I will miss you Minnie Moose

Our family dog Minnie passed away last night... she lived a happy 12 1/2 years with my family and will be missed very very much.
Right after we got Minnie I took her along to my senior photos session - the summer before my senior year 1996 - gosh isn't she adorable

When I was away at my first year of college, I just happened to be home sick when Minnie started giving birth to her puppies

She ended up having 11 gorgeous little pups - all of whom were adopted by friends & family

Our family photo with the 11 puppies - cute huh?

Minnie the lioness - protecting the house

Murray came to love Minnie as well and she loved him right back

Me & Dad with from left - Minnie, and two of her puppies Ethel & Kiddy (whom my Grandma / aunt & uncle Joni & Kevin adopted)

Christmas Minnie & Me

On one trip home I crawled into a bunk and she came up to snuggle - even though she was bigger than me! When she was a puppy I always let her sleep with me, as soon as my parents would leave the room I would pull her up under the covers

All dressed up

Over at my aunt & uncle's place using their computer - Minnie was like my little shadow - she'd follow me where ever I went when I was home

Minnie up on the steps with her puppy Kiddy (resting his head) and Joni & Kevin's other dog Jagermeister

Kiddy, Jagger and Minnie at Grandma's door waiting for a treat!

Minnie on the boat - she LOVED coming on the boat and enjoying the view

Minnie with my sister Mariah

Murray treating Minnie to a belly rub

Minnie posing with Murray & I & our truck Dolph

Me & my baby - sweetest dog ever
All dressed up!

Murray also did a photo shoot with Minnie - such a gorgeous photo

Happy Happy Girl!

My baby

My parents also adopted a new puppy last summer - Brock - Minnie totally took him in (after a little reluctance at first) they became such good friends, and I think in the end he would have been a great comfort to her

Best of friends

I love you so much Minnie, and I'm sad you won't be there when I come back to Minnesota in just a few weeks time, but our family loved you so much and I know you know that because they were so good to you these last months when you were struggling and allowed you to live out your last days in a happy loving environment. I hope you are happy and I love you and I will see you again one day.


Now I just want to post this story called 'The purpose of a dog' because it really touched me

The Purpose of a Dog - from a 4 yr. old's perspective
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for the four-year old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience. The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him.

Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life - like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The four- year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."