This morning - I received a text message from my lovely Aunt - saying Scooter had passed away.
She passed peacefully - she simply stopped breathing.
Now earlier this morning - my Aunt felt my Dad's presence {they were brother/sister}, and Scooter felt it too -- as she sat upright and started looking down the hall and wagging her tail - she didn't move, she was happy in her bed - feeling and probably seeing my Dad. (It was 5 a.m. - my Dad's favourite time was early morning)
Scooter had trouble with her hips in recent years and over the last year had trouble with her breathing. She was about 12-13 years old.
We, my family adopted Scooter from our local SPCA when she was about 4 years old. She was a light in our world, we had the two girls as home, and Samantha had been asking for years for a dog, and I was in a deep cycle of depression so a dog seemed so right.
We went to the SPCA looking with Adrian recommending if we could to get a lab. Nice dogs, labs. Anyway, the girls and I go -- and went through all the cages, and looked around the yards outside -- and I turned away from the last cage and said; 'That's it - there are no labs' and Kristina said - 'yes, Mom there was one' and we turned around to go back to look and Scooter was attempting to crawl under the fence to follow us...she was ours from that point onward.
So, how did she end up as Dad's dog?
Well, we had a cabin two lots over from my parents in Newfoundland and one year we flew down to spend some time with renovations etc. We took Scooter. The longer we stayed the more Scooter loved it. She slowly shifted her alliances over to my Dad. Every night Scooter would go out to do her business and and I would call her back in; because she would always start walking over to my parents place. I would call her and she would look at me; 'like do I really have to, I want to go home'.
It was also around this time we were selling our home -- and anyone selling a home, knows keeping it tidy is key -- and a lab and a newly acquired beagle make for a bit of sweeping and vacuuming on a regular basis.
So I asked my parents if they would look after Scooter.
They said yes, and she never came back here.
She remembered us when we visited the following year, yet it was clear, she was Dad's dog.
She followed him everywhere, had her own seat in the truck and a spot to nap with him. Ran along side him on the ski doo and went visiting with him as well, and as you can see -- went ice fishing.
When my Dad passed in September - my Aunt and Uncle were so kind to adopt Scooter. They were so gracious and loving. Scooter was treated royally. Lovely new beds, treatments at the spa and more of our family to love.
We are grateful.
Scooter has truly been the family dog. She was well loved. We will miss her; of course. However there is peace in knowing she and Dad are together again. Sitting by the lake.
Much love
