Goodbye Sophie!

On Monday, I said goodbye to my beagle Sophie.  Shannon brought her home to me just before we married nearly 11 years ago after I whined about wanting a puppy.  I didn't realize anything was wrong with her until Sunday because all she has ever done for years is sleep, but I did notice her eating less over the last couple weeks and she completely stopped eating and drinking this past weekend.  I could tell she was in pain and I couldn't stand to see her suffer.  The vet said she had cancer throughout her body, so we said goodbye and I held her while she went to sleep. 

She has never been a people dog, always keeping to herself.  She hated her feet touched and cutting her claws was like wrestling a pig covered in oil.  I have two funny stories that I will always remember. 

Although, she did not cooperate with me cutting her claws, she had no problem letting a stranger do it.  One time, after having her claws trimmed at Petsmart, we were taking a walk around the store when she found the perfect opportunity for revenge.  Coming down the aisle in front of us was an incredibly attractive woman and Sophie took that opportunity to squat down and makes the biggest, smelliest poop of her life.  This was back when the Petsmart employees cleaned up after your pet if they made a mess.  I high-tailed it out of that store as fast as I could drag that fat, laughing dog.

I think it was the next visit to (a different) Petsmart for the claw trimming that Sophie made her poop right outside the front door before we went in.  I got in before anybody caught us.  As we were leaving the store I saw that someone had stepped right in the pile with their heel and slide about two feet.  I am so glad I wasn't around to see that pissed off person.  After that visit, I started trimming her claws myself and it wasn't very long after that I noticed all the Petsmart stores had installed "Oops!" cleaning stations all over their stores, so owners could clean up after their own pets.

Sophie, you will truly be missed!  I love you!