My beloved Casey passed away on August 2, 2014 at 10:11 a.m. I was with her, kissing her nose and hugging her close and tight the entire time. She lifted her head and looked at me, as if she was saying it's okay, gently laid it back down, and took her last breath. She was quiet and brave until the end, showing me just how truly special she was up until the last moment of her life. There will possibly be other dogs in my life, but never another Casey. This post is a small tribute to a life full of love, health, loyalty, and all the personality traits of this spoiled rotten girl.
Puppyhood
Casey was an adorable puppy. She was perfect in every way. She went to work with me in my pharmaceutical van every day since the weather was cool. She was quite a hit with the offices who saw her in the grass or parking lot. Often times, offices would tap on the window and ask me to bring her in. One of my favorite moments was Dr. Willis in Pensacola, who was holding her above his head and saying in his best "puppy voice"...."you look just like your Mommy.....you do...you do..."
She went EVERYWHERE with me. And that meant lots of trips to Tallassee.
I carried her around like a baby until I could not lift her anymore. It was really sad, but she was my baby.
She was Nana's first grand baby.
The First Few Years
Casey grew up quickly and was so beautiful. She had beautiful long golden hair and was so gentle and kind. She was fiercely loyal to me and our home. She also loved to lay around, eat snacks, bark, chase squirrels, dig, lick her fur (often times in the middle of the night which was so annoying), and just be near me. She was only crated for about 3 months and then enjoyed total freedom in the house. I can say that until the last year of her life, she never had an accident in the house. She only chewed one good pair of shoes (I can still see them) but could shred a paper towel and a pair of socks like none other. She slept either right by my bed or on top of it.
Casey wasted no time letting me know she was TERRIFIED of thunderstorms. And boy do I mean TERRIFIED. It was SO annoying in the middle of the night and often times, I would take her to the garage, and put her INSIDE of my car. She felt safe being enclosed three times (House, garage, car). Poor girl. She just didn't understand that it would be okay.
Casey wasted no time letting me know she was TERRIFIED of thunderstorms. And boy do I mean TERRIFIED. It was SO annoying in the middle of the night and often times, I would take her to the garage, and put her INSIDE of my car. She felt safe being enclosed three times (House, garage, car). Poor girl. She just didn't understand that it would be okay.
I had a bad habit in the early years of dressing her up in costumes....and sadly, she let me do it and she wore them.
Casey in Her Prime
She was really good at making me feel guilty when I left her. Can't you tell?
Casey loved to swim. On this day, we took Casey and P.J to the lake and they had a blast!
Afterwards, she like to roll around in the sand. It made me crazy, but she was so happy.
Casey also loved to hunt. Over the years, she killed/caught a catfish, countless squirrels, chipmunks, and birds, baby raccoons, roaches, frogs, and a rabbit. Her pride in her catch was immense. She would put the varmints on the outside door mat, leaving me often times stepping on it with my bare feet...and screaming!
Birthday Parties
Casey loved celebrating her birthday. She always got a real cake and had a party. Some were bigger than others but October 7 every year was a special day for us.
Here she and Basil were enjoying cake on her 4th Birthday. No special doggy cakes here...we went in for the real thing. Buttercream and all.
10th Birthday Party
12th Birthday Party
Casey and Basil
These two were my "kids". They were total opposites but best friends. Basil idolized Casey and would literally look up to her like she was saying "what are we going to do?" Casey was the alpha and called the shots. They both loved to bed up with me and were so lazy...you really wouldn't believe how long these two could lay around in the same spot. Taking a picture with them was complete torture. They were the most uncooperative kids around. I would go through an entire rotisserie chicken trying to get them to look at the camera. Sometimes I would be in tears because I just wanted ONE picture a year with them for my Christmas Card....I always got one and clearly some were better than others.
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I just had to throw this pic of Basil in to show how precious she was.
These two were SO lazy...and it cracked me up.
Fleming and I put our dogs on our Christmas Card we sent to all of our offices. It was a smash hit of course.
Children Loved Casey
Casey was gentle with children and understood her size. She would lay down and let them just lay on her and she never appeared frustrated or annoyed. In fact, she loved it. I have more pictures (of Casey and Basil) with Georgia Anne, simply because she was around them the most. Jack, Daniel, and Banks loved Casey too but Georgie and my kids shared a special bond.
(and Basil too) What a little doll. Basil was a petite little angel..I can't even begin to describe how sweet she was.
Again, just throwing this one in of Basil because she was so precious and oh so lazy.
Noah and Nic loved Casey too. These photos were taken two weeks before Casey died. They ran and romped in the yard with her and she was loving every second of it.
I told Tara, wouldn't you love to know what they were saying to one another?
I think I have a pretty good idea, and it melts my heart.
The Later Years
My golden faced beauty slowly turned gray as the years went on. She grew more tired and slow, but her spirit was just as vibrant. She saw her beloved sister Basil pass away and she returned to being the only dog. The last years were just as good as the early ones, but different. She no longer could go on walks with us or jump into the back of the car, but her appetite for food and love for me never diminished.
Just last summer, we took her to the lake with us. She was old and gray, but she was having as much fun as she did as a young girl on the boat and in the water.
She swam and swam and swam. Did I ever tell you what a great swimmer she was?
....and of course rolled around in the sand. Oh, it must have felt so good!
Casey always loved her treats from Santa...
Casey got a baby brother in November. She was a tad jealous, but could not resist being near him...or maybe he could not resist being near her. I like to think it gave her a little boost of health for a while, which many vets told me was possible.
Just like she and Basil used to do....these two would roll around and romp for as long and the old girl could. I usually had to separate them because Buckley never got tired, but I could tell Casey was ready to rest.
She never lost her appetite for food....or her begging skills. She passed them on to Buckley evidently.
And finally, this is the last real photo I made of her. It was taken on July 17, 2014, just 2 weeks before her stroke. She was laying on the front steps of our house.
Casey's passing not only represents the death of a pet and friend, but the end of an era. A time in my life that forever be remembered by youth and beauty, fun, and a carefree lifestyle in which my only real responsibilities were going to work, having a good time, and taking care the dogs. It represents the purest form of companionship. The kind that only a person who has lived alone with only a dog can feel. The love that is silent, yet loud and clear as can be.
I often wonder if she could have said just one thing to me, what would it be? That is the great wonder and mystery of a loving dog. They don't judge or tell you your faults. They don't point out the things you do wrong, even though they see more than their fair share. They love you on your worst days and only really want to be loved in return. I can honestly say, I don't think I could have shown her more love than I did...and that gives me peace. I poured my heart and soul into her, especially in the early years, which proved to be some of the most well spent time of my life because it gave me a trusting and loving friend.
To share a bond with a pet like Casey is a gift that most people may never experience and I am thankful for her life and for what she taught me.
One of my favorite Chi Omega songs (sung at good-byes and reunions) recalls "In the shades of evening, there will be no grieving...even though you're leaving Chi O (dear friend), far behind you. There'll be many memories, there'll be many letters, there'll be lonely hours till we meet again....then we'll have our reunion, there'll be toasts and singing, and you'll hear us bringing praises to you till then, dear friend, now departing, we must bid adieu, dear friend, ever after, I'll remember you."
We buried her body in Tallassee in my parents' back yard, next to Basil... but she will forever be buried in my heart.
A friend here in Montgomery sent me a message saying that she was pretty sure she heard Basil snorting and snorting when she saw Casey come over Rainbow Bridge. Sisters reunited! I do believe she was correct.
Rainbow Bridge
author unknown
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When a pet dies who has been especially close to a person here on earth,
that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are beautiful meadows and grassy hills there
for all our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is always plenty of their favorite food to eat,
plenty of fresh spring water for them to drink,
and every day is filled with sunshine so our little friends are warm and comfortable.
All of the pets that have been ill or old are now restored to health and youth.
Those that had been hurt or maimed are now whole and strong again,
just as we remember them in our dreams of days gone by.
The pets we loved are happy and content except for one small thing.
Each one misses someone very special who was left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes
when one of them suddenly stops and looks off into the distant hills.
It is as if they heard a whistle or were given a signal of some kind.
Their eyes are bright and intent. Their body begins to quiver.
All at once they break ways from the group, flying like a deer over the grass,
their little legs carrying them faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet,
you hug and cling to them in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.
Happy kisses rain upon your face.
Your hands once again caress their beloved head.
You look once more in to the trusting eyes of your pet so long gone from your life,
but never gone from your heart.
Then with your beloved pet by your side, you will cross the Rainbow Bridge together.
