Ode to my big sister Ivy

It’s been a little sad at our household lately.

A little over a week ago Mom took Ivy to the doctor. She had not been feeling well, was not eating and was losing a lot of weight. Mom came back sad and said something about cancer and that they were going to do an ultrasound on Ivy.

It sounded scary. Then Mom took Ivy to the doctor the next day when she went to work but when Mom came home Ivy was not with her. I heard something about the Rainbow Bridge and that Ivy was playing with Luke, Sarah and Jake. I never met them before but Mom and Dad talk about them all the time.

The Rainbow Bridge sounds like a fun place, because they said Ivy was not in pain anymore and was feeling better but it sure made everyone sad here.

I tried to perk everyone up by playing and being my usual charming self but it didn’t seem to help.

I missed Ivy too, so I snuggled Mom and Dad that night in bed, partly for their comfort but I think for me as well.

Shadow has been snuggling Mom on the couch a lot and Mom really likes that.

It is getting better in the house, but we all still miss Ivy. She taught me the art of chasing the dot. I hope she is playing dot across that bridge. Maybe she can even catch it where she is at now.

I think Mom misses the way she would greet her at the door with a stuffed toy in her mouth, talking the whole time. She had not done that for about a week before she crossed that bridge and I know it made Mom sad.

She was the best big sister. Completely tolerant of a pup like me. Patient, especially when I first came to live with them and I would use her tail as a chew toy or try to play tug-of-war with it. She was not patient if I tried to take her treat away though.

She always let me know when she’d had enough, but that was rare. One good thing is I don’t have to pretend to like broccoli anymore, I would eat it because she was my big sister and if Ivy was eating it, then it must be good. (It’s not.)

She really was the best big sister and it makes me smile thinking of our trip up the mountain, playing in the Bighorn National Forest, earlier this summer. Ivy had a great day that day, even though we could tell she was not completely herself.

So now, Shadow and I keep Mom and Dad entertained playing ball, wrestling, taking Dad for walks and Mom for bike rides.

In other news, Dad found a black widow spider in his exercise room. He is not one to kill spiders but this one he did not hesitate. That made Mom happy. She was even happier that she is not the one who found it.

She usually kills one a week down in the basement when we do laundry.

As for me, I have been pretty good not chasing the cats, I have caught a few mice that made Dad happy. It was a lot of fun to chase and catch something and not get in trouble.

I still really want to chase Tigger but I listen to Mom and Dad when they tell me No (sigh). And, now, if you can believe it, Tigger has started going on walks with us. I think he does it to torment and taunt me.

I have about given up on chasing birds. There are just too many of them. But if they are nearby on the fence I feel it is my job to chase them away.

The nighthawks have been busy lately and I leave them alone. They seem to have a job to do and I leave them alone as they swoop up, down and around on our evening rides and walks.

Oh, and don’t forget, you can adopt a dog at New Hope Humane Society and give one of those dogs a great home like I found with the Pomeroys.