Mans Best Friend and Maybe an Angels Too

We had to help one of our fur babies across the golden bridge this past week.  It is never an easy thing, and this one felt especially hard since it seems like this is one more connection on this side to Rye that is lost to that other side.  One more angel among the stars.

Ripley was 13 years old and had loved us since she was about 6 weeks old.  Found in the parking lot at what used to be "Steves Food Boy" and is now Three Bears Alaska, by the Cheerleaders from Houston School during the Christmas Bazzar at the mall. 

We had just had to help the boys dog "Zelda" across the bridge a few weeks before, she had cancer around her heart and just couldn't go anymore.  She had been 9 years old.  We got professional, wonderful pictures with her and the boys right before we had to put her down and we treasure those now.  Some of our only "non-hockey" pictures with the boys together. 

(Rye 16 and Reed 9 with Zelda)

We were supposed to go to a fundraiser of some type that night and none of us felt like going because we were so sad about Zelda and Reed wasn't feeling well so he had been home with a sitter.  So we decided to go rent a movie (remember doing that?) and go home.  When we got to the mall - it was packed with people - at least for Big Lake it was, and we had not realized that would be happening - we almost gave up and went home.  

(She loved to ride on the wheelers with the boys - up until the very end)

We went in though, and as soon as the Cheer girls saw Rye they handed the puppy to him and she snuggled into his shoulder and neck, sighed, and fell promptly asleep, as though she had been waiting for him exactly to get there.  It was one of the sweetest moments of our lives and one that I cherish still.  We named her "Ripley" because believe it or not Hubby let us bring her home.  He had never been a fan of a stray dog from the boxes at the store, he would always say "their home is somewhere besides our house" or something to that effect.  This one stayed on Rye's neck the whole time in the mall and when Dad said "get in the car" we didn't ask questions, we just got in the car.  I don't remember what movie we even got!

Here she is with Rye and Spencer, getting ready for Prom in 2011.  Spry at only 2 years old!

And she had to add her own personalized spin to the pictures!  Classic Ripley Pooping Picture!

She was the most loving and wonderful little dog.  She tolerated Brix coming to live with us - almost with easy grace- they had a few scuffles over who was boss, but for the most part she was a good sharer of her things and her kids.  She went completly blind at the end and Brix would steer her around the yard and help her get where she needed to be and kept her out of the road most of the time. She had a toe removed a few years ago due to an agressive form of cancer - we thought she might be lost then, but she recovered and thrived as a three-toed, fourth foot fur baby!

Yoga was her favorite sport - the yoga mat was her favorite spot to nap!

She was also allergic to fish, and it was really ugly for everyone if she got some!  We had to watch every nip of food she ate and all the banks and the coffee store treats too!  She would gladly take them even though they tried to kill her if they had fish in them!  So we bought the special food (even though it wasnt Brix favorite), and the special treats that she could eat, and we pretty much spoiled her (and Brix) rotten with them.

Rye left us Brix as well here on this side and he is only 6.  We are grateful for his company, companionship, and connection to Rye.  An angel still here on this side, Brix is lonely without them though.  He looks for her, and he was mad at me for about a week because he knew that I took her out the door and didn't bring her back.

I am hoping Ripley was able to cross over and see Rye and snuggle once again into his shoulder and say "Oh - there you are  my friend- I have been waiting for you!"

May you be blessed with wonderful fur friends and when they have gone on ahead, may you be blessed with the angels they send! Blessed be!