I was 20 and Rosie was 8 weeks old when we first met. I was going through some difficult times when I got Rosie, and I’ll never forget how her companionship helped me and gave me stability in my life. She was a reason to get up every morning, someone to come home for at night, and the motivation to get out and walk every day and hike every weekend. She was my best friend. Rosie and I shared 9 homes in her 12 years! She never complained and adapted well to every situation.
Rosie was the cutest little dog, and her personality made her even more adorable. She was loved by everyone who knew her. She went by many nick-names over the years; Roseanna-dana, Rosalita, Rosarita, Rosie-roo, Rupert and Little Roo were some of them. Every morning Rosie did the happy dance of rolling around on her back in joy while snorting like a pig and it always made me smile. She loved her furry stuffed toys, especially hedgehogs. She was a true athlete in the snow, at times even doing back flips into snow banks. She also loved splashing around in rivers and running through tall grass. Rosie would sit on the back of the couch like a cat, or curl up on the pillows on the bed when no one was home. And possibly, more than any of these things, Rosie loved food!
Rosie had been slowing down for a long time, and spent a great deal of time at the vet the last couple years. But when she stopped eating, I knew Rosie wouldn’t live much longer. For the last three weeks of her life, she ate only a few bites of food a day. She was weak, and slept a lot. She was also really great company and acted more cheerful then she had in years. I don’t know what caused her to act like that when she was so sick, but I think she was being brave and telling us goodbye.
My husband and I spent some really good quality time with her before we had to have her put to sleep. I sat and cried with Rosie, and said goodbye several times. She was a truly exceptional dog, and I know there will never be another one like her. I wish she would have lived longer, but I’m happy that I knew her while she was here.
Denise Ostmeyer