REST IN PEACE 

  ABBEY T.

1998 - 2012

On Wednesday May 9, 2012 we had to put down Abbey T., our 14 year-old Brittany.  She suffered from Esophageal Paralysis for the past few years, along with arthritis and she was beginning to suffer.  Our decision to help her pass on to whatever is next was extremely difficult for us but was, I think, gratifying for her.  I hope that she has hooked-up with Maxi (another of our Brittany who passed on in January of this year)...they were great buddies and brought a great deal of joy and love to our family.  It is hard to have them both gone.

She’d been with us for 14 years. We got her as a wee pup when we lived in Boise, ID.  She transferred with us to Seattle, then on to Pasadena.  Finally she retired with us in Cambria.  She absolutely loved the California Central Coast--especially fetching tennis balls from the ocean, which we did often.  Almost daily romps off-leash on Fiscalini Ranch was another joy in her life.

Abbey T. was a grand old lady who enjoyed life and absolutely loved people.  Her main enjoyment during her lifetime was to meet new people and accumulate a crowd of friends wherever she went.  When we took her to our local dog park she would seek out every human there, especially the “regulars,” and greet them and expect a few pats or strokes in return.  She ignored anything with four feet!  We had to laugh at her routine. 

Fortunately I had the foresight to take her to the beach last weekend, just the two of us.  We hadn’t been able to do this too often recently because of her declining health.  It was pure joy to see how excited she was to be back in her element and waddling on the sand!  The last few frames on the video are from that walk on the beach.

There were two incidents during her last day on Earth that will live with me forever;  Toby, our tripod Brittany, laid down next to her for over a hour and a half--something he has never done before.  His concern and caring for her was heartbreaking.  The other incident happened when we were walking her to the “Room” at the vet’s office.  Abbey veered over and greeted a seated lady waiting for her cat’s appointment.  Right to the end of her life she was loving and accumulating friends!

She died with calm dignity, peacefully, and in my arms.

Abbey T. is the love of my life.