Kelly was a beautiful yellow lab. She knew it too, as she loved showing off. We would refer to her as Marilyn Monroe because she was a blond bombshell, she could put on an act when she pleased, and she loved the camera, and as you can see, the camera loved her too.
We got her in the late fall on my birthday. She loved going for a walk and just taking in all the compliments she could get. I am amazed how many people stopped us over the years commenting on how beautiful, sweet, and well trained she was. She was beautiful and really had such a great personality.
When Kelly was a puppy she had a terrible time with teething and she did pick up a bad habit that I let her get away with, teething on my fingers. She had lots of chew toys, but needed more. It was cute at first but sometimes, well those pearly whites got very sharp and it was time to find her something else to gnaw on. Her mom's fingers could take no more. Rubber chew toys didn't do it either so I ordered a 3 foot long raw hide. The thing was huge and heavy and little Kelly could bearly lift it. But she loved it, dragged it every where she went. Most of the time dragging it under her body as she tried to walk. Like all little puppies she was clumsy and to watch her drag this bone that was bigger than she was around was so funny. My mom and I didn't really want her with those bones, but she never really harmed them, she would chew and chew and never seem to get any of the rawhide chewed off. We finally found something to replace my poor fingers.
On her first long walk in the spring she was so happy. She loved having the sunshine warm her body and she decided when we got about 50 feet from home to go on strike. We normally would return from our walks, she would run in the yard a few minutes and go in to relax before dinner. On this day, she wasn't ready to go in, and chose the corner of my street to go down. Six different cars stopped thinking the dog was dying. She loved laying on her back with all four paws in the air, tail too. She would kick and play for a few minutes if you gave her the chance and then just lay there, that's the act she was doing that day. People thought I was being mean to her when I insisted she get up, but once she knew her walk was almost over and that the sun felt so good after a cold winter, she decided it was best to sunbathe a few more minutes. She had some sweet quirks to her personality, sometimes even when she knew what was expected, she decided her way was best.
She would never do her business anywhere, but home. If she coudn't be in her own yard, she would wait. She started this act at a young age and never broke it. One day she came with my mom and I to do our graving. We spent hours at the cemetery planting, digging, and watering. She had all the time to go there, but nope, not Kelly. On the way home that day, my mom wanted to stop at the grocery store. Knowing Kelly hadn't gone in hours, she told me to walk the dog in the nearby woods while she ran in for some groceries. Kelly just wouldn't give in, my mom came out and asked about her, and I said nope, we better go home. Sure enough as soon as she was out of the car she was in her yard. The look of "thank goodness" on her face. We had a similiar incident after a blizzard dropped 4 feet of snow on our area. We were happy just to get her outside, but she insisted that she have a path to her spot. She held everything in until she was happy with the path I dug for her.
She pretty much liked other animals, except horses on TV. She never met a horse in real life, but when one would come on TV she would bark at it. Any other animal was fine, but not a horse. She loved watching "Lassie" on TV. Every morning as I would get ready for work, she would sit on my bed waiting. I would have the news or something on keeping her company and one day I flipped the channel and there was "Lassie". When I got out of the shower she was sitting up glued to the TV. From that day on it was "Lassie" reruns.
She was a good dog who loved to share my bed. Basically she was good, every night she would put her two front paws up on my bed. Looking at her she looked as if she was saying her prayers. The bed was high so she needed a boost, this was her way of telling me it was time for bed. I would help her in and then it was glass of water time. Yes, as with every child, she got thristy at bedtime. I had an old plastic cup that was now deemed Kelly's water glass. I would get her a little cup and she would lap a few sips up and then it was time for her to find her spot. Three trips around the bottom of the bed and down she would go, and stay. She would wait until I was in and then wiggle close so she knew I was there with her, and not going anywhere.
One Sunday afternoon, Kelly must have been just a few months old, and finally had the full run of the house. It took my mom a while to trust her not to do anything bad inside. Kelly had her toys and never seemed interested in ripping up anything that wasn't hers. Even then she was pretty good with all her "dollies". She knew each one by name and there had to be over 30 at any given time. Her favorite Ozzie Ostrich. Although he had a thin neck and a little too easy for a dog to bite through Kelly loved him, and there were about 5 or 6 of them in her toy box. On this day she came galloping into the living room where my mom and I were watching a movie. We had heard her in the kitchen playing with her water bowl. I knew she wanted water, but I was waiting for the commerical to come on. She gallopped over to us and barked. Only this bark wasn't one we heard from her before. She didn't bark alot, but it wasn't one we had heard. A deep rough sound like WAAAA TERRRR. My mom and I looked at each other, and again Kelly barked WAAAAA TERRRRRR. Together we said, did she say Water? Sure enough I went with her, missing the movie, to see what she wanted. Yep....WAAAAA TERRRR it was. From that day on, if the water dish was empty. This may sound cruel but we had to know if that's what she was asking for, we would sometimes leave it empty, so she would have to ask. And she would. She said a lot in her life, with her actions, eyes, paws and tail, but the only word she could ever speak was WATER.
She really was special in so many ways. She loved me to sing silly songs to her, one of her favorite pastimes was going belly up for a belly rub. Standing up I would staddle her body with my legs, she would kick all four paws at me. As if to say I'm protecting my belly. Her tail would get into the act too. She had the longest legs and tail. She would wack at me with them and I would "try" and get to her belly to rub it. She loved it, I used to sing her song "Kelly Elizabeth MacDougall" Something stupid I made up one day, and she was all smiles. Dogs do smile and that stupid song made her smile. That's where her middle name came from, it just seemed to fit the song. As I would sing and rub her belly she would get so excited she would kick and wag that tail faster and faster. There were times when I had to grab them to stop her from hurting me. Then I would tell her I was going to make Paws Au Gratin out of her legs and french fry her tail. She loved that too. I would grab the legs and tail togeteher and tell her they were mine. She would smile and wiggle and know that while I had hold of her legs in one hand, the other was rubbing the sweet spot on her tummy she loved rubbed so much.
Kelly battled a thyroid problem all her life. She was so young when she got sick the thought of losing her even after just a few months was more than my mom or I could take. She became part of the family so quickly. Our Vet told us she would have to take medication every day for the problem. She was so good about it though, every night after our walk, we would come home and relax for awhile. I would take her to the kitchen and make a fuss about her being special and getting an appetizer before dinner. Even though I wasn't getting one. She would take her pill then, she didn't need anything to go with it, she was so good about it. She would sip her water and then have her dinner. She was the only dog my mom or I have ever had that would take her meds without a fuss. She felt she was special and that was enough for Kell.
People would stop their cars to tell us how beautiful she was. She loved being bathed and smelling pretty, she would never think about doing anything to get her cream colored coat or paws dirty. Kelly loved the holiday season. She would watch every move as the tree would go up. Almost smiling when things were perfect, and giving a look of disapproval if something wasn't right. As soon as the tree was placed in its proper spot she would get under the tree and get as close as she could to the nativity scene. She loved looking in to see baby Jesus in the manger. She seemed to know what the season was all about. That was her spot under the tree during the holidays. Protecting her baby Jesus. When it came time for the tree to come down, well, she moped around for hours. She also loved helping to wrap presents. Sitting herself down on the wrapping paper.
In the summer of 1998, Kelly wasn't feeling good. My mom had noticed she was wetting in her crate. That wasn't Kelly. The look on the dogs face was one of shame. She just couldn't believe it herself. I took her to the Vet and he said the years of thyroid problems had weakened her kidneys. Tests showed she was losing control and that she may not have a lot of time left. I don't think anyone could be as devasted as mom and I were, we cried and Kelly sat there with her head on my knee. Even the vet started to cry. He had watched and cared for this beautiful creature all her life. I had taken a sleeping bag into the kitchen after that and slept with her. Next to her crate. She loved and felt safe in there, and enjoyed naps there as well as on my bed. She was always with me in my bed, so as I did after she came home from being fixed, my nights were spent on the kitchen floor holding her paw. The vet gave her very little chance, but there was some. So we took it. He sent her home Labor Day weekend with new medication and told us that if it helped she could live a while longer, if not we had to do what's best for her. My mom had tarps down everywhere for accidents. That Labor Day weekend Kelly and I slept on the porch to be close to outside. My mom kept telling her it was ok to go on the porch if she had too. Kelly wanted her yard though and unless caught totally off guard wanted to go down the stairs to her place. Her rear legs gave out on Sunday night and we struggled to get her in and out. Kelly was miserable and the thought of Tuesday was killing me. My mom and I spent all Labor day weekend caring for her. When the legs gave out I knew there was no more hope. I made a little cart for her,her KellyMobile so she could sit and ride up and down the yard on it. She loved to sit in the yard evenings with my mom so she had a few more nights of that. On Tuesday afternoon it was time. The vet was on the next block and I put Kelly in her cart and mom and I walked her over to the Vet. There were two Vets in our animal hospital. Kelly loved the one, she was a flirt and he gave her so much attention. He loved her and even he said he couldn't do it. The other Vet came in. He has always been stern and business like in his dealings with the dogs. He told us what would happen, gave us the choice of walking away, or staying with her. I couldn't leave my baby there alone. So I said I'm staying. My mom agreed and we held her as she took her last breath. Her paws in my hand and my other hand rubbing her tummy. Singing her that stupid song. Even the stern vet was in tears. That was at 3PM 9-8-98. He told us we could stay as long as we wanted with her. There was no rush to say goodbye. I sat on the floor in the vets office holding this dear wonderful faithful friend in my arms for the next 3 hours. They came in checking on us telling us they were closing, but we didn't have to leave. There is someone always there and we could have them let us out. Kelly and I had done a lot of walking over the past 9 years, but the walk around that block that night with my mom, and an empty KellyMobile was the longest walk I have ever made. Mom and I held on to each other in just disbelief that after 9 years of being a family together, Kelly wasn't with us. We sat on the porch all night, we could see the animal hospital from our front porch and I couldn't take my eyes from there. My heart, my angel was laying over there and I wanted nothing more than to go back and hold her.
Kelly was a joy to have in our lives for 9 wonderful years. She's missed every day because she was very much apart of our family. Two years after her death her remains were placed in with my mom and they rest together eternally.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I feel I have been so blessed with the wonderful dogs I have had in my lifetime. Starting with two of the wildest and craziest beagles ever. I loved them both dearly. Then I was again blessed with two of sweetest and gentlest dogs anyone could ever ask for, my loving Kelly and dear sweet Poko. Please visit his memorial also. He was a great dog.
Poko
After Kelly I was blessed to have another lab, a black one named Kali
Kali
And my other beloved fur babies
My Beloved Pets
We got her in the late fall on my birthday. She loved going for a walk and just taking in all the compliments she could get. I am amazed how many people stopped us over the years commenting on how beautiful, sweet, and well trained she was. She was beautiful and really had such a great personality.
When Kelly was a puppy she had a terrible time with teething and she did pick up a bad habit that I let her get away with, teething on my fingers. She had lots of chew toys, but needed more. It was cute at first but sometimes, well those pearly whites got very sharp and it was time to find her something else to gnaw on. Her mom's fingers could take no more. Rubber chew toys didn't do it either so I ordered a 3 foot long raw hide. The thing was huge and heavy and little Kelly could bearly lift it. But she loved it, dragged it every where she went. Most of the time dragging it under her body as she tried to walk. Like all little puppies she was clumsy and to watch her drag this bone that was bigger than she was around was so funny. My mom and I didn't really want her with those bones, but she never really harmed them, she would chew and chew and never seem to get any of the rawhide chewed off. We finally found something to replace my poor fingers.
On her first long walk in the spring she was so happy. She loved having the sunshine warm her body and she decided when we got about 50 feet from home to go on strike. We normally would return from our walks, she would run in the yard a few minutes and go in to relax before dinner. On this day, she wasn't ready to go in, and chose the corner of my street to go down. Six different cars stopped thinking the dog was dying. She loved laying on her back with all four paws in the air, tail too. She would kick and play for a few minutes if you gave her the chance and then just lay there, that's the act she was doing that day. People thought I was being mean to her when I insisted she get up, but once she knew her walk was almost over and that the sun felt so good after a cold winter, she decided it was best to sunbathe a few more minutes. She had some sweet quirks to her personality, sometimes even when she knew what was expected, she decided her way was best.
She would never do her business anywhere, but home. If she coudn't be in her own yard, she would wait. She started this act at a young age and never broke it. One day she came with my mom and I to do our graving. We spent hours at the cemetery planting, digging, and watering. She had all the time to go there, but nope, not Kelly. On the way home that day, my mom wanted to stop at the grocery store. Knowing Kelly hadn't gone in hours, she told me to walk the dog in the nearby woods while she ran in for some groceries. Kelly just wouldn't give in, my mom came out and asked about her, and I said nope, we better go home. Sure enough as soon as she was out of the car she was in her yard. The look of "thank goodness" on her face. We had a similiar incident after a blizzard dropped 4 feet of snow on our area. We were happy just to get her outside, but she insisted that she have a path to her spot. She held everything in until she was happy with the path I dug for her.
She pretty much liked other animals, except horses on TV. She never met a horse in real life, but when one would come on TV she would bark at it. Any other animal was fine, but not a horse. She loved watching "Lassie" on TV. Every morning as I would get ready for work, she would sit on my bed waiting. I would have the news or something on keeping her company and one day I flipped the channel and there was "Lassie". When I got out of the shower she was sitting up glued to the TV. From that day on it was "Lassie" reruns.
She was a good dog who loved to share my bed. Basically she was good, every night she would put her two front paws up on my bed. Looking at her she looked as if she was saying her prayers. The bed was high so she needed a boost, this was her way of telling me it was time for bed. I would help her in and then it was glass of water time. Yes, as with every child, she got thristy at bedtime. I had an old plastic cup that was now deemed Kelly's water glass. I would get her a little cup and she would lap a few sips up and then it was time for her to find her spot. Three trips around the bottom of the bed and down she would go, and stay. She would wait until I was in and then wiggle close so she knew I was there with her, and not going anywhere.
One Sunday afternoon, Kelly must have been just a few months old, and finally had the full run of the house. It took my mom a while to trust her not to do anything bad inside. Kelly had her toys and never seemed interested in ripping up anything that wasn't hers. Even then she was pretty good with all her "dollies". She knew each one by name and there had to be over 30 at any given time. Her favorite Ozzie Ostrich. Although he had a thin neck and a little too easy for a dog to bite through Kelly loved him, and there were about 5 or 6 of them in her toy box. On this day she came galloping into the living room where my mom and I were watching a movie. We had heard her in the kitchen playing with her water bowl. I knew she wanted water, but I was waiting for the commerical to come on. She gallopped over to us and barked. Only this bark wasn't one we heard from her before. She didn't bark alot, but it wasn't one we had heard. A deep rough sound like WAAAA TERRRR. My mom and I looked at each other, and again Kelly barked WAAAAA TERRRRRR. Together we said, did she say Water? Sure enough I went with her, missing the movie, to see what she wanted. Yep....WAAAAA TERRRR it was. From that day on, if the water dish was empty. This may sound cruel but we had to know if that's what she was asking for, we would sometimes leave it empty, so she would have to ask. And she would. She said a lot in her life, with her actions, eyes, paws and tail, but the only word she could ever speak was WATER.
She really was special in so many ways. She loved me to sing silly songs to her, one of her favorite pastimes was going belly up for a belly rub. Standing up I would staddle her body with my legs, she would kick all four paws at me. As if to say I'm protecting my belly. Her tail would get into the act too. She had the longest legs and tail. She would wack at me with them and I would "try" and get to her belly to rub it. She loved it, I used to sing her song "Kelly Elizabeth MacDougall" Something stupid I made up one day, and she was all smiles. Dogs do smile and that stupid song made her smile. That's where her middle name came from, it just seemed to fit the song. As I would sing and rub her belly she would get so excited she would kick and wag that tail faster and faster. There were times when I had to grab them to stop her from hurting me. Then I would tell her I was going to make Paws Au Gratin out of her legs and french fry her tail. She loved that too. I would grab the legs and tail togeteher and tell her they were mine. She would smile and wiggle and know that while I had hold of her legs in one hand, the other was rubbing the sweet spot on her tummy she loved rubbed so much.
Kelly battled a thyroid problem all her life. She was so young when she got sick the thought of losing her even after just a few months was more than my mom or I could take. She became part of the family so quickly. Our Vet told us she would have to take medication every day for the problem. She was so good about it though, every night after our walk, we would come home and relax for awhile. I would take her to the kitchen and make a fuss about her being special and getting an appetizer before dinner. Even though I wasn't getting one. She would take her pill then, she didn't need anything to go with it, she was so good about it. She would sip her water and then have her dinner. She was the only dog my mom or I have ever had that would take her meds without a fuss. She felt she was special and that was enough for Kell.
People would stop their cars to tell us how beautiful she was. She loved being bathed and smelling pretty, she would never think about doing anything to get her cream colored coat or paws dirty. Kelly loved the holiday season. She would watch every move as the tree would go up. Almost smiling when things were perfect, and giving a look of disapproval if something wasn't right. As soon as the tree was placed in its proper spot she would get under the tree and get as close as she could to the nativity scene. She loved looking in to see baby Jesus in the manger. She seemed to know what the season was all about. That was her spot under the tree during the holidays. Protecting her baby Jesus. When it came time for the tree to come down, well, she moped around for hours. She also loved helping to wrap presents. Sitting herself down on the wrapping paper.
In the summer of 1998, Kelly wasn't feeling good. My mom had noticed she was wetting in her crate. That wasn't Kelly. The look on the dogs face was one of shame. She just couldn't believe it herself. I took her to the Vet and he said the years of thyroid problems had weakened her kidneys. Tests showed she was losing control and that she may not have a lot of time left. I don't think anyone could be as devasted as mom and I were, we cried and Kelly sat there with her head on my knee. Even the vet started to cry. He had watched and cared for this beautiful creature all her life. I had taken a sleeping bag into the kitchen after that and slept with her. Next to her crate. She loved and felt safe in there, and enjoyed naps there as well as on my bed. She was always with me in my bed, so as I did after she came home from being fixed, my nights were spent on the kitchen floor holding her paw. The vet gave her very little chance, but there was some. So we took it. He sent her home Labor Day weekend with new medication and told us that if it helped she could live a while longer, if not we had to do what's best for her. My mom had tarps down everywhere for accidents. That Labor Day weekend Kelly and I slept on the porch to be close to outside. My mom kept telling her it was ok to go on the porch if she had too. Kelly wanted her yard though and unless caught totally off guard wanted to go down the stairs to her place. Her rear legs gave out on Sunday night and we struggled to get her in and out. Kelly was miserable and the thought of Tuesday was killing me. My mom and I spent all Labor day weekend caring for her. When the legs gave out I knew there was no more hope. I made a little cart for her,her KellyMobile so she could sit and ride up and down the yard on it. She loved to sit in the yard evenings with my mom so she had a few more nights of that. On Tuesday afternoon it was time. The vet was on the next block and I put Kelly in her cart and mom and I walked her over to the Vet. There were two Vets in our animal hospital. Kelly loved the one, she was a flirt and he gave her so much attention. He loved her and even he said he couldn't do it. The other Vet came in. He has always been stern and business like in his dealings with the dogs. He told us what would happen, gave us the choice of walking away, or staying with her. I couldn't leave my baby there alone. So I said I'm staying. My mom agreed and we held her as she took her last breath. Her paws in my hand and my other hand rubbing her tummy. Singing her that stupid song. Even the stern vet was in tears. That was at 3PM 9-8-98. He told us we could stay as long as we wanted with her. There was no rush to say goodbye. I sat on the floor in the vets office holding this dear wonderful faithful friend in my arms for the next 3 hours. They came in checking on us telling us they were closing, but we didn't have to leave. There is someone always there and we could have them let us out. Kelly and I had done a lot of walking over the past 9 years, but the walk around that block that night with my mom, and an empty KellyMobile was the longest walk I have ever made. Mom and I held on to each other in just disbelief that after 9 years of being a family together, Kelly wasn't with us. We sat on the porch all night, we could see the animal hospital from our front porch and I couldn't take my eyes from there. My heart, my angel was laying over there and I wanted nothing more than to go back and hold her.
Kelly was a joy to have in our lives for 9 wonderful years. She's missed every day because she was very much apart of our family. Two years after her death her remains were placed in with my mom and they rest together eternally.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I feel I have been so blessed with the wonderful dogs I have had in my lifetime. Starting with two of the wildest and craziest beagles ever. I loved them both dearly. Then I was again blessed with two of sweetest and gentlest dogs anyone could ever ask for, my loving Kelly and dear sweet Poko. Please visit his memorial also. He was a great dog.
Poko
After Kelly I was blessed to have another lab, a black one named Kali
Kali
And my other beloved fur babies
My Beloved Pets
Kelly was a beautiful yellow lab. She knew it too, as she loved showing off. We would refer to her as Marilyn Monroe because she was a blond bombshell, she could put on an act when she pleased, and she loved the camera, and as you can see, the camera loved her too.
We got her in the late fall on my birthday. She loved going for a walk and just taking in all the compliments she could get. I am amazed how many people stopped us over the years commenting on how beautiful, sweet, and well trained she was. She was beautiful and really had such a great personality.
When Kelly was a puppy she had a terrible time with teething and she did pick up a bad habit that I let her get away with, teething on my fingers. She had lots of chew toys, but needed more. It was cute at first but sometimes, well those pearly whites got very sharp and it was time to find her something else to gnaw on. Her mom's fingers could take no more. Rubber chew toys didn't do it either so I ordered a 3 foot long raw hide. The thing was huge and heavy and little Kelly could bearly lift it. But she loved it, dragged it every where she went. Most of the time dragging it under her body as she tried to walk. Like all little puppies she was clumsy and to watch her drag this bone that was bigger than she was around was so funny. My mom and I didn't really want her with those bones, but she never really harmed them, she would chew and chew and never seem to get any of the rawhide chewed off. We finally found something to replace my poor fingers.
On her first long walk in the spring she was so happy. She loved having the sunshine warm her body and she decided when we got about 50 feet from home to go on strike. We normally would return from our walks, she would run in the yard a few minutes and go in to relax before dinner. On this day, she wasn't ready to go in, and chose the corner of my street to go down. Six different cars stopped thinking the dog was dying. She loved laying on her back with all four paws in the air, tail too. She would kick and play for a few minutes if you gave her the chance and then just lay there, that's the act she was doing that day. People thought I was being mean to her when I insisted she get up, but once she knew her walk was almost over and that the sun felt so good after a cold winter, she decided it was best to sunbathe a few more minutes. She had some sweet quirks to her personality, sometimes even when she knew what was expected, she decided her way was best.
She would never do her business anywhere, but home. If she coudn't be in her own yard, she would wait. She started this act at a young age and never broke it. One day she came with my mom and I to do our graving. We spent hours at the cemetery planting, digging, and watering. She had all the time to go there, but nope, not Kelly. On the way home that day, my mom wanted to stop at the grocery store. Knowing Kelly hadn't gone in hours, she told me to walk the dog in the nearby woods while she ran in for some groceries. Kelly just wouldn't give in, my mom came out and asked about her, and I said nope, we better go home. Sure enough as soon as she was out of the car she was in her yard. The look of "thank goodness" on her face. We had a similiar incident after a blizzard dropped 4 feet of snow on our area. We were happy just to get her outside, but she insisted that she have a path to her spot. She held everything in until she was happy with the path I dug for her.
She pretty much liked other animals, except horses on TV. She never met a horse in real life, but when one would come on TV she would bark at it. Any other animal was fine, but not a horse. She loved watching "Lassie" on TV. Every morning as I would get ready for work, she would sit on my bed waiting. I would have the news or something on keeping her company and one day I flipped the channel and there was "Lassie". When I got out of the shower she was sitting up glued to the TV. From that day on it was "Lassie" reruns.
She was a good dog who loved to share my bed. Basically she was good, every night she would put her two front paws up on my bed. Looking at her she looked as if she was saying her prayers. The bed was high so she needed a boost, this was her way of telling me it was time for bed. I would help her in and then it was glass of water time. Yes, as with every child, she got thristy at bedtime. I had an old plastic cup that was now deemed Kelly's water glass. I would get her a little cup and she would lap a few sips up and then it was time for her to find her spot. Three trips around the bottom of the bed and down she would go, and stay. She would wait until I was in and then wiggle close so she knew I was there with her, and not going anywhere.
One Sunday afternoon, Kelly must have been just a few months old, and finally had the full run of the house. It took my mom a while to trust her not to do anything bad inside. Kelly had her toys and never seemed interested in ripping up anything that wasn't hers. Even then she was pretty good with all her "dollies". She knew each one by name and there had to be over 30 at any given time. Her favorite Ozzie Ostrich. Although he had a thin neck and a little too easy for a dog to bite through Kelly loved him, and there were about 5 or 6 of them in her toy box. On this day she came galloping into the living room where my mom and I were watching a movie. We had heard her in the kitchen playing with her water bowl. I knew she wanted water, but I was waiting for the commerical to come on. She gallopped over to us and barked. Only this bark wasn't one we heard from her before. She didn't bark alot, but it wasn't one we had heard. A deep rough sound like WAAAA TERRRR. My mom and I looked at each other, and again Kelly barked WAAAAA TERRRRRR. Together we said, did she say Water? Sure enough I went with her, missing the movie, to see what she wanted. Yep....WAAAAA TERRRR it was. From that day on, if the water dish was empty. This may sound cruel but we had to know if that's what she was asking for, we would sometimes leave it empty, so she would have to ask. And she would. She said a lot in her life, with her actions, eyes, paws and tail, but the only word she could ever speak was WATER.
She really was special in so many ways. She loved me to sing silly songs to her, one of her favorite pastimes was going belly up for a belly rub. Standing up I would staddle her body with my legs, she would kick all four paws at me. As if to say I'm protecting my belly. Her tail would get into the act too. She had the longest legs and tail. She would wack at me with them and I would "try" and get to her belly to rub it. She loved it, I used to sing her song "Kelly Elizabeth MacDougall" Something stupid I made up one day, and she was all smiles. Dogs do smile and that stupid song made her smile. That's where her middle name came from, it just seemed to fit the song. As I would sing and rub her belly she would get so excited she would kick and wag that tail faster and faster. There were times when I had to grab them to stop her from hurting me. Then I would tell her I was going to make Paws Au Gratin out of her legs and french fry her tail. She loved that too. I would grab the legs and tail togeteher and tell her they were mine. She would smile and wiggle and know that while I had hold of her legs in one hand, the other was rubbing the sweet spot on her tummy she loved rubbed so much.
Kelly battled a thyroid problem all her life. She was so young when she got sick the thought of losing her even after just a few months was more than my mom or I could take. She became part of the family so quickly. Our Vet told us she would have to take medication every day for the problem. She was so good about it though, every night after our walk, we would come home and relax for awhile. I would take her to the kitchen and make a fuss about her being special and getting an appetizer before dinner. Even though I wasn't getting one. She would take her pill then, she didn't need anything to go with it, she was so good about it. She would sip her water and then have her dinner. She was the only dog my mom or I have ever had that would take her meds without a fuss. She felt she was special and that was enough for Kell.
People would stop their cars to tell us how beautiful she was. She loved being bathed and smelling pretty, she would never think about doing anything to get her cream colored coat or paws dirty. Kelly loved the holiday season. She would watch every move as the tree would go up. Almost smiling when things were perfect, and giving a look of disapproval if something wasn't right. As soon as the tree was placed in its proper spot she would get under the tree and get as close as she could to the nativity scene. She loved looking in to see baby Jesus in the manger. She seemed to know what the season was all about. That was her spot under the tree during the holidays. Protecting her baby Jesus. When it came time for the tree to come down, well, she moped around for hours. She also loved helping to wrap presents. Sitting herself down on the wrapping paper.
In the summer of 1998, Kelly wasn't feeling good. My mom had noticed she was wetting in her crate. That wasn't Kelly. The look on the dogs face was one of shame. She just couldn't believe it herself. I took her to the Vet and he said the years of thyroid problems had weakened her kidneys. Tests showed she was losing control and that she may not have a lot of time left. I don't think anyone could be as devasted as mom and I were, we cried and Kelly sat there with her head on my knee. Even the vet started to cry. He had watched and cared for this beautiful creature all her life. I had taken a sleeping bag into the kitchen after that and slept with her. Next to her crate. She loved and felt safe in there, and enjoyed naps there as well as on my bed. She was always with me in my bed, so as I did after she came home from being fixed, my nights were spent on the kitchen floor holding her paw. The vet gave her very little chance, but there was some. So we took it. He sent her home Labor Day weekend with new medication and told us that if it helped she could live a while longer, if not we had to do what's best for her. My mom had tarps down everywhere for accidents. That Labor Day weekend Kelly and I slept on the porch to be close to outside. My mom kept telling her it was ok to go on the porch if she had too. Kelly wanted her yard though and unless caught totally off guard wanted to go down the stairs to her place. Her rear legs gave out on Sunday night and we struggled to get her in and out. Kelly was miserable and the thought of Tuesday was killing me. My mom and I spent all Labor day weekend caring for her. When the legs gave out I knew there was no more hope. I made a little cart for her,her KellyMobile so she could sit and ride up and down the yard on it. She loved to sit in the yard evenings with my mom so she had a few more nights of that. On Tuesday afternoon it was time. The vet was on the next block and I put Kelly in her cart and mom and I walked her over to the Vet. There were two Vets in our animal hospital. Kelly loved the one, she was a flirt and he gave her so much attention. He loved her and even he said he couldn't do it. The other Vet came in. He has always been stern and business like in his dealings with the dogs. He told us what would happen, gave us the choice of walking away, or staying with her. I couldn't leave my baby there alone. So I said I'm staying. My mom agreed and we held her as she took her last breath. Her paws in my hand and my other hand rubbing her tummy. Singing her that stupid song. Even the stern vet was in tears. That was at 3PM 9-8-98. He told us we could stay as long as we wanted with her. There was no rush to say goodbye. I sat on the floor in the vets office holding this dear wonderful faithful friend in my arms for the next 3 hours. They came in checking on us telling us they were closing, but we didn't have to leave. There is someone always there and we could have them let us out. Kelly and I had done a lot of walking over the past 9 years, but the walk around that block that night with my mom, and an empty KellyMobile was the longest walk I have ever made. Mom and I held on to each other in just disbelief that after 9 years of being a family together, Kelly wasn't with us. We sat on the porch all night, we could see the animal hospital from our front porch and I couldn't take my eyes from there. My heart, my angel was laying over there and I wanted nothing more than to go back and hold her.
Kelly was a joy to have in our lives for 9 wonderful years. She's missed every day because she was very much apart of our family. Two years after her death her remains were placed in with my mom and they rest together eternally.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I feel I have been so blessed with the wonderful dogs I have had in my lifetime. Starting with two of the wildest and craziest beagles ever. I loved them both dearly. Then I was again blessed with two of sweetest and gentlest dogs anyone could ever ask for, my loving Kelly and dear sweet Poko. Please visit his memorial also. He was a great dog.
Poko
After Kelly I was blessed to have another lab, a black one named Kali
Kali
And my other beloved fur babies
My Beloved Pets
We got her in the late fall on my birthday. She loved going for a walk and just taking in all the compliments she could get. I am amazed how many people stopped us over the years commenting on how beautiful, sweet, and well trained she was. She was beautiful and really had such a great personality.
When Kelly was a puppy she had a terrible time with teething and she did pick up a bad habit that I let her get away with, teething on my fingers. She had lots of chew toys, but needed more. It was cute at first but sometimes, well those pearly whites got very sharp and it was time to find her something else to gnaw on. Her mom's fingers could take no more. Rubber chew toys didn't do it either so I ordered a 3 foot long raw hide. The thing was huge and heavy and little Kelly could bearly lift it. But she loved it, dragged it every where she went. Most of the time dragging it under her body as she tried to walk. Like all little puppies she was clumsy and to watch her drag this bone that was bigger than she was around was so funny. My mom and I didn't really want her with those bones, but she never really harmed them, she would chew and chew and never seem to get any of the rawhide chewed off. We finally found something to replace my poor fingers.
On her first long walk in the spring she was so happy. She loved having the sunshine warm her body and she decided when we got about 50 feet from home to go on strike. We normally would return from our walks, she would run in the yard a few minutes and go in to relax before dinner. On this day, she wasn't ready to go in, and chose the corner of my street to go down. Six different cars stopped thinking the dog was dying. She loved laying on her back with all four paws in the air, tail too. She would kick and play for a few minutes if you gave her the chance and then just lay there, that's the act she was doing that day. People thought I was being mean to her when I insisted she get up, but once she knew her walk was almost over and that the sun felt so good after a cold winter, she decided it was best to sunbathe a few more minutes. She had some sweet quirks to her personality, sometimes even when she knew what was expected, she decided her way was best.
She would never do her business anywhere, but home. If she coudn't be in her own yard, she would wait. She started this act at a young age and never broke it. One day she came with my mom and I to do our graving. We spent hours at the cemetery planting, digging, and watering. She had all the time to go there, but nope, not Kelly. On the way home that day, my mom wanted to stop at the grocery store. Knowing Kelly hadn't gone in hours, she told me to walk the dog in the nearby woods while she ran in for some groceries. Kelly just wouldn't give in, my mom came out and asked about her, and I said nope, we better go home. Sure enough as soon as she was out of the car she was in her yard. The look of "thank goodness" on her face. We had a similiar incident after a blizzard dropped 4 feet of snow on our area. We were happy just to get her outside, but she insisted that she have a path to her spot. She held everything in until she was happy with the path I dug for her.
She pretty much liked other animals, except horses on TV. She never met a horse in real life, but when one would come on TV she would bark at it. Any other animal was fine, but not a horse. She loved watching "Lassie" on TV. Every morning as I would get ready for work, she would sit on my bed waiting. I would have the news or something on keeping her company and one day I flipped the channel and there was "Lassie". When I got out of the shower she was sitting up glued to the TV. From that day on it was "Lassie" reruns.
She was a good dog who loved to share my bed. Basically she was good, every night she would put her two front paws up on my bed. Looking at her she looked as if she was saying her prayers. The bed was high so she needed a boost, this was her way of telling me it was time for bed. I would help her in and then it was glass of water time. Yes, as with every child, she got thristy at bedtime. I had an old plastic cup that was now deemed Kelly's water glass. I would get her a little cup and she would lap a few sips up and then it was time for her to find her spot. Three trips around the bottom of the bed and down she would go, and stay. She would wait until I was in and then wiggle close so she knew I was there with her, and not going anywhere.
One Sunday afternoon, Kelly must have been just a few months old, and finally had the full run of the house. It took my mom a while to trust her not to do anything bad inside. Kelly had her toys and never seemed interested in ripping up anything that wasn't hers. Even then she was pretty good with all her "dollies". She knew each one by name and there had to be over 30 at any given time. Her favorite Ozzie Ostrich. Although he had a thin neck and a little too easy for a dog to bite through Kelly loved him, and there were about 5 or 6 of them in her toy box. On this day she came galloping into the living room where my mom and I were watching a movie. We had heard her in the kitchen playing with her water bowl. I knew she wanted water, but I was waiting for the commerical to come on. She gallopped over to us and barked. Only this bark wasn't one we heard from her before. She didn't bark alot, but it wasn't one we had heard. A deep rough sound like WAAAA TERRRR. My mom and I looked at each other, and again Kelly barked WAAAAA TERRRRRR. Together we said, did she say Water? Sure enough I went with her, missing the movie, to see what she wanted. Yep....WAAAAA TERRRR it was. From that day on, if the water dish was empty. This may sound cruel but we had to know if that's what she was asking for, we would sometimes leave it empty, so she would have to ask. And she would. She said a lot in her life, with her actions, eyes, paws and tail, but the only word she could ever speak was WATER.
She really was special in so many ways. She loved me to sing silly songs to her, one of her favorite pastimes was going belly up for a belly rub. Standing up I would staddle her body with my legs, she would kick all four paws at me. As if to say I'm protecting my belly. Her tail would get into the act too. She had the longest legs and tail. She would wack at me with them and I would "try" and get to her belly to rub it. She loved it, I used to sing her song "Kelly Elizabeth MacDougall" Something stupid I made up one day, and she was all smiles. Dogs do smile and that stupid song made her smile. That's where her middle name came from, it just seemed to fit the song. As I would sing and rub her belly she would get so excited she would kick and wag that tail faster and faster. There were times when I had to grab them to stop her from hurting me. Then I would tell her I was going to make Paws Au Gratin out of her legs and french fry her tail. She loved that too. I would grab the legs and tail togeteher and tell her they were mine. She would smile and wiggle and know that while I had hold of her legs in one hand, the other was rubbing the sweet spot on her tummy she loved rubbed so much.
Kelly battled a thyroid problem all her life. She was so young when she got sick the thought of losing her even after just a few months was more than my mom or I could take. She became part of the family so quickly. Our Vet told us she would have to take medication every day for the problem. She was so good about it though, every night after our walk, we would come home and relax for awhile. I would take her to the kitchen and make a fuss about her being special and getting an appetizer before dinner. Even though I wasn't getting one. She would take her pill then, she didn't need anything to go with it, she was so good about it. She would sip her water and then have her dinner. She was the only dog my mom or I have ever had that would take her meds without a fuss. She felt she was special and that was enough for Kell.
People would stop their cars to tell us how beautiful she was. She loved being bathed and smelling pretty, she would never think about doing anything to get her cream colored coat or paws dirty. Kelly loved the holiday season. She would watch every move as the tree would go up. Almost smiling when things were perfect, and giving a look of disapproval if something wasn't right. As soon as the tree was placed in its proper spot she would get under the tree and get as close as she could to the nativity scene. She loved looking in to see baby Jesus in the manger. She seemed to know what the season was all about. That was her spot under the tree during the holidays. Protecting her baby Jesus. When it came time for the tree to come down, well, she moped around for hours. She also loved helping to wrap presents. Sitting herself down on the wrapping paper.
In the summer of 1998, Kelly wasn't feeling good. My mom had noticed she was wetting in her crate. That wasn't Kelly. The look on the dogs face was one of shame. She just couldn't believe it herself. I took her to the Vet and he said the years of thyroid problems had weakened her kidneys. Tests showed she was losing control and that she may not have a lot of time left. I don't think anyone could be as devasted as mom and I were, we cried and Kelly sat there with her head on my knee. Even the vet started to cry. He had watched and cared for this beautiful creature all her life. I had taken a sleeping bag into the kitchen after that and slept with her. Next to her crate. She loved and felt safe in there, and enjoyed naps there as well as on my bed. She was always with me in my bed, so as I did after she came home from being fixed, my nights were spent on the kitchen floor holding her paw. The vet gave her very little chance, but there was some. So we took it. He sent her home Labor Day weekend with new medication and told us that if it helped she could live a while longer, if not we had to do what's best for her. My mom had tarps down everywhere for accidents. That Labor Day weekend Kelly and I slept on the porch to be close to outside. My mom kept telling her it was ok to go on the porch if she had too. Kelly wanted her yard though and unless caught totally off guard wanted to go down the stairs to her place. Her rear legs gave out on Sunday night and we struggled to get her in and out. Kelly was miserable and the thought of Tuesday was killing me. My mom and I spent all Labor day weekend caring for her. When the legs gave out I knew there was no more hope. I made a little cart for her,her KellyMobile so she could sit and ride up and down the yard on it. She loved to sit in the yard evenings with my mom so she had a few more nights of that. On Tuesday afternoon it was time. The vet was on the next block and I put Kelly in her cart and mom and I walked her over to the Vet. There were two Vets in our animal hospital. Kelly loved the one, she was a flirt and he gave her so much attention. He loved her and even he said he couldn't do it. The other Vet came in. He has always been stern and business like in his dealings with the dogs. He told us what would happen, gave us the choice of walking away, or staying with her. I couldn't leave my baby there alone. So I said I'm staying. My mom agreed and we held her as she took her last breath. Her paws in my hand and my other hand rubbing her tummy. Singing her that stupid song. Even the stern vet was in tears. That was at 3PM 9-8-98. He told us we could stay as long as we wanted with her. There was no rush to say goodbye. I sat on the floor in the vets office holding this dear wonderful faithful friend in my arms for the next 3 hours. They came in checking on us telling us they were closing, but we didn't have to leave. There is someone always there and we could have them let us out. Kelly and I had done a lot of walking over the past 9 years, but the walk around that block that night with my mom, and an empty KellyMobile was the longest walk I have ever made. Mom and I held on to each other in just disbelief that after 9 years of being a family together, Kelly wasn't with us. We sat on the porch all night, we could see the animal hospital from our front porch and I couldn't take my eyes from there. My heart, my angel was laying over there and I wanted nothing more than to go back and hold her.
Kelly was a joy to have in our lives for 9 wonderful years. She's missed every day because she was very much apart of our family. Two years after her death her remains were placed in with my mom and they rest together eternally.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I feel I have been so blessed with the wonderful dogs I have had in my lifetime. Starting with two of the wildest and craziest beagles ever. I loved them both dearly. Then I was again blessed with two of sweetest and gentlest dogs anyone could ever ask for, my loving Kelly and dear sweet Poko. Please visit his memorial also. He was a great dog.
Poko
After Kelly I was blessed to have another lab, a black one named Kali
Kali
And my other beloved fur babies
My Beloved Pets
