's office so I would not be evicted. It was worth every penny I paid for the joy she brought to my life.
But this little dog had the full courage of the Chihuahua in her, and the charm of the Beagle. She was a born leader, and was Alpha to all who knew her. She was only ever afraid of one dog in her life, a monster of a German Sheppard who scared humans and dogs alike, even his owners. She was no dummy, my Kasie. In her Puppy Obedience class she calmed a barking, confused group of 20 puppies with one sharp bark, bringing them to quiet attention ready for work, to the amazement of the instructors. My respect for her knew no bounds.
Her playful spirit filled my days. She loved to snowplow through the snow, chasing me all around. Hiding around corners and jumping out to scare me was one of her favourite games. I can still see her eyes laughing at me and almost hear her saying "Boo!". She loved Hallowe'en. Sitting on the front porch with me, greeting the children, wearing her bandana was one of her favourite things to do.
Kasie's spirit was endless, and she captured the hearts of all who met her. Complete strangers would stop their cars and offer to buy her from me on the street. Neighbours in my apartment building would eagerly look out their windows at night in the winter, waiting for us to come out for our romp in the snow in the evenings. The staff at the Veterinary Clinic in Windsor where I took her for daycare each day while I was in classes at Grad School made her their mascot, and gave her the run of the clinic. She was soon the care-taker for seriously ill animals at the clinic; one day I came to pick her up at the end of the day, and found her snuggled up to a potbellied pig in its crate to comfort it after its surgery.
Kasie's spirit never changed as she aged. She was just as feisty and playful in her twilight years as she was in her younger days. She loved having other dogs around, and missed Smokey when she went over the Bridge. But, bringing Rio and Tiana into our home gave Kasie new life. I remember leaving one day to drop the children off at school, and giving Rio, Tiana and Kasie a dehydrated Chicken foot each when I left. I knew the big girls would finish theirs quickly, while Kasie would be a while with hers given that she didn't have many teeth left. But I also knew she could handle herself against the girls. When I came home 1/2 hour later, I was greeted at the door by Kasie with her chicken firmly gripped in her mouth; Rio and Tiana were cowering on the couch, far away from Kasie (all 11 pounds of her)! ;D
She will be sadly missed by all in our household. As her health weakened in the past two weeks, Rio and Willy have been her guardians, watching her closely as she went down the ramp to go outside, standing guard when she was outside, and guiding her back into the house.
Goodbye, Sweet Kasie. We love you very much. Run pain free now, Little One.
Janette, Harold, Alex, Nadia, Rio, Tiana, and Willy
I rescued Kasie from a shelter when she was 1&1/2 years old. But, really, I think she rescued me.
From the start Kasie was a mystery to me. Obviously loved and cared for, she was paper-trained and well-socialized to dogs and cats, and she adored women wearing kerchiefs. But she had never seen grass, had never been on a leash, and showed definite signs that she had been abused. It took her a full year before she would give me kisses. But she would never let me out of her sight, and she followed me everywhere. She even slept snuggled up inside of my sweaters, as close to my heart as she could. Her separation anxiety was so bad at the beginning that she would howl and bite at her crate until her mouth was bleeding if I left her. I had to take her to doggie daycare at a Vet's office so I would not be evicted. It was worth every penny I paid for the joy she brought to my life.
But this little dog had the full courage of the Chihuahua in her, and the charm of the Beagle. She was a born leader, and was Alpha to all who knew her. She was only ever afraid of one dog in her life, a monster of a German Sheppard who scared humans and dogs alike, even his owners. She was no dummy, my Kasie. In her Puppy Obedience class she calmed a barking, confused group of 20 puppies with one sharp bark, bringing them to quiet attention ready for work, to the amazement of the instructors. My respect for her knew no bounds.
Her playful spirit filled my days. She loved to snowplow through the snow, chasing me all around. Hiding around corners and jumping out to scare me was one of her favourite games. I can still see her eyes laughing at me and almost hear her saying "Boo!". She loved Hallowe'en. Sitting on the front porch with me, greeting the children, wearing her bandana was one of her favourite things to do.
Kasie's spirit was endless, and she captured the hearts of all who met her. Complete strangers would stop their cars and offer to buy her from me on the street. Neighbours in my apartment building would eagerly look out their windows at night in the winter, waiting for us to come out for our romp in the snow in the evenings. The staff at the Veterinary Clinic in Windsor where I took her for daycare each day while I was in classes at Grad School made her their mascot, and gave her the run of the clinic. She was soon the care-taker for seriously ill animals at the clinic; one day I came to pick her up at the end of the day, and found her snuggled up to a potbellied pig in its crate to comfort it after its surgery.
Kasie's spirit never changed as she aged. She was just as feisty and playful in her twilight years as she was in her younger days. She loved having other dogs around, and missed Smokey when she went over the Bridge. But, bringing Rio and Tiana into our home gave Kasie new life. I remember leaving one day to drop the children off at school, and giving Rio, Tiana and Kasie a dehydrated Chicken foot each when I left. I knew the big girls would finish theirs quickly, while Kasie would be a while with hers given that she didn't have many teeth left. But I also knew she could handle herself against the girls. When I came home 1/2 hour later, I was greeted at the door by Kasie with her chicken firmly gripped in her mouth; Rio and Tiana were cowering on the couch, far away from Kasie (all 11 pounds of her)! ;D
She will be sadly missed by all in our household. As her health weakened in the past two weeks, Rio and Willy have been her guardians, watching her closely as she went down the ramp to go outside, standing guard when she was outside, and guiding her back into the house.
Goodbye, Sweet Kasie. We love you very much. Run pain free now, Little One.
Janette, Harold, Alex, Nadia, Rio, Tiana, and Willy