Mitzi was our beloved White West Highland Terrier. She was so smart. I know, everyone says that, but how many pets teach you how to play fetch? And, she chased the reflection my glasses made when they caught the light that was reflected on the floor. Usually, dogs aren't aware enough to chase the reflection of flashlights on a wall - same idea. But, Mitzi was. She would have chased that light until she dropped if I hadn't gotten tired of playing the game.
She was not the sweetest dog in the world but she was so smart, you could forgive her that. She's been gone 10 years and I still miss her.
I refused to cry when she died because I was afraid I would never stop.
When she was 5, I made the biggest mistake of my life - I got a friend for her to play with. Another Westie, named Maggie. Mitzi never forgave us for that. She didn't like Maggie from the first day Maggie came home with us, even though I took her with me to get Maggie. Looking back, I think that was the first time Mitzi realized that she was a dog.
Mitzi was stubborn, too. I remember thinking she might be deaf because I could never get her to come in when I took her outside. She would ignore me completely. Finally, when she got tired of sniffing the ground (which is what all terriers do - that's the meaning of terrier, earth) she would look at me, as if to say, 'Okay, I'm done sniffing now'. And, then, she would beat me to the house!
She was so curious - like a cat. When she was about 10 weeks old, I let her out on the deck to play and sun for a while. A little while later, I opened the door to let her in. She was gone!!! Well, you say, what's the big deal? Well, it was a big deal. I called my husband, frantic - "Mitzi is gone!" I told him. He laughed and asked me if I had checked the yard. Well, of course not, I said. So, I guess I should have because Mitzi was running around in the yard. We don't know how she got off the deck. But, she didn't walk down - there were no steps and it was 16 feet to the ground. She seemed to be fine but I took her to the vet anyway, just to be sure she was okay.
Did I say she was curious? Well, she also got into rat poison at our antique mall - yes, we had mice in that huge 18,000 square foot building. And, we didn't allow pets in the building - except Mitzi. Do you know what they give animals when they accidently eat poison? Vitamin K. She was fine - she may not have even eaten any, but we were scared to death!
Mitzi was not our first pet, John's and mine. But, I think she was the one who grabbed our hearts and wouldn't let go. We have had one dog, Cassie, that lived longer - 17 years. But none that gave us so much enjoyment for 15.
Thank you dear lord for bringing her into our lives. They won't be the same without her.
Thank you, Find a Grave, for giving me a place to memorialize my little dog. She was so dear to my heart. She is buried in my back yard. She was joined 5 years later by Maggie, and will be joined in no sooner than 5 or 6 years (I hope) by Casey, the third Westie in our lives.
The following card was given to me by the staff at one of Chattanooga's vet clinics when Mitzi died. I cannot scan it because it comes out in PDF format, but it is worth reading. Get your tissue ready.
"Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven lies the Rainbow Bridge.
When a beloved pet dies, it goes to the Rainbow Bridge. It makes friends with other animals and frolics over rolling hills and peaceful, lush meadows of green.
Our pets do not thirst or hunger. The old and sick are made young once more, the maimed and ill become healed and strong. They are as healthy and playful as we remember them in days gone by.
Though happy and content, they still miss someone very special, someone they had to leave behind.
Together, the animals chase and play, but the day comes when a pet will suddenly stop and look into the distance...bright eyes intent, eager body quivering. Suddenly recognizing you, your pet bounds quickly across the green fields and into your embrace. You celebrate in joyous reunion. You will never again separate. Happy tears and kisses are warm and plenty; your hands caress the face you missed. You look once more into the loving eyes of your pet and know you never really parted. You realize that though out of sight, your love had been remembered.
And now, you cross the Rainbow Bridge together..."
M. A Preston
She was not the sweetest dog in the world but she was so smart, you could forgive her that. She's been gone 10 years and I still miss her.
I refused to cry when she died because I was afraid I would never stop.
When she was 5, I made the biggest mistake of my life - I got a friend for her to play with. Another Westie, named Maggie. Mitzi never forgave us for that. She didn't like Maggie from the first day Maggie came home with us, even though I took her with me to get Maggie. Looking back, I think that was the first time Mitzi realized that she was a dog.
Mitzi was stubborn, too. I remember thinking she might be deaf because I could never get her to come in when I took her outside. She would ignore me completely. Finally, when she got tired of sniffing the ground (which is what all terriers do - that's the meaning of terrier, earth) she would look at me, as if to say, 'Okay, I'm done sniffing now'. And, then, she would beat me to the house!
She was so curious - like a cat. When she was about 10 weeks old, I let her out on the deck to play and sun for a while. A little while later, I opened the door to let her in. She was gone!!! Well, you say, what's the big deal? Well, it was a big deal. I called my husband, frantic - "Mitzi is gone!" I told him. He laughed and asked me if I had checked the yard. Well, of course not, I said. So, I guess I should have because Mitzi was running around in the yard. We don't know how she got off the deck. But, she didn't walk down - there were no steps and it was 16 feet to the ground. She seemed to be fine but I took her to the vet anyway, just to be sure she was okay.
Did I say she was curious? Well, she also got into rat poison at our antique mall - yes, we had mice in that huge 18,000 square foot building. And, we didn't allow pets in the building - except Mitzi. Do you know what they give animals when they accidently eat poison? Vitamin K. She was fine - she may not have even eaten any, but we were scared to death!
Mitzi was not our first pet, John's and mine. But, I think she was the one who grabbed our hearts and wouldn't let go. We have had one dog, Cassie, that lived longer - 17 years. But none that gave us so much enjoyment for 15.
Thank you dear lord for bringing her into our lives. They won't be the same without her.
Thank you, Find a Grave, for giving me a place to memorialize my little dog. She was so dear to my heart. She is buried in my back yard. She was joined 5 years later by Maggie, and will be joined in no sooner than 5 or 6 years (I hope) by Casey, the third Westie in our lives.
The following card was given to me by the staff at one of Chattanooga's vet clinics when Mitzi died. I cannot scan it because it comes out in PDF format, but it is worth reading. Get your tissue ready.
"Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven lies the Rainbow Bridge.
When a beloved pet dies, it goes to the Rainbow Bridge. It makes friends with other animals and frolics over rolling hills and peaceful, lush meadows of green.
Our pets do not thirst or hunger. The old and sick are made young once more, the maimed and ill become healed and strong. They are as healthy and playful as we remember them in days gone by.
Though happy and content, they still miss someone very special, someone they had to leave behind.
Together, the animals chase and play, but the day comes when a pet will suddenly stop and look into the distance...bright eyes intent, eager body quivering. Suddenly recognizing you, your pet bounds quickly across the green fields and into your embrace. You celebrate in joyous reunion. You will never again separate. Happy tears and kisses are warm and plenty; your hands caress the face you missed. You look once more into the loving eyes of your pet and know you never really parted. You realize that though out of sight, your love had been remembered.
And now, you cross the Rainbow Bridge together..."
M. A Preston
Mitzi was our beloved White West Highland Terrier. She was so smart. I know, everyone says that, but how many pets teach you how to play fetch? And, she chased the reflection my glasses made when they caught the light that was reflected on the floor. Usually, dogs aren't aware enough to chase the reflection of flashlights on a wall - same idea. But, Mitzi was. She would have chased that light until she dropped if I hadn't gotten tired of playing the game.
She was not the sweetest dog in the world but she was so smart, you could forgive her that. She's been gone 10 years and I still miss her.
I refused to cry when she died because I was afraid I would never stop.
When she was 5, I made the biggest mistake of my life - I got a friend for her to play with. Another Westie, named Maggie. Mitzi never forgave us for that. She didn't like Maggie from the first day Maggie came home with us, even though I took her with me to get Maggie. Looking back, I think that was the first time Mitzi realized that she was a dog.
Mitzi was stubborn, too. I remember thinking she might be deaf because I could never get her to come in when I took her outside. She would ignore me completely. Finally, when she got tired of sniffing the ground (which is what all terriers do - that's the meaning of terrier, earth) she would look at me, as if to say, 'Okay, I'm done sniffing now'. And, then, she would beat me to the house!
She was so curious - like a cat. When she was about 10 weeks old, I let her out on the deck to play and sun for a while. A little while later, I opened the door to let her in. She was gone!!! Well, you say, what's the big deal? Well, it was a big deal. I called my husband, frantic - "Mitzi is gone!" I told him. He laughed and asked me if I had checked the yard. Well, of course not, I said. So, I guess I should have because Mitzi was running around in the yard. We don't know how she got off the deck. But, she didn't walk down - there were no steps and it was 16 feet to the ground. She seemed to be fine but I took her to the vet anyway, just to be sure she was okay.
Did I say she was curious? Well, she also got into rat poison at our antique mall - yes, we had mice in that huge 18,000 square foot building. And, we didn't allow pets in the building - except Mitzi. Do you know what they give animals when they accidently eat poison? Vitamin K. She was fine - she may not have even eaten any, but we were scared to death!
Mitzi was not our first pet, John's and mine. But, I think she was the one who grabbed our hearts and wouldn't let go. We have had one dog, Cassie, that lived longer - 17 years. But none that gave us so much enjoyment for 15.
Thank you dear lord for bringing her into our lives. They won't be the same without her.
Thank you, Find a Grave, for giving me a place to memorialize my little dog. She was so dear to my heart. She is buried in my back yard. She was joined 5 years later by Maggie, and will be joined in no sooner than 5 or 6 years (I hope) by Casey, the third Westie in our lives.
The following card was given to me by the staff at one of Chattanooga's vet clinics when Mitzi died. I cannot scan it because it comes out in PDF format, but it is worth reading. Get your tissue ready.
"Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven lies the Rainbow Bridge.
When a beloved pet dies, it goes to the Rainbow Bridge. It makes friends with other animals and frolics over rolling hills and peaceful, lush meadows of green.
Our pets do not thirst or hunger. The old and sick are made young once more, the maimed and ill become healed and strong. They are as healthy and playful as we remember them in days gone by.
Though happy and content, they still miss someone very special, someone they had to leave behind.
Together, the animals chase and play, but the day comes when a pet will suddenly stop and look into the distance...bright eyes intent, eager body quivering. Suddenly recognizing you, your pet bounds quickly across the green fields and into your embrace. You celebrate in joyous reunion. You will never again separate. Happy tears and kisses are warm and plenty; your hands caress the face you missed. You look once more into the loving eyes of your pet and know you never really parted. You realize that though out of sight, your love had been remembered.
And now, you cross the Rainbow Bridge together..."
M. A Preston
She was not the sweetest dog in the world but she was so smart, you could forgive her that. She's been gone 10 years and I still miss her.
I refused to cry when she died because I was afraid I would never stop.
When she was 5, I made the biggest mistake of my life - I got a friend for her to play with. Another Westie, named Maggie. Mitzi never forgave us for that. She didn't like Maggie from the first day Maggie came home with us, even though I took her with me to get Maggie. Looking back, I think that was the first time Mitzi realized that she was a dog.
Mitzi was stubborn, too. I remember thinking she might be deaf because I could never get her to come in when I took her outside. She would ignore me completely. Finally, when she got tired of sniffing the ground (which is what all terriers do - that's the meaning of terrier, earth) she would look at me, as if to say, 'Okay, I'm done sniffing now'. And, then, she would beat me to the house!
She was so curious - like a cat. When she was about 10 weeks old, I let her out on the deck to play and sun for a while. A little while later, I opened the door to let her in. She was gone!!! Well, you say, what's the big deal? Well, it was a big deal. I called my husband, frantic - "Mitzi is gone!" I told him. He laughed and asked me if I had checked the yard. Well, of course not, I said. So, I guess I should have because Mitzi was running around in the yard. We don't know how she got off the deck. But, she didn't walk down - there were no steps and it was 16 feet to the ground. She seemed to be fine but I took her to the vet anyway, just to be sure she was okay.
Did I say she was curious? Well, she also got into rat poison at our antique mall - yes, we had mice in that huge 18,000 square foot building. And, we didn't allow pets in the building - except Mitzi. Do you know what they give animals when they accidently eat poison? Vitamin K. She was fine - she may not have even eaten any, but we were scared to death!
Mitzi was not our first pet, John's and mine. But, I think she was the one who grabbed our hearts and wouldn't let go. We have had one dog, Cassie, that lived longer - 17 years. But none that gave us so much enjoyment for 15.
Thank you dear lord for bringing her into our lives. They won't be the same without her.
Thank you, Find a Grave, for giving me a place to memorialize my little dog. She was so dear to my heart. She is buried in my back yard. She was joined 5 years later by Maggie, and will be joined in no sooner than 5 or 6 years (I hope) by Casey, the third Westie in our lives.
The following card was given to me by the staff at one of Chattanooga's vet clinics when Mitzi died. I cannot scan it because it comes out in PDF format, but it is worth reading. Get your tissue ready.
"Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven lies the Rainbow Bridge.
When a beloved pet dies, it goes to the Rainbow Bridge. It makes friends with other animals and frolics over rolling hills and peaceful, lush meadows of green.
Our pets do not thirst or hunger. The old and sick are made young once more, the maimed and ill become healed and strong. They are as healthy and playful as we remember them in days gone by.
Though happy and content, they still miss someone very special, someone they had to leave behind.
Together, the animals chase and play, but the day comes when a pet will suddenly stop and look into the distance...bright eyes intent, eager body quivering. Suddenly recognizing you, your pet bounds quickly across the green fields and into your embrace. You celebrate in joyous reunion. You will never again separate. Happy tears and kisses are warm and plenty; your hands caress the face you missed. You look once more into the loving eyes of your pet and know you never really parted. You realize that though out of sight, your love had been remembered.
And now, you cross the Rainbow Bridge together..."
M. A Preston
