Goodbye Ellie......

We unfortunately had to have our Ellie put to sleep this morning. She was in her final stages of lymphoma and not doing so well. I can't believe that she won't be there anymore when I get home from work. She won't be barking at the neighbor's dog or snoring so loud at night I can't sleep. She won't be nudging my arm on my side of the bed to pet her first thing in the morning with doggy breath right in my face.

The funny thing about Ellie is that we got her just on a whim and everyone thought we were crazy. We had just moved into a new house, we already had a child to have to try and keep up with, Dave and I were both working full-time, and he was going to school. Dave just happened to mention to me one evening about a 2 year old chocolate lab that needs a home. I'm mentioning this important piece of evidence for everyone that thinks it's all me getting these animals into our house. I just want to point out the subliminal messages that my husband sends to me and pretends he has nothing to do with the fact we have a new addition to the household. He knows me all to well.

Back to my story - I said no dog at first and then start asking him why he was telling me about the dog. He claims that it was just conversation. See, more secret messages to my brain. Which of course prompts me to ask more questions about this chocolate lab. Somehow we end up having her come over just for a visit to see how she is and if we do indeed want her. She was wild. She jumped all over my furniture, she kept running around my house, Sydney was up on the couch yelling because every time Ellie made the full circle right back through the living room she would stop at the couch and wildly and excitedly sniff Sydney. Well.......crazy as it seemed Ellie never left our house that night.

We decided to keep her. Did we have any dog items? Not one! Dog food? nope! Any thoughts about going to work the next day and leaving a dog that we barely knew in the house by herself all day at home? Not one. We had nothing for her except the leash attached to her (which she later chewed right in half). And off to the store Dave went to get something for this crazy dog which he had just learned was named Ellie. The next day I left for work and left her by herself in the house. I walked into work and told Pat about my new dog and she looks at me with a worried expression "You left some strange dog all alone all day long in your house? Are you crazy?" This made me get just a wee bit worried and I worried most of the day. I kept thinking about the movie Turner and Hooch and the dog that destroys Tom Hank's house and car because he left it alone.


I was very nervous opening my front door after work that day. But what I found was a big brown dog welcoming me and a warm spot on the couch where she had been sleeping - not a thing out of place. What a good girl. This is how she was. She never ate out of the garbage, never ate a stuffed animal, but she did enjoy napping on the couch when we weren't there, except you never actually caught her in the act.

We will miss her very much and it is so hard to have a "member of your family" fall ill and get sick so fast. We got her in 2002 and she was two and Syd was 3.
Here is the first picture we have of her. You can see in the background our previous house. There are boxes everywhere, the family room was missing the carpet, and those white rectangles in the back on the floor are my kitchen cabinet doors that I was painting.


Our first Christmas with Ellie.


She got a few years older and filled out.


After we got Regan, we bought a small pet bed. Ellie would always try sleeping in it.


Regan loved Ellie right away. She always lays near her or sits on her.


Last summer at Hamlin Beach.


On our way to get Sydney from camp.


Last summer camping.




Watching us make jam.


Then we got the kitten and she fit right in with laying all over Ellie, too.


This past winter and Christmas.




Playing with the Christmas toys that Aunt Lisa and family gave to her.


Regan and Ellie being naughty in the backyard.




Last month.


Treasured Friend ~ Author unknown

I lost a treasured friend today
The little dog who used to lay
Her gentle head upon my knee
And shared her silent thoughts with me.

She’ll come no longer to my call
Retrieve no more her favorite ball
A voice far greater than my own
Has called her to his golden throne.

Although my eyes are filled with tears
I thank him for the happy years
He let her spend down here with me
And for her love and loyalty.

Bye Ellie. You will be very much missed by all of us........