Sasha

Sasha the Queen of Hearts – For my niece’s birthday she wanted to visit the animal shelter. So we did and that’s where I found this beautiful friendly cocker. I fell in love with her the moment I saw her. I filled out the application just in case no one claimed her within the holding period. Guess what no one claimed her and I was able to meet with her alone. She was full of fleas and in need of a bath and hair cut. I wanted her but since I had another cocker at home the shelter required that the other dog meet the new dog to make sure it was a good match. My male cocker Snicker immediately started licked the new female cocker. She was mine and I was very happy. Snicker had a young chick to keep him young at heart and I had a new baby. No one knew her name, date of birth or nothing about her other then she was friendly and needed a bath and a trip to the groomers. I decided to call her Sasha and I gave her the proud birthday of July 4. Sasha became part of the family very quickly. Snicker loved the company and his new playmate even tough Sasha was a bit of a bully at first. She was well-trained, house-broke and very good natured. Snicker and Sasha enjoyed each other for about 3 years until Snicker’s health started to decline and Sasha became his nurse until it was time to let Snicker go. After 16 wonderful years Snicker Dean went home to heaven. After that Sasha and I grieved together we developed a very strong close, deep meaningful bond. For the next 9 years Sasha was the Queen, the heart of my life. She was my closest and dearest companion. We were kindred spirits, both sensitive and strong. Sasha was born to love and serve. She was exquisite, inspiring and open-hearted, a friendly, super sweet spirited lady who loved everything and everyone. Most dogs and people would reciprocate the love and affection she would radiate. The children always wanted to touch her soft, silky fur. The kiddo would say look mommy it’s the Lady and the Tramp dog! Sasha shined with a bright light of love, warmth and understanding. A true beauty, always smiling and very affectionate, she knew she looked good and was proud to show off. She was fit and healthy for most of her life. She was a source of quiet power and strength, very even tempered, funny and entertaining. There is so much to tell about Sasha I will share some highlights. She was the official house dish washer and food taster no food slipped past my girl. She was a hardy soul who loved to eat and drink. She would eat and drink like she hasn’t had food or water for a week. She would eat so fast I had to find a way to slow her down. She had a special red dish that helped. She was one of the prettiest cockers with her long gorgeous eyelashes that made her sweet face all the more beautiful. She was always in style with her different colored nails; white, black, brown and cream. Sasha had the Rod Stewart hair do. It was cool! Everyone would comment on her cool hairdo. She was a flirt and loved to tease the male dogs but when they got too close she would blink her sweet brown eyes and scoot away. Sasha loved to dig and bury her bones. She buried her treasures in her own unique style. She always left a clue (some part was always visible) so she would know where they were. She also had a habit of digging the bones back up after they were blessed in the earth. She would bring them into the house to reburying them in my bed. She would wait for me to find them as I would crawl under the covers. This was Sasha’s way of repackaging her gift back to me. Sasha the Queen Huntress she loved to hunt mice, rats, squirrels, birds and anything she could catch. It was always fun to watch her in action her wild side was intriguing since she was such a lady most of the time. She was always so proud to bring in her new catch to share with me. Sasha the official shoplifter at Cosmos Dog Bakery she would take whatever she wanted and she would sit right down, right there and enjoy it! No shame! The shop owners didn’t mind. They would laugh! It brought us all a smile. Of course she loved many things; being outside, long walks in nature, car rides, going through the drive-through for a plain cheeseburger, afternoon naps, belly rubs and full-body massages. She loved for you to talk to her. She understood so much you had to be careful of what you would say. She loved treats. “Cookies” was the magic word so if you said it she would be waiting for it. Sasha my forever best friend – A true Angel! She gave her heart and soul to everything she did. She loved sitting on the rock by the creek and resting her head on my leg while I caressed her beautiful fur. These were precious moments that I loved with her. We would sit and take in nature and the sounds of the running water. It was so peaceful. The last year of her life was a tough one. Easter, Sunday 2012 Sasha was bit by a pit bull and the wound got very infected. She was healing but had caught something that was causing her to itch, scratch and just be miserable. The veterinarian could not seem to figure out what was causing this condition. I tried everything I could. Finally four months later they figured out she had mange. Apparently she got it from the wild foxes that roamed the neighborhood. She was on the mend again and the New Year brought hopes of healing and better health but in March 2013 she was not well. That’s when she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) and three other heart conditions that probably lead up to the CHF. She was given a cocktail of five different medications and bi-weekly cardiac visits to stabilize her heart. Each visit there was either something new to add to the list or another adjustment to the medication. In my heart I knew she couldn’t continue like this for too much longer. She was struggling for every heart beat and every breath while trying to adjust to the changes happening to her body. It was hard for me to watch as a heart survivor myself and after watching my mother pass on from CHF. I understood what was happening to her body and it was an ugly struggle. On June 20, 2013 after hearing that the other side of her precious heart was failing and her abdomen was filling-up with fluid. I knew it was time to let her go home. On June 27, 2013 Sasha – The Queen of Heart returned to heaven to fly with the rest of the angels. Sasha, I will NEVER Stop Loving YOU! Thank you for being my best friend and true companion. Thank you for all your heart, soul and love. I miss YOU SO MUCH. I find peace knowing that you’re completely restored happy, healthy and wiggling your tail once again. Kisses, Sweet Love! A dog wags its tail with its heart ~ Author Unknown