Duchess was a beautiful one year old chocolate girl who was adopted from rescue by a family who tried to do all the right things... they put her on heartworm preventative since they had been told she was heartworm free - and discovered that the tests had been mixed up and she was actually positive. The family came to us for help with the treatment costs as she became very ill very quickly after her first dose of preventative.
During her treatment she continued to show signs that she was not feeling well, including having difficulty eating. Her new family took her back to the vet where a large mass was discovered in her chest. They clinic tried to do surgery to remove the mass, but it was too large, wrapped around her heart and the surrounding large blood vessels. The very hard decision was made to let her go to the bridge.
Dedicated to Duchess
I was standing on a hillside in a field of blowing wheat,
and the spirit of a Labrador was lying at my feet.
He looked at me with kind dark eyes, an ancient wisdom shining through,
And in the essence of his being I saw love there too.
His mind did lock upon my heart as I stood there on that day
And he told me of this story about a place so far away.
I stood upon that hillside in a field of blowing wheat
and in a twinkling of a second his spirit left my feet.
His tale did put my heart at ease, my fears did fade away
about what lay ahead of me on another distant day.
I live among God's creatures now in the heavens of your mind,
So do not grieve for me, my friend, as I am with my kind
My collar is a rainbow's hue, my leash a shooting star,
My boundaries are the Milky Way where I sparkle from afar.
There are no pens or kennels her for I am not confined,
But free to roam God's heavens among the Labrador kind.
I nap the day on a snowy cloud, gentle breezes rocking me,
And dream the dreams of earthlings and how it used to be.
The trees are full of liver treats and tennis balls abound,
And milk bones line the walkways just waiting to be found.
There even is a ring set up, the grass all lush and green,
Where even Rescue Labradors become the Best of Breed.
For we're all winners in this place, we have no fault you see
And God passes out those ribbons to each one, even me.
I drink form waters laced with gold, my world a beauty to behold,
and wise old dogs do form my pride to amble at my very side.
At night I sleep in angel's arms, her wings protecting me,
And moonbeams dance about us as stardust fall on thee.
So when your life on earth is spent and you stand at heaven's gate,
Have no fear or loneliness for here you know I wait.
Author Unknown