Our Cousin Sweetie

Our cousin Sweetie went over to the Rainbow Bridge tonight and we are all very, very sad. The doctor said that she probably had a stroke, and it was her time to go to the rainbow bridge.

Auntie found Sweetie as a stray who came up to the house to see our cousin, Sandy. She was flea-bitten and showed signs of abuse. Sweetie came with cigarette burns all over her body. Parts of her body had no fur. She was very malnourished and scared of everything. She needed attention badly. After a few months of care with some good food, trips to the vet and some good loving, she became much more relaxed, but still very hyper.

When she came to us, she was the ugliest dog we had ever seen. But, after she was all fixed up and healed, she was the cutest pup around.

Mother took her to her first vet visit, and they asked for her name. Mother had all sorts of names in her head, but when the doctor asked, she said Sweetie. The name truly fit her personality.

Sweetie was Auntie's Pup and they loved each other very much. Anyone else probably would have given up on Sweetie. She suffered extreme separation anxiety. She also escaped the kennel every chance she got to go hunting for rabbits. We all spent many hours scouring the country looking for Sweetie, who would only come back on her own.

Sweetie was the one who found our cousin Honeycomb, who was barely 5 weeks old and an orphan. Sweetie killed a rabbit for her to eat, and then brought Auntie to the puppy, who was living in the barn.

We know that Sweetie is at the Rainbow Bridge running and chasing rabbits and waiting for us all. Run happy and free, dear Sweetie. We can see you running and rolling and swimming now. We will miss you terribly.

If you get a chance, please go visit our cousins' blog and give them a pat on their bellies.......