Maggie was born February 24, 2000 and was 11 years old when she was called home to heaven to be with those who had gone before her. I remember the day I walked into the kennel looking for a puppy. My mom had been there earlier and told me about this cute puppy she had seen, but she knew I wanted to pick one for myself so she waited and went with me to look at the puppies that were there later that same day. It took only a second of looking into those beautiful brown eyes to know that Maggie was the one for me. She was in the cage with her sister who was jumping all over trying to get the attention. Maggie just sat there patiently waiting for someone to come in and pick her to love them for the rest of her life. I left that day with this beautiful girl with the most loving eyes and never regretted bringing her home.
Maggie would always meet you at the door with one of her toys welcoming you home and then she would lean in and give you one of her famous hugs and beautiful smiles. She was always happy to see you and would shower whoever it was with all of her love. She loved spending time with the people and animals in her life, most of the time perched in her favorite recliner that everyone knew was Maggie’s Chair. If you didn’t know, she would not so subtlety let you know by whining at you until you would get out. She was definitely the queen and let everyone know it, which made you love her all the more.
The last couple of years of her life were not easy ones. She got very ill and we almost lost her in 2009, but she fought her way back showing just how strong she was. She would try hard not to show how much she was hurting or how sick she felt. She always tried to be strong and kept showing her unrelenting love to those who were near her. She was finally doing better until October of 2010 when we lost our little black cocker spaniel Eve who had been Maggie’s buddy for seven years unexpectedly. She was never the same after that, her health started declining but still she fought hard.
The last few weeks of her life she lost her appetite and essentially her will to continue on in this world. As much as she loved us, her body just wouldn’t let her fight anymore. Maggie passed away peacefully on March 24, 2011 in one of her favorite spots in her home surrounded by those who loved her most. As much as we miss her, we know she is playing with her buddy Eve and all of those who went before her. She is at peace and I know she will be there to greet all of us at the Rainbow Bridge when it is our time to go.
We will miss that sweet smile Maggie, but we know you love us and are finally at peace.
Emily Salomon