Loving Ava

[Stacy]

How does one go about writing a fitting tribute to the most wonderful creature who ever lived? There are both not enough and too many things that I could say about her.

I knew I wanted her the moment I saw her picture, but then I wasn’t sure. I was told, she’s not housebroken, not used to living in a house, not used to car rides, or walking on leash, or playing at the park. How was she going to react to our life? How would she react to Katie? Was I making a huge mistake? But in the end my heart won over all my worries and the moment I saw her, with her sad, shaven coat, I knew I had done the right thing. And she showed me every day how lucky I was, maybe how lucky we both were, that I was in the right place at the right time and took that leap of faith.

Ava taught me so many things. She taught me about being able to love despite adversity. She trusted me implicitly. It didn’t matter that so many people had failed her in the past. Where I went she followed. Even when it was that scary old vet, or when she had to walk past a stranger to go up the stairs at the dog wash.

She taught me to be brave. Nothing was ever easy for Ava. I sometimes thought that she was trying to squeeze a lifetime of vet visits into our time together. And if there could be a complication, she would find it. But she endured with such grace. She would look at me, as we were walking into another vet’s office with a look of, “Really? Are we here again?” But then she would walk in, sit really close to me, and let them do what they needed.

Ava taught me how to forgive. She could have been such a broken dog after everything she had been through. But she was not broken. She was wonderful. She would put her paw up on me to ask for more love. She would expose her belly for a nice scratch. She would sleep with her head on my shoulder. And she stayed for me, perhaps longer than she wanted to. She was selfless that way.

Rest now, my sweet girl. I know we will be together again. Your life had so much meaning. I will always treasure our time together. I will always love you. And I will always remember.

If you had not have fallen
Then I would not have found you
Angel flying too close to the ground
And I patched up your broken wing and hung around a while
Trying to keep your spirits up and your fever down
I knew someday that you would fly away
For love's the greatest healer to be found
So leave me if you need to, I will still remember
Angel flying too close to the ground
Fly on, fly on past, the speed of sound
I'd rather see you up than see you down
So leave me if you need to, I will still remember
Angel flying too close to the ground.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

This is such a beautiful tribute to your special girl.  I'm so sorry....

[Stacy]

Thank you. I was so lucky to have known her.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ava was a special girl. She was lucky to have finally landed with you, and you were equally lucky to have received such adoring, trusting love.  What a lovely tribute. Ava will be remembered and missed by many. 

[Stacy]

Thank you. I was so lucky. And she will be remembered well. 

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

What  a beautiful tribute to a dog so very much loved. :(

[Amy and Annabelle]

Such a beautiful tribute to Ava, she was such a beautiful girl. You can just see the sweetness in her face. I feel so sad for you. You were meant to be her mom, the one that was meant to be there to care for her and love her to the end. It sounds like you 2 had a special bond, even though you were together such a short time. 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I just saw your beautiful tribute to Ava.  It is so heartbreaking, and we have lost too many doodles in the last year here on DK.  Our thoughts are with you.  I can tell from your tribute she gave you so many wonderful memories that you will always hold close to your heart.

[Gail and Bailey]

Such a beautiful tribute.  I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet Ava.  May she Rest In Peace.

[Janet Knox]

Rest In Peace sweet Ava. I’m so sorry for your loss. You and Ava were blessed to find each other. 

[Lisa Lukic]

I'm so sorry for your loss. May she rest in peace and you find peace. x

[BG and Gavin]

Beautiful tribute to a very special girl. Hugs.