in memory of the best dog ever- Baby,age 19

Once upon a time, we had 2 children and no dog. Daddy (JT) loved dogs and wanted his kids to know and love dogs (good excuse- anyway it worked.) We had previously had other dogs and loved them but their lives were short due to car bites/ road accidents. JT was given a full blooded rat terrier. She was already a year old, house trained, and the owner worked long hours and felt she needed a home where she wouldn't be cooped up all day......boy did we have the opposite arrangement for her. At the time we lived on the farm next to Grandma and Grandpa Vaughn- 40 acres to run around on and 2 kids to entertain. That first night the "test" was to see who wore out first- the kids or the dog.....the played fetch and she won. The kids fell asleep playing and she still was going strong. She knew how to fetch tennis balls, all balls and a few years later thinking all Balls were the same the tried chasing Jacobs' golf balls and took one at close range in the mouth and so became snaggle toothed from then on. JAcob cried as hard as Baby that day and many days forward.
Baby has met the school bus, followed them everywhere, rode on the lawn mower and golf cart. Played dress up with Marisa- she was the "baby" in the wagon, jumped on the tampoline, slept in bed with them, been their constant companions all these years.
Then MArisa moved out and grew up, got married- writing on facebook about coming home- every week seeing that "constant" face to greet her, Baby, always there to love her.
Over the last few years she has slowed down and the last short time getting worse- started pacing.....if she wasn's circling to sit and lay down to sleep she was pacing. Then she would get lost in the yard- couldn't find her way back inside and then could find way out a corner in the house......and she was blind and could hear, you had to feed her by hand and she'd try to bite you because she couldn't see.....the Vet says it was dementia like in people.
So it was time to put her down so she didn't suffer anymore. She had been too good for the family to watch her suffer.
I gave a last bath that morning and poor thing didn't have any fur left on her ears. I remebered the story of the Velveteen Rabbit about her beeing so loved her fur was gone. Well, that was the case with OUR Baby- she was loved all up, all used up, and loved to the full measure of her creation.
She went to Heaven Wednesday- all worn out & loved up- her fur was almost worn off. She raised 2 kids well-. Rest well sweet girl.............

to Baby 1 April 1993- 28 Mar 2012 buried in the backyard!!!!