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.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Ava certainly found her peaceful place with you, Stacy. And now while you grieve her loss, she is resting in peace. I am so very sorry. 

[Stacy]

I hope that she knew how very much I loved her, and that I tried so hard to make everything better for her. She's in a better place, where everything is easy and there aren't any vets. I take comfort in that, because I know she was having a hard time. 

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

What a beautiful tribute to Ava.  Dogs are meant to live in our hearts and give us boundess love.  They always leave us a piece of their heart in ours when they must leave us.  Hugs and tears for you.

[Stacy]

They really do leave a piece of their heart. I would be lucky to have a heart like Ava's.

[Cathy and Daisy and Harper]

Thank you for that loving tribute. It does make you realize we have such a short time to love our furbabies. She sounded like an amazing dog and I am sorry for your pain.

[Stacy]

She was just wonderful.

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

Really beautiful tribute. So sorry for your loss.

I love the poem. Is that from somewhere? It is so moving.

[Stacy]

That is a Willie Nelson song, written by Willie Nelson. And it's really beautiful if you appreciate his music.

[Carol and Truffle]

These are such beautiful words! I lost my dearest Golden Retriever of 13 years last April & it took a LONG TIME to try to come to grips - still trying.

[Stacy]

They leave a permanent mark on our hearts. And I'm glad they do. I never want a time to come when I don't feel that they're still with me. 

[Debbie and Toby]

What a beautiful tribute! She will forever live on in your heart!

[Stacy]

She will. I believe that love never dies.