Goodbye Cousin Arry

Some of you regular readers may recognize this face. This is Arry - my mother-in-laws dog. She was given to my MIL 2.5 years ago. At the time, my MIL was looking for a lab puppy. One of her friends talked her into rescuing Arry, a hound mix, instead. Arry was living with a large group of dogs and was completely overwhelmed by them. She had a very timid spirit when she first came to live with my inlaws. But no one could love a dog and bring out their best more than my MIL. In time, Arry gained confidence and became very affectionate.

When Arry wouldn't eat my MIL coaxed her into eating with scrambled eggs fed to her by hand. When Arry was hit by a car my MIL slept on the floor with her for weeks to keep her calm and comfortable.

Last week, Arry had the first of many seizures. As the seizures became increasingly frequent and intense and Arry's fear of oncoming seizures grew, my MIL had to make the heartbreaking choice to let Arry go.

Millie and Arry were the very best of friends. I wanted to include a tribute on my blog and went through pictures to find a couple to share. In no time, I had 50+ pulled. I did narrow it down some, but I apologizem I couldn't stop adding them. Seeing their relationship spelled out in these pictures was almost my undoing.

Sticks were their obsession. Racing to be the one to carry it back to be thrown again..

 Often they ended up bringing the sticks back together

  The explorers

Happy is my MIL's old lab (in the back). He didn't always have time (or patience) for the girls' antics. Happy is 10+ years old and slowing down. We have talked recently that he probably won't be around much longer. I am still in shock that Arry is gone first.

Arry encouraging Millie to come up the stairs to the "treehouse" or maybe daring her to try to pass. Hard telling with those goofballs.

 Begging for snacks together.

 Playing in the creek with my sister's dogs. The pack absolutely loved every minute of that day.

 

When Millie and Zommie play, Zommie is very vocal. It sounds like Millie is killing her (or she is going to kill Millie). But make no mistake, Zommie is the alpha dog and she could put Millie in her place at any moment. When Millie starts up with Zommie around Arry, Arry gets concerned and then tries to protect Zommie by "attacking" Millie. Her favorite move is to grab Millie's back leg (like in the picture below).

 Notice Millie and Arry playing in their own world as the campout happens around them.

 The joy.... Arry had a fantastic life with my inlaws.

Arry and Millie adored each other. I simply can not believe they will have no more time together. When we pull up the the farm, Arry will not race out thrilled that Cousin Millie is there for a visit. The first thing Arry would do when we arrived was race to the car and wait for Millie to get out then race off to grab a leaf or twig or something to entice Millie to chase her. I have a gazillion pictures and memories of them together, but when I think there will be no new ones and it breaks my heart.

Although, Arry was not the dog my MIL would have chosen, in her words tonight "Arry turned out to be the perfect dog for me."

Goodbye, sweet Cousin Arry. Millie is going to miss you.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

While out at the farm last night, my MIL and I took about a 15 minute walk with Millie and Happy. I still had half my Jedi time to finish. So when my sister told me that she had made some potato soup I decided to walk over to her house to pick it up (instead of hopping in the car). I generally, don't walk in the evening after dark. For some odd reason I am much more comfortable walking in the dark at 5 a.m. than 7:30 p.m. Weird. My sister lives a 1/2 mile away so it turned out to be the perfect amount of time to finish my 30 minute goal for the day.

I didn't see it, but I sure smelled that they had finally resurfaced that one stretch of road which has desperately needed it. I could also feel how much smoother it was under my feet. Next time I walk that way in daylight, there will be pictures :)

What are your plans for the weekend?  Tonight is my nephew's last regular season game...then playoffs!