Ivy
Ivy Ivy spent a year with our family and probably thought of us, not as her foster family, but her forever family. Two times she was adopted and two times she was returned. She just didn’t like those two places! So she came back to us and you could just see her smile and relax when she returned home. She came to us last June. She had stitches on her belly and eyelids, very underweight and had hip problems. She had gone through two surgeries before she even got to us! On a visit to the vet, it was discovered she had heartworm. Just another blow to this sweet dog. She endured the harsh treatment with a smile on her face. As sick as she was, and with strict instructions to not let her run around, she would still sneak outside and chase a squirrel or two before we could reign her in. She never complained about anything. After she got the all clear from her treatment, she started having issues with her bladder….we had a whole shelf of medications that she loved to take….as long as they were buried in peanut butter….her favorite snack! Ivy loved her walks. If she saw someone going towards the door, this gentle giant would stand and face the door just waiting for that longed for walk. She never pulled at her leash but just trotted along, as happy as could be, despite her sore hips. Her tail would just swing back and forth and you would think that she hadn’t a care in the world. Upon returning home, she would get a long drink of water and climb up on her favorite spot….the couch. We gave up trying to move her. It became her space. Even when she was sick, she would place herself between anyone she thought was a threat and our family. One time, when one of my children’s friends was dropping something off later in the evening, Ivy heard him in the kitchen and cornered him while he screamed for my daughter and until my husband and I came tearing down the stairs to see what the commotion was about. Little did this friend know that Ivy wouldn’t hurt a sole. When our grandson came for a visit, he loved climbing all over her and she never made a sound in protest. However, every once in awhile, when we had another foster dog that was annoying, Ivy always put them in their place with a quick head turn and bark. Ivy was the most loving, gentle dog, who greeted everyone with licks and tail wags. She didn’t deserve all that life dealt her but our family was so happy to have been part of her life for the year we had her and cried many tears when she became so ill that we couldn’t help her anymore. She went over the rainbow bridge with her favorite foster sister and mom holding and petting her as she regally laid her head down and quietly went to sleep for the last time. She will always be remembered and the time we had her cherished forever. We hope you are having fun chasing those squirrels up there Ivy.