Jeff in Ottawa
New member
I'm sorry it has taken me so long to post this. I've struggled to get the words right and to find the right photos for a tribute to such an incredible creature. Posting this also makes it real and I'm still not ready to accept that but I know that I have to.
______________________________________________
White d'Elsa, 2001-09-11 to 2014-07-14
a.k.a. Superdog
a.k.a. Goofy
a.k.a. Mr. Gurgles
We don’t know a lot about your life before he came home with us on March 4, 2008. You and your brother Black were born nearly 12 years ago, on September 11, 2002, as half of a litter of four puppies from a reputable breeder outside of Montreal. You were sold to a couple that split up five years later. They tried unsuccessfully to find a home that would keep you together. Your breeder took care of you until we found you on her website and when we came to see you on that frosty Tuesday afternoon you were so excited that you did something you never did again: you jumped up, put your paws on our chests and licked our faces. You were so sweet and adorable, yet incredibly gentle – everything we had ever read about Newfoundlands. There was never a doubt – you were coming home with us!
Over the next 2324 days you showed us how you were the yin to your brother’s yang, staying out of all the trouble he would get into, yet you were never shy about chasing a cat and keeping the backyard as a squirrel-free zone. You were a gentleman, mostly, when we had visitors; however, you were always a fan of licking plates. You gave us nothing but love and kindness. You always enjoyed going to the memorial service for the Newfoundland regiment and the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel and making a difference for the people there. We could always trust you with any person, big or small, young or old, healthy or sick. You helped people with disabilities open up about their lives. You cured Violet of her fear of dogs and transformed her into a dog person. You were absolutely perfect with our niece Lyla from the moment you met each other.
We will always remember how you liked the ladies and over time we began to joke that you had turned into a dirty old man. We’ll forever take that over being a grumpy old man. You were a lover, not a biter.
We will forever miss our games of chase, hide and seek, and find the treats. We’ll miss the subtle, soft bark you used to wake us up when you needed out. That little “harh… harh...” and you would stop as soon as you heard someone move. You were ever the gentleman, even when you had to pee at 6:00 a.m. or just wanted your breakfast.
Like your brother, you were part of some of the major milestones of our lives. You were there when we bought our first home and you got your own yard. You were there when we put up a chicken wire fence because you kept sneaking out of that yard through the hedge. You were there when we got married and you were there when we got home from our honeymoon and you bounced around enough to make us laugh. You were there when Greg came to stay with us and welcomed him into the pack right away.
You made our lives better in more ways than we can ever recall. That’s why we now feel so empty. No matter how good or bad our days were, you were always happen to see us and made everything seem better, regardless of whether it was the worst or best day ever.
______________________________________________
You were so healthy for so long that we would say, only partially joking, that we thought you would outlive us. Unfortunately, reality was not so kind. Given your age, it's not surprising that your mobility began to decline in the last several months. Your back end really began to weaken last winter. Late Sunday night you began to make a lot of noise and Allison found you unable to coordinate your legs. She helped you outside but you didn't want to pee or come back in. She did manage to get you back in but on Monday morning you were no better. The writing was on the wall. Something had happened and there was probably no recovery. We made you a nice striploin steak for breakfast, we gave you more treats than you normally eat in a few weeks, and we all sat out on the front steps and lawn, watching the world go by a for a couple of hours.
Because your legs were so wobbly and uncoordinated, we had to use two towels slung under you to help you get around that day. When the time came, as soon as we asked if you wanted to go for a ride in the car you knew exactly what we were talking about – you summoned up all the strength you had and helped us get you into the car. When we arrived at the vet clinic on Monday afternoon two technicians and the vet helped us unload you and support you for your stroll into the clinic. The vet did an assessment and listened to our description of events. Her conclusion was that you had likely suffered a small stroke and that was the reason for your sudden change in mobility and coordination. It also explained your slight head tilt and subtle difference in the coordination of your eyes.
Ever the goof, you, like your brother, had one more trick up your sleeve. You decided to suck in all your veins so that the vet couldn't find a spot for the catheter. Once you had had your fill of treats we finally found a vein. Just before 4 o’clock, as we stroked your head, told you how much we love you and what a wonderful dog you are, thanked you for giving us the honour of being your humans, said we hoped we were worthy of all your love and attention, and asked you to say hi to Black for us and give him our love too, you left us.
We know you weren’t any more ready to leave us than we were to lose you. We will always love you and never forget you. Your body gave out long before your mind, your heart, or your soul. Though letting you go has broken our hearts, there was nothing else we could have done except watch you suffer in confusion and fear of a body that would no longer work. Our greatest wish for you is that in some way you understand that and that you are now safe, happy, comfortable and free. We hope that you have found your brother, Wallace, Judy, Chip, Dylan, Pepper, Max, and Bear and you will take care of each other until we meet again.
______________________________________________
Losing Black was difficult but this is turning out to be far tougher – the house is now eerily quiet and empty. This is going to take long time to get over. We feel like the best stage of our lives has come to a sudden, crashing end far too soon.
______________________________________________
It has also been tough to narrow down all the photos but here's my best shot. I can't take credit for any of these. Allison took them all except the one from Wayne.
Looking super handsome!
Peekaboo!
Peekaboo in a Newfoundland tartan! (Thank you, Joan!)
You were always so happy!
And you could make us melt in an instant.
Hey, we all love bacon!
You certainly did enjoy food!
And you even had a wonderful sense of humour. "Hey! I think I heard something!"
Nappus interuptus!
The bond is strong between these two.
You would let us dress you up in all kinds of crazy things!
And you were always there for a hug when we needed it.
While your brother looked like your mom, you looked like your dad.
Having a drooling good time at Newfstock 2012. (Thanks, Wayne!)
You even became an internet meme. (Seriously. Look for White the Newf on meme generator.) Oh, and you totally didn't care how cold it was. You were going out!
Your last day. We managed to hold ourselves together long enough to get a photo...barely.
You were such a happy dog that your white fur made a happy face on your back and hips. Can you see it? This was also a moment of sheer bliss that I would do anything to have again.
______________________________________________
White d'Elsa, 2001-09-11 to 2014-07-14
a.k.a. Superdog
a.k.a. Goofy
a.k.a. Mr. Gurgles
We don’t know a lot about your life before he came home with us on March 4, 2008. You and your brother Black were born nearly 12 years ago, on September 11, 2002, as half of a litter of four puppies from a reputable breeder outside of Montreal. You were sold to a couple that split up five years later. They tried unsuccessfully to find a home that would keep you together. Your breeder took care of you until we found you on her website and when we came to see you on that frosty Tuesday afternoon you were so excited that you did something you never did again: you jumped up, put your paws on our chests and licked our faces. You were so sweet and adorable, yet incredibly gentle – everything we had ever read about Newfoundlands. There was never a doubt – you were coming home with us!
Over the next 2324 days you showed us how you were the yin to your brother’s yang, staying out of all the trouble he would get into, yet you were never shy about chasing a cat and keeping the backyard as a squirrel-free zone. You were a gentleman, mostly, when we had visitors; however, you were always a fan of licking plates. You gave us nothing but love and kindness. You always enjoyed going to the memorial service for the Newfoundland regiment and the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel and making a difference for the people there. We could always trust you with any person, big or small, young or old, healthy or sick. You helped people with disabilities open up about their lives. You cured Violet of her fear of dogs and transformed her into a dog person. You were absolutely perfect with our niece Lyla from the moment you met each other.
We will always remember how you liked the ladies and over time we began to joke that you had turned into a dirty old man. We’ll forever take that over being a grumpy old man. You were a lover, not a biter.
We will forever miss our games of chase, hide and seek, and find the treats. We’ll miss the subtle, soft bark you used to wake us up when you needed out. That little “harh… harh...” and you would stop as soon as you heard someone move. You were ever the gentleman, even when you had to pee at 6:00 a.m. or just wanted your breakfast.
Like your brother, you were part of some of the major milestones of our lives. You were there when we bought our first home and you got your own yard. You were there when we put up a chicken wire fence because you kept sneaking out of that yard through the hedge. You were there when we got married and you were there when we got home from our honeymoon and you bounced around enough to make us laugh. You were there when Greg came to stay with us and welcomed him into the pack right away.
You made our lives better in more ways than we can ever recall. That’s why we now feel so empty. No matter how good or bad our days were, you were always happen to see us and made everything seem better, regardless of whether it was the worst or best day ever.
______________________________________________
You were so healthy for so long that we would say, only partially joking, that we thought you would outlive us. Unfortunately, reality was not so kind. Given your age, it's not surprising that your mobility began to decline in the last several months. Your back end really began to weaken last winter. Late Sunday night you began to make a lot of noise and Allison found you unable to coordinate your legs. She helped you outside but you didn't want to pee or come back in. She did manage to get you back in but on Monday morning you were no better. The writing was on the wall. Something had happened and there was probably no recovery. We made you a nice striploin steak for breakfast, we gave you more treats than you normally eat in a few weeks, and we all sat out on the front steps and lawn, watching the world go by a for a couple of hours.
Because your legs were so wobbly and uncoordinated, we had to use two towels slung under you to help you get around that day. When the time came, as soon as we asked if you wanted to go for a ride in the car you knew exactly what we were talking about – you summoned up all the strength you had and helped us get you into the car. When we arrived at the vet clinic on Monday afternoon two technicians and the vet helped us unload you and support you for your stroll into the clinic. The vet did an assessment and listened to our description of events. Her conclusion was that you had likely suffered a small stroke and that was the reason for your sudden change in mobility and coordination. It also explained your slight head tilt and subtle difference in the coordination of your eyes.
Ever the goof, you, like your brother, had one more trick up your sleeve. You decided to suck in all your veins so that the vet couldn't find a spot for the catheter. Once you had had your fill of treats we finally found a vein. Just before 4 o’clock, as we stroked your head, told you how much we love you and what a wonderful dog you are, thanked you for giving us the honour of being your humans, said we hoped we were worthy of all your love and attention, and asked you to say hi to Black for us and give him our love too, you left us.
We know you weren’t any more ready to leave us than we were to lose you. We will always love you and never forget you. Your body gave out long before your mind, your heart, or your soul. Though letting you go has broken our hearts, there was nothing else we could have done except watch you suffer in confusion and fear of a body that would no longer work. Our greatest wish for you is that in some way you understand that and that you are now safe, happy, comfortable and free. We hope that you have found your brother, Wallace, Judy, Chip, Dylan, Pepper, Max, and Bear and you will take care of each other until we meet again.
______________________________________________
Losing Black was difficult but this is turning out to be far tougher – the house is now eerily quiet and empty. This is going to take long time to get over. We feel like the best stage of our lives has come to a sudden, crashing end far too soon.
______________________________________________
It has also been tough to narrow down all the photos but here's my best shot. I can't take credit for any of these. Allison took them all except the one from Wayne.
Looking super handsome!
Peekaboo!
Peekaboo in a Newfoundland tartan! (Thank you, Joan!)
You were always so happy!
And you could make us melt in an instant.
Hey, we all love bacon!
You certainly did enjoy food!
And you even had a wonderful sense of humour. "Hey! I think I heard something!"
Nappus interuptus!
The bond is strong between these two.
You would let us dress you up in all kinds of crazy things!
And you were always there for a hug when we needed it.
While your brother looked like your mom, you looked like your dad.
Having a drooling good time at Newfstock 2012. (Thanks, Wayne!)
You even became an internet meme. (Seriously. Look for White the Newf on meme generator.) Oh, and you totally didn't care how cold it was. You were going out!
Your last day. We managed to hold ourselves together long enough to get a photo...barely.
You were such a happy dog that your white fur made a happy face on your back and hips. Can you see it? This was also a moment of sheer bliss that I would do anything to have again.
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