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Brinkley
You came into our home as though you had been there always. You and Bailey were inseparable – running, playing & barking. You showed her it was ok to settle down & take a nap when she was tired and she taught you that the best place for those naps was on the patio picnic table – side by side. Together you learned how to open your kennel doors, to sit & wait patiently while your meals were prepared and to catch cookies in the morning before we left for work. Trips to the beach and long walks in the mountains were wonderful adventures and peanut butter bones and doggie ice cream treats were the perfect ways to end a day.
After you had been with us for a year, we began to volunteer for the rescue where we found you. True to your easy going way, you greeted each new foster dog with a friendly sniff and a wagging tail. You and Bailey pitched in and helped show them the ways of our home. You were always willing to share your space, toys and us without a growl of selfishness or a snarl of jealousy, as though you remembered what it was like to be a foster dog in need. When Beau & Benson arrived, the four of you formed a very special bond that we knew should not be broken and you welcomed them as your new canine brothers. Life was good.
Then on a sunny November afternoon in 2005, your world & ours changed forever. You were outside running and romping with the others and Daddy was tossing you treats. When you came inside, you seemed to not be feeling well with very droopy eyes that were making it hard to see. We took you to the doctor, certain it was an allergic reaction to playing in the autumn leaves. If only it could have been that simple. To you, the word cancer meant nothing. To us, it was devastating.
We began the daily steroids immediately and it seemed as though overnight, you were back to your old self, happy to get twice a day cheese treats with pills tucked safely inside. After a month, the twice weekly adventures to the vet started and you enjoyed visiting with your new best friends, Dr. Ivanov and Sophia. You were always happy to go at just the mention of their names and your cute little tail continued back & forth as the blood tests and chemo therapy injections were administered each week. You loved and trusted them and so enjoyed the yummy food on a stick they gave you each time. They loved you, as we did. Through the winter into spring, you showed no signs of illness and still didn’t seem to know you were sick. We had to remind ourselves of it from time to time.
Then in late May, the effects of the disease and treatments began to take their toll. Your breathing became labored, eating became difficult, and just finding a spot to nap comfortably was exhausting. You were no longer up to the things that once gave you great pleasure such as playing outside or chewing on a bone for hours on end. It became clear our promise to you to always keep you free of discomfort and pain must be kept. And so sweet boy, with eyes clouded with tears and the help of your friends, Dr. Ivanov & Sophia, we held you close, whispered we love you and kissed you goodbye as you left on your journey to the Rainbow Bridge.
Though your leash hangs still on the hook and your favorite mealtime spot remains empty, the happiness and love you gave us will remain in our hearts always. We hope we gave as much to your life, as you did to ours.
Abbie, Craig, Bailey, Beau & Benson Ellsworth
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