Living the good life or die trying!

Below is the email I sent out to all my close friends and family on 08-03-05, a Wednesday.  The day after Cleo and Harley died.  It is a day I will never forget...  

This email comes with a great deal of sadness and tears shed.  Last night, Deb and I had to make the horribly difficult decision to put Cleo to sleep.  This awful decision came after Cleo had been playing with one of our friend's dog (a 5 pound Yorkshire Terrier), and got a little too rough.  Apparently, a toy was in the middle, and Cleo has never been very good at sharing toys.  She snapped at Harley and killed him instantly.   As you can imagine, we were devastated.  Not only are we grieving for our dear friend's loss, but now our own. 

Cleo was never a vicious dog or mean.  She was a wonderful and gentle dog.  Unfortunately, she sometimes didn't like to share or know her own strength, and 70lbs against 5lbs doesn't fair very well.   It was a difficult decision to make, because we did not believe that Cleo had intended to hurt Harley.  However this isn't the first time she has snapped at a dog over a toy or food.  And with three little ones of our own, we just felt as if we couldn't trust Cleo around ours or anyone's dog again.  

Cleo was 10 years old and really starting to have a difficult time getting around.  She loved to swim, and spent all day Sunday swimming after a tennis ball.  Then Monday morning, she was so stiff and sore, she couldn't even walk to her food bowl.  Her arthritis was very bad, and she often had to have pain pills.  She had a really good life though, despite the signs of aging.  Our dear friend Kathy and I held Cleo until she was gone and whispered what a good girl she was in her ear the entire time.  My only comfort is that now she is not in pain from the old age. 

Harley was an amazing little Yorkie, too.  He was just over a year old and even though he was only 5 lbs, thought he was as big as Cleo.  They had played together since Harley first started coming over last summer and were best of friends.  Anyone who saw him commented on how incredibly cute he was.  He seemed more like a stuffed animal than a dog.  Thank goodness it was instant and he did not suffer.  

I've attached a couple of pictures in their memory.  It still just seems like a horrible nightmare that I just can't wake up from.  But I felt that I needed to let everyone know.  Please keep Krista and Tracy, Deb and I, and Kathy (who loved "girl" the best) in your thoughts.  

May Cleo and Harley forever be playing together at the big lake in the sky! 

Chris
OIIIIIIO