Good Bye to Our Loving Sweety

It is difficult to lose someone you love. In this case, it is losing a loving dog, Sweety. Sweety was a 13 year old mixed lab that we rescued as a puppy from the North Shore Animal League. It was love at first sight as my daughter and I approached the cage of a puppy who was staring at us while all of the other dogs milled around their business. My wife asked if we wanted to meet other dogs, but my daughter and I were adamant - this was the one!

Sweety was extremely sweet and caring for people and other dogs, yet she was extremely stubborn and wanted to do things her way. Despite being stubborn, Sweety was loyal. When she was about 1 years old, we were on a walk/run around the neighborhood, when I tripped and dislocated my shoulder. My hold on the leash went flying, but Sweety remained by my side as we returned home and I waited for the ambulance.

Sweety's love on our walks was to smell, to smell the bushes, the flowers, the grass, the trees, everything. When people were in the area, she sniffed the air to smell them as well. If Sweety wanted to smell something bad enough, she would dig in her paws, not in an overt disobedient way, but to essentially say, "I am not done yet."

Our favorite games were to play "find the treat" and "fetch for treat." Sweety loved her treats. When I whistled, Sweety would always come to my side.

Now, that she is gone, I feel a profound loss. Sweety was a loving companion and her own personality with the right balance of stubborn and sweet.