My dog just died. She was my daughter, my best friend, my soul sister and my loyal protector. She wanted nothing more than to be near me. Well, actually that's not true. Chicken, salmon and/or peanut butter would have won out over being near me temporarily, just to be accurate. But being near, and with me, was what she lived for.
Cody made it just past her 11th birthday. She had hemangiosarcoma. It's a particularly aggressive and deadly cancer in dogs and quite common. Apparently 1 in 5 dogs will end up with it. She didn't know she was sick until just a few hours before she died, so that was merciful. It was harder for us knowing what was ahead.
Sometimes life is just plain hard, like when you lose a loved one. Cody had some rules for living and she wants me to remember them and live by them and she wants me to share them with you. Here they are:
1. Don't forget to play.
2. Don't forget to touch each other.
3. Don't forget to welcome your loved ones when they come home.
4. Don't forget to exercise.
5. Don't forget to ask for, OK beg for, what you want.
6. Don't forget to be present right now. Live the day you're actually on.
7. Don't forget to appreciate what your body can do.
8. Don't forget to cuddle.
9. Don't forget to rest.
10. Don't forget to be curious.
11. Don't forget to be suspicious of strangers.
12. Don't forget to have fun.
13. Don't forget to express love and to accept love.
To those of you who have lost a beloved pet, I'm so sorry. I hope to live the lessons Cody taught me and one day, I hope to see her again. She was pure love.
RIP Gorgeous Girl
Cody 6/13/04 - 7/2/15
