Good-Bye to TWO Sandy's

Hurricane Sandy hit us full force on Monday night.  Not since we lived in Alaska do I remember being battered with high winds that never seemed to stop.  A lot of trees were blown down on our road knocking out our power around 8:30 in the evening on Monday.  It  was not restored until this morning.

Unfortunately, we did not get through the storm without any damage.  We lost part of the roof on our barn.

And one of our beautiful pine trees was snapped in half.  However, there was no damage to our house, and for that we are grateful.  

Through the storm, I was concerned about our foster boy Sandy.  He'd not had much of an appetite the last several days.  However, it was not that unusual, and he was up and about and was even going outside without any help from us.  Yesterday morning Sandy seemed a bit better and would wag his tail whenever I talked to him, which he always did.  I discussed everything with my contact at the rescue and together we decided that he should be seen by the vet. Tests were done and x-rays showed that cancer had metastasized throughout his lungs and his abdomen.  We decided that the kind thing to do was to send him to the Rainbow Bridge.  There wasn't much time for good-byes. As he lay there, I stroked his handsome face and as I spoke to Sandy, he wagged his tail.  I thanked him for coming to our home just 4 short months ago.  I told him that I loved getting to know the dog that ate ice like it was a meal and practically melted when his ears were rubbed.  I thanked Sandy for what he taught me, that his blindness reminded me to slow down my pace and enjoy the walk. I told him about the other dogs that we'd sent to the bridge that I was sure would be there waiting for him.  

As I held his paw and he left this world for the next, I wished that we would have had more time together.  I hope that one day, when I see him again, we'll have that time.  God speed Sandy.  You will be missed and not forgotten.