Gabriel's Golden Wings
September 27, 1997 to July 28, 2007
 

Gabie came to live with me at the age of 8 weeks. He grew up to be a big red boy. He was very sweet, but rather shy and tender hearted. He preferred people to other dogs. Because I am a single woman, he was also extremely protective of me. No one passed my house without him letting me know they were there. And, even my Vet knew that he had to approach me slowly when at his office. If not, Gabriel would let him know he was too close to me.

He was very smart. We walked every day through my neighborhood, which is a series of beautiful parks with walking paths. He knew every inch of my neighborhood, and he would sometimes let me know which route he wanted to walk. He loved tennis balls the best. After his death, I picked up ten balls in my house. His favorite pastime was sitting by the fence in the front yard. I live downtown, and there is a lot of foot traffic. He would toss a ball or Frisbee at everyone who passed, hoping they would play a while. One day I looked outside, and a homeless man was tossing his ball for him. I opened the door, and the man said, "I love this dog". I replied that I did too.

I am a transplant coordinator, and must take calls in the night for life saving organs. Whenever that call came, Gabie always got up with me, and sat at my feet in my office while I worked. Sometimes he would look at me, as if to say "why must you be up in the middle of the night?"

He was scared of thunder and vacuum cleaners. He loved scrambled eggs and mashed potatoes. He hated going to the Vet.

I awoke at 3 am July 28th and found he was under my bed whimpering. I coaxed him from under the bed, and he looked terrible. He could barely stand. Somehow my adrenaline helped me get him in the car to take him to emergency. He was bleeding from his spleen, probably a malignancy that had ruptured. An emergency splenectomy was next, but Gabie decided that was not for him, and his heart stopped. They got him back, but then it stopped again. My Gabie was gone.

There was no face that greeted me this morning when I woke. There are no feet behind me. My heart is broken in a thousand pieces. I know it will get better, but it feels so terrible right now. I didn't get to say goodbye. So, I want to say it here. Thank you for ten of the most wonderful years I could ever have had. I was privileged to have your company and your love. I hope your life was what you wanted it to be. And if we cannot meet again, then there is no place for me when I die.