Sweet Emma

[Mockinbirdiva]

A year ago today the day was normal until it wasn’t. I’m missing a family member this year and have been far too sad to even mention losing her so it goes unspoken until today. On July 14th last year my sweet Emma suffered a grand Mal seizure. She was just 13 1/2 and it seemed she was slowing down to age and we thought her vision had progressed to the point where she was just being careful how she navigated the house and yard. She had never had a seizure before. It was so unexpected and I had planned the day before to take her to the vet for a check up as she had lost some weight and had become picky about her food but wanted treats more. She would eventually eat but it took effort to get her to eat with a lot of prompting and extra goodies… that bright happy look she gave when something special was given. She sat right next to me in my chair while I ate and wanted what I was eating those last few days. She loved apples and sugar snap peas.

We brought Emma home in July of 2012. Seven months after I had fallen and broken my leg. I needed that little something to brighten my day and motivate me to go outside more. It had been a couple years since I lost my little main squeeze Briggs. Emma could steal any heart….. Briggs just stole your heart and your stuff. Nothing around him was safe and he loved parading his stolen goodies. Emma was just the funniest puppy and that fuzzy love I needed.

The morning of her seizure was terrifying. I thought she was dying right then. Two vet clinics we usually took her to were not available. We ended up going to another vet as a walk-in. They took her from us to the back and they gave her anti-seizure medication and waited to see how she would do. Much later I found out she had another seizure while in the back. I wish they had let me be with her while they monitored her. When they finally brought her into our room hours later they discussed putting her on anti seizure medication. She was so out of it whining and just so frail. In my heart of hearts I knew she wouldn’t be able to survive much longer and I didn’t think bringing her home to suffer another seizure was in her best interest. To be sure we had them take her one more time for an X-ray to understand why she was having the seizures and the result showed she had a large mass in her chest. I would never had known there was something so devastating hiding in her little body by her behavior leading up to this day. The last photo I took of her was the evening before while I was on the phone with my sister. Emma would stay in the kitchen watching me while I made their food and this day she looked so tired. And she was. I’m still so very sad to have lost such a sweet and loving girl. She is my last. I cannot suffer the painful loss of a companion anymore. I can’t think about her without crying. She was so loyal and ever on my lap when I was sitting. She was my motivation to walk after breaking my leg so badly in 2011 and my constant companion in my chair as I recovered with my broken hip in 2020.

Truly, I am a forever changed person. Coming back here was a long considered decision. I am mostly very quiet at home. It’s hard to find joy and I do my best to muster some jovial banter but deep inside I am just not the same. The birds help a lot to brighten my day. And we still have Riley. He is 14 1/2 now and has missed his companion terribly. It's been really hard on him, he's lost without her still. He is Steve's dog.... or I should say Steve is his preferred person. God forbid I should hug the dog, kiss the dog and risk the nasty snarl and snap. ( he's toothless so not such a big threat ) Though I am definitely his best friend when food is involved. I miss my little snuggles from Emma. I appreciate you all for bringing out some chuckles to brighten my day.

 

[Mockinbirdiva]

 

[Clueless]

A Yorkie!!!

My aunt raised Yorkies and Doberman and guess which bark Secret picked? Yep - ankle biters.

I feel your pain.

I can't get another dog because of the loss of my German Shepherd.

Never intended for more pets and then rescued the 2 amazons. MC stole my heart and when I lost him to that cancer, I wound up in therapy.

You're in my prayers kiddo.

 

[Mizzely]

What an adorable face! She looks like she was an amazing soul!
I am so sorry you had to go through that loss. It is never easy but knowing that of course does nothing for the pain!!

 

[Kassiani]

What a beautiful, sweet face! I'm just so sorry for your loss

 

[Mockinbirdiva]

A Yorkie!!!

My aunt raised Yorkies and Doberman and guess which bark Secret picked? Yep - ankle biters.

I feel your pain.

I can't get another dog because of the loss of my German Shepherd.

Never intended for more pets and then rescued the 2 amazons. MC stole my heart and when I lost him to that cancer, I wound up in therapy.

You're in my prayers kiddo.

I've been sad all day. It's hard to talk about her even after all these months. I never had kids so my pets are everything to me. I feel sadness when I hear other people lose their companions because I know they are sad. I thought I would be able to take in a senior dog but not anymore. It's just too hard. Thanks for the prayers.

 

[Mockinbirdiva]

What an adorable face! She looks like she was an amazing soul!
I am so sorry you had to go through that loss. It is never easy but knowing that of course does nothing for the pain!!

Thank you. She sure was the glue to my soul. When I broke my hip I couldn't get in bed for four months and had to stay in an old recliner that my dad had given me. Both of the dogs stayed piled on me. Somewhere I have a flash card from my old camera that has pictures on it I took every day of the dogs on me. Where ever there was a lap there was Emma. And she loved sleeping on top of Steve's chest or snuggled into the crook of his arm when I wasn't available.

 

[patchyjoon]

I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[Sarahmoluccan]

What a sweet girl! I'm so sorry for you loss

 

[merlinsmom13]

I'm sorry you lost your buddy

 

[Finchbreed]

Condolences.
It is 6 1/2 yrs since the passing of my Janee (Jack Russell) and I still remember her fondly.
So totally get how sad a day this has been for you.

 

[Mockinbirdiva]

Condolences.
It is 6 1/2 yrs since the passing of my Janee (Jack Russell) and I still remember her fondly.
So totally get how sad a day this has been for you.

Jack Russells are busy little dogs with such character. Yorkies are that way too. Bright eyed and never far from you unless they're doing something mischievous. I am surprised at how I still grieve her. Truly, they are lap dogs just waiting for you to sit down. I always did my own grooming. They hate it so they could care less about being little foo foo dogs.

 

[Clueless]

She ate and chewed your money because she was mad? What a hoot!

 

[Mockinbirdiva]

She ate and chewed your money because she was mad? What a hoot!

Yep. She sure did. I should have learned my lesson from Briggs. He was such a pick pocket I had to warn visitors not to put their purses on the floor. He leapt off my lap once when we were sitting outside getting ready to put some hot dogs on the grill -( boy, so long ago - this is a great memory of him )- and he dive-bombed the plate of hot dogs Steve was holding while he was sitting and snatched one. Throughout his years he stole stuff and loved parading his prizes. In this picture Emma was a teenager. If ever a paper towel hit the floor and I didn't know it I would find it shredded in their crate or under something. She really was a good girl though. I miss her.

 

[expressmailtome]

I am very sorry for your loss.

 

[Mockinbirdiva]

I am very sorry for your loss.

Thank you Matthew. Her cheery little begging face is sure missed. I can't believe a whole year has passed. Poor little Riley misses her so much. He's almost blind now
and has such separation anxiety now. I can hear him howling inside when I go in the bird room or outside. He needs to know we are near all the time.

 

[Clueless]

The patter of their tiny paws....

I saw a shepherd today that looked so much like mine. I remembered rolling the grapefruit across the floor and his startled expression when he bit into it.....

 

[Mockinbirdiva]

The patter of their tiny paws....

I saw a shepherd today that looked so much like mine. I remembered rolling the grapefruit across the floor and his startled expression when he bit into it.....

I had a great German shepherd that lived next door. He was so big. The biggest I had ever seen. His name was Moses. He had a big bark too. She walked him every day and when he got to know me he would drag her over to say hello. While we chatted he always sat between us and often with a foot or butt on my shoe. It was his silent way of protecting her. It was sad when Moses left. She talked to him all the time ( she was widowed ) and I have no doubt it left a big void in her life. I loved his deep bark.

 

[Dartman]

I'm sorry you lost her. We had just about every kind of critters you could have as kids. Dogs, cats, turtles, chameleons, budgies, tropical fish that lived with the tiny craw fish I caught from a nearby creek. When my real dad died in a plane crash mom got me Ferd and Nerd bird in 78. Ferd very suddenly got sick and died a few years in and Nerd and I mourned his loss and bonded.
He was a very skinny Maxi Pionus and he and his brother were wild caught. He was my best friend for the next 31 years and happy with his lot in life. He made unique flock calls and noises none of my other Maxis have made that he must have learned from his wild flock in the jungle.
He died sitting on my arm in his favorite place at my computer desk in my room knowing he was safe and loved.
I miss him to this day and he and his brother is why I've had Maxis ever since. They are just so loyal to their chosen one and just love to hang out and get scritches and treats.
You never forget your heart critter but the pain lessons with time and it's easier to remember the good times and be happy