One week ago today

[Todd]

I lost Heidi. I felt her last heartbeat and heard her last breath.

First, her life. I adopted a skinny HW+ girl from the shelter in Auburn Alabama in Sept 2004. She was 2 or 3 years old, they didn't know for sure. I got her treated and she recovered nicely and never tested HW+ again. For the next two years, we lived in an apartment while I worked on my PhD. She loved all the kids and some of the dogs in the neighborhood. None of the local rescues really wanted to deal with me since I was in an apartment. I didn't know it until a few years later because I kept in touch with the lady that approved the adoption, but Heidi was scheduled to be euthanized three days after we walked out of the shelter. No one wanted her because she was HW+. Angie, I'll love you forever for giving me the chance to spend some of my life with her.

We moved to Dayton OH where I taught graduate school. I bought a house with a fenced in yard. But as a GSD, she still needed or at least wanted to "patrol" the neighborhood. She made many new friends, many more two-legged than four-legged, but she did like some of the other dogs. I had to leave her for almost nine months to serve in Afghanistan. One of my students welcomed her into his house. Her muzzle turned almost completely gray when I was gone even though she had a stay at home wife and little girl to watch over.

In Summer of 2010 we moved to PA. I bought another house with a fence. Again, she made many friends, but most were people. She really was a people dog.

My family adored her and she went almost everywhere with me through the years. She was great with 10 hour car rides as long as she was with me. I promised Angie when I adopted her that I would walk her several times per day. Every day I was with her, we walked at least three miles and sometimes more on the weekends.

As it turns out, the heartworms eventually killed her. A month ago, she really started to slow down. After a few visits to the vet and the ER for an ultrasound, I found out she had an enlarged heart. The vet thought it might have been caused by the heartworms so many years ago. The vet told me there was no cure but only a few things that might prolong her life a few months.

She had stopped eating two days before the ultrasound. Once we knew the cause, the vet told me I knew what I had to do. She went downhill so fast it was unbelievable. She lost 9 pounds in two weeks. On the fourth day that she would not eat, at 6:35 pm on 3 May, Heidi died in my arms at the vet's office.

She was the first dog I was solely responsible for. She was a dog that no one wanted. I wasn't the perfect adoption candidate but I was her last chance. We gave each other almost seven years of happiness.

[jocoyn]

I am so sorry for your loss, but now she runs free. So glad you gave her such a good life and had each other.

[Zoeys mom]

I am so sorry the two of you said goodbye but she was loved and loved you in turn. Obviously you two were perfect for each other!!

[PaddyD]

Originally Posted by Zoeys mom

I am so sorry the two of you said goodbye but she was loved and loved you in turn. Obviously you two were perfect for each other!!

Amen

[jprice103]

Thank you SO much for saving her...and giving her those wonderful 7 years of love and happiness! I'm sure in many ways she saved you right back! My heart goes out to you...I know what it is like to have to say goodbye...but you'll meet up again one day!

[koda girl]

Wow your story sure touched my heart. You are an amazing person that gave an unwanted dog a great life. Very sorry for your loss.

[katieliz]

oh todd, you gave her everything. everything. right up until, and including, the end. what a beautiful tribute you've written.

i hope someday, when the time is right, you are blessed with another wonderful shepherd who will fill your heart, once again, with joy.

bless your heart, heidi-girl, rest in peace.

[CarrieJ]

I'm sorry.
I don't know what else to add to the words of the others.
A beautiful tribute to Heidi and to Angie.

[Stosh]

I swear that I'm never going to read these posts but I always have to- I'm so sorry that you lost Heidi but I'm so glad you had each other. There's nothing better than that solid steady love and trust. I hope you have that again and can pass down Heidi's love to another deserving dog

[KZoppa]

She sounds like she was a fabulous dog who stole your heart from the first moment. I'm sorry for your loss and as others have said, i will repeat, beautiful tribute to a best friend. She'll send another your way when the time is right. They always do. They certainly do leave paw prints on our hearts.