Wednesday, August 3, 2011

There Was A Crooked Girl...

........who had a crooked nose and a very crooked tail 

Her name was HiLite and she was a very good girl.  She was shy, loving and patient and a blonde.   Or...better known in the Greyhound color world as a 'fawn'.  She truly did have a crooked nose with a big black hairless scar on the side of her crooked nose.  She was a racer in her day and we believe the crooked nose was probably due to an accident on the race track.  Her crooked tail was broken maybe when she was a puppy but no one knows. 

I remember clearly when she came to us.  My friend Sherry from LongNeck Deco Greyhound Collars and I drove all the way to Kansas in my extended kennel van to pick up 8 Greyhounds just off the racing track or farm from being brood mamas.  We were bringing them back for Greyt Rescues of Lafayette to be adopted out to 'furever' homes.   Normally we would have had crates to transport dogs but since we had to bring back so many dogs, enough crates wouldn't fit.  We took all the back seats out of the van, muzzled the dogs (with a special Greyhound muzzle, not what you are thinking if you are not a Greyhound person!) and everyone rode behind us.

The trip was uneventful even though the dogs were packed in and we were driving all night to get back to Indiana.  We were amazed there was not one grumble or growl.  Maybe they knew they were off to a different life?  Somehow, even pottie breaks went off without a hitch.  Something not very easy to accomplish with only 2 humans and 8 loose dogs in the back of a van!!


No matter, we made it back to our kennel at FenceRow Farms safe, sound and happy.  There the gang of eight stayed until each one went to a foster home. 
HiLite though, never left.  Imagine that!!!  We were foster failures!  

We were blessed to have HiLite in our home for 9 of her 14 years of life.  She endeared herself in such a gentle way to all the human inhabitants at the farm in such a gentle way.  Her body started giving out on her a few months ago.  I wrote about it a few posts back.  On Monday we had to make the hardest of all decisions and realize that it was time to let her go.  This decision is one that no loving pet owner ever wants to make.   It is often so hard for pet owners to recognize the line between quality of life and not wanting to let go.  

She may have been a crooked girl on the outside, but inside....she was filled with dignity and spirit.  We loved her but her dignity and spirit were suffering.  It was time. 



We miss you HiLite girl

10 comments:

  1. I am so sorry for your loss, please accept my sincere condolence. What a lovely tribute, sending hugs, and keeping you in my prayer's, Julie.

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  2. Aw, Karen,
    I knew where the story was going and I'm typing this through my tears. What a beautiful tribute and how lucky she was to have so much love for 9 years. My heart aches for you. God bless you for rescuing her!
    Pug hugs :)
    Lauren

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  3. Oh Karen, I am so sorry! They are never, ever with us long enough. Our old lady was a brood, and I keep hoping and praying that I'm not going to have to make that hard decision with her. I just want her to go to sleep and not wake up. I think that's what we all want, but it so rarely works out that way. HiLite was a special girl, and you were both lucky to have each other! Our hearts go out to you tonight.

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  4. Karen,
    Oh the heartache! I can tell what a special dog she was! I'm glad you were able to provide that loving home for her last years! May your heart be lifted in knowing you were connected to the animal realm through her and she to the human realm through your loving care. Special blessings indeed!
    Sending big big hugs and healing thoughts to you and your family!
    Cathy G

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  5. Oh you poor dear! I, too, am choking up with tears. I'm living the failing health thing with my Gus, and I know that the end is coming. You are such a caring and loving woman with a big old heart for all those lost and lonely furbabies. HiLite was lucky to have you...and you know we are always lucky to have them. Sending good thoughts and prayers during this rough time.
    Hugs,
    Courtney

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  6. Oh, I am so sorry. HiLite certainly sounds like a wonderful soul and both your lives were blessed by each other.
    Hugs, Kim

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  7. Sorry Karen & Ernie,

    It's hard no matter how long we have them. And it's the hardest to know when.

    My condolences,

    Teresa

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  8. I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. HyLite sounds like he was a very special dog and the you were blessed to have each other. You gave her a wonderful life.

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  9. Thank you all. She is deeply missed but I know that she is no longer in pain and playing at the Rainbow Bridge with our other sorely missed furkids. I sometimes wonder if this is why there are non-dog people in the world because they know they can't handle the emotions.

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  10. Hello,
    I haven't visited in a long time. I am so very sorry to hear that HiLite's time here is over. I know how hard it is to do the right thing by an animal and thankful for her that you had the knowledge and courage to let her go. Please accept my condolences.

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