Alexus
A donation was made in memory of Alexus by Drs. West, Lehocky, DeBroeck, and Hui at VCA Redwood Animal Hospital on May 13, 2019.
Somehow words, pictures and songs don’t seem adequate enough to commemorate the life of an amazing being. But I will do my best.
Alexus has been my best friend for the last 15 years. She was “the little doggy in the window, the one with the waggily tail” on 4/8/04 when I laid eyes on her 11 week old little puppy face. The shop was closed, but I said to her “I’m coming back for you, we are meant to be together.” And the very next day, she came home with me. It was a Good Friday and she looked like a little Easter bunny with her soft white fur, intelligent soulful almond shaped brown eyes, big pink ears and spunky little tail.
She came into my life at the most divine time; when I needed her love the most. She was my furry baby. I was able to love her unconditionally like a mother should, take care of her needs and have concern for her.
Love is something we are always learning. We are always defining love. Because as we expand and love more, the definition and meaning grows. That’s what loving and being loved by Alexus did for me. She grew the definition and meaning of love.
We moved across country together, I got engaged, married, bought a home, changed jobs, brought Oliver into our lives, had two of the most amazing children, made friends, lost friends, lost a job, lost a house, lost a husband, lost myself. But I found myself in a new version. And all the while she has been my faithful best friend. No judgement. Just unconditional love.
When she was a little pup she once ate a diamond earring. I joked she was “worth her weight in diamonds”. Even though she was worth so much more than that. 🥰
She was always by my side. Even if she didn’t want to cuddle, she wanted to be close. A feeling, I completely understand and respect.
Alexus was a pack leader and the alpha dog always. There wasn’t a dog around in the dog park who wouldn’t back down from her. I was there to protect her, but I feel she was protecting me. Always.
She loved animals and watching tv. She would give you a dirty look if you changed the channel and interrupted the animal show she was watching. She was friends with the horses around the corner and visited them frequently on her walks.
Thinking the window was up, one time she even leaped out of a moving car to get a closer look at the cows in the valley. (She was fine, just some scratches. And NO I wasn’t in the car!)
Alexus was never afraid to honor who she was and what she wanted. One time at puppy school, all the dogs were sitting next to their owners and watching the teacher. Alexus was annoyed I had the “gentle leader” on her muzzle. So she was 3’ out in front of me. Sitting. Glaring at me and pawing the leader, “get this off, and I will comply” she seemed to be saying three feet out in front of me.
She loved meats, cheeses, ice cream, peanut butter, lamb lung and greenies. The cheese drawer, carving knife sound, jiggle of the door handle or our particular engines would make her run from anywhere to not miss the action. She loved figuring out puzzles for treats and was an excellent swimmer.
She could sniff out the park from the highway. And would get so excited and watched to make sure you took the correct turns. If you missed to go anywhere else she was eyeing you instantly.
Always the most patient model for dress-up with Caelina and loved hugs from Malachi. Frequently she has starred in their stories and illustrations. She’s been hidden amongst stuffed animals like E.T., snuggled into forts and read a lot of stories. Wherever they were outside she wanted them in her sight. Even as she was older and moved slower. “I just need to keep watch over them.” She would sit and smile at their adventures. Maybe even make camp under the hydrangeas for some shade.
Her best pal was Oliver and they had their way with all kinds of park adventures, puppy pools, chasing ducks, barking at squirrels, alerting us to people outside, bounding through the snow or tall grass, playing tag and wrestling...not to forget naps together.
She loved laying in the sun and would seek out the best place to catch some rays. There are ideal spots where her beds are positioned for just this purpose. She would stay there until she was smiling, panting and I’d make her get water.
Alexus quickly learned words and spelling. Taught us we had to creatively disguise our discussions about taking her places because she would figure it out and be off the walls excited!
“Wanna go to the park?” “Wanna go to Marymoor?” “P-A-R-K”
“Go for a walk” “Shall we take a tour?” “Tour the block?” “W-A-L-K”
“Cheese” “Dairy product” Maybe even a little Spanish, “queso?”
She loved the holidays. Chasing kids for egg hunts, making camp under the Christmas tree, barking at trick or treaters, snacking on thanksgiving dinner. Never a big fan of the 4th of July... but put on the movie “eight below” and she was golden!
In March, she started to have some trouble with her back leg. She rallied, we slowly walked the entire block on 3/27/19. Then both back legs stopped moving on 3/30.
On 4/1 she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer throughout her body and organs. Love, prayers and pain management was our remaining course of treatment.
I slid onto the floor and sobbed when the doctor called. The kids snuggled into my arms and cried. Oliver climbed onto the pile and frantically, lovingly tried to lick away all the tears to make it better. That’s his loving healing nature.
Knowing her time on earth was changing, we spent the last week of it snuggling. We watched National Geographic and Animal Planet. We took wagon rides in the sunshine and I’d hand her things to sniff. I’d carry her outside and find sunny spots for her to enjoy. I got all her favorite treats, mostly she wanted the peanut butter.
On Sunday 4/7/19 we took one last long wagon ride passed the flowers and around the neighborhood. We visited her horse friends Taylor and Sue around the corner. We snuggled and took a nap with her in my arms. Oliver nuzzled her nose one last time as we headed to the animal hospital because her breathing was so shallow and labored now. We drove through Marymoor Park with the windows open to smell it one more time.
We tried the horrific animal hospital on Cleveland Street. They were not empathetic and had no reverence for life. I clutched her in my arms and kicked the door open to get out. There was no way, her beautiful life was going to end there, with them, like that. Not my girl.
The SVS animal hospital in Kirkland was lovingly awaiting our arrival. They gave her some oxygen to ease her discomfort. I held her in my arms, everyone loved on her, had a hand on her somewhere.
I was nose to nose looking into those intelligent soulful almond shaped brown eyes telling her “I love you” as she slipped off to heaven.
“God took her breathe away. When she saw God, it was so amazing that it took her breathe of life.” - unknown
It’s really no accident that God and dog are made up of the same letters. Most amazing beings. I’m grateful and blessed to have been family with Alexus, to have had her as my dog and to have been her person. Truly grateful for our time together.
When we stepped outside into what had been a wet gray day. The sky burst open and the sun shined on us. I drove home in silence and sobs. But when I turned the radio on, Kane Brown “Heaven” filled the silence with love. I’m sure it was her.
Caelina says with such certainty “Alexus is in heaven with Jesus. She can run again like when she was a puppy. She is with her puppy mom and dad, brothers and sisters. She has no pain and she is always with us. She is always in our hearts.”
Someday, I’ll meet you on the rainbow bridge puppy girl. Now you get to come back for me and take me home. I love you Alexus! 😘
Alexus has been my best friend for the last 15 years. She was “the little doggy in the window, the one with the waggily tail” on 4/8/04 when I laid eyes on her 11 week old little puppy face. The shop was closed, but I said to her “I’m coming back for you, we are meant to be together.” And the very next day, she came home with me. It was a Good Friday and she looked like a little Easter bunny with her soft white fur, intelligent soulful almond shaped brown eyes, big pink ears and spunky little tail.
She came into my life at the most divine time; when I needed her love the most. She was my furry baby. I was able to love her unconditionally like a mother should, take care of her needs and have concern for her.
Love is something we are always learning. We are always defining love. Because as we expand and love more, the definition and meaning grows. That’s what loving and being loved by Alexus did for me. She grew the definition and meaning of love.
We moved across country together, I got engaged, married, bought a home, changed jobs, brought Oliver into our lives, had two of the most amazing children, made friends, lost friends, lost a job, lost a house, lost a husband, lost myself. But I found myself in a new version. And all the while she has been my faithful best friend. No judgement. Just unconditional love.
When she was a little pup she once ate a diamond earring. I joked she was “worth her weight in diamonds”. Even though she was worth so much more than that. 🥰
She was always by my side. Even if she didn’t want to cuddle, she wanted to be close. A feeling, I completely understand and respect.
Alexus was a pack leader and the alpha dog always. There wasn’t a dog around in the dog park who wouldn’t back down from her. I was there to protect her, but I feel she was protecting me. Always.
She loved animals and watching tv. She would give you a dirty look if you changed the channel and interrupted the animal show she was watching. She was friends with the horses around the corner and visited them frequently on her walks.
Thinking the window was up, one time she even leaped out of a moving car to get a closer look at the cows in the valley. (She was fine, just some scratches. And NO I wasn’t in the car!)
Alexus was never afraid to honor who she was and what she wanted. One time at puppy school, all the dogs were sitting next to their owners and watching the teacher. Alexus was annoyed I had the “gentle leader” on her muzzle. So she was 3’ out in front of me. Sitting. Glaring at me and pawing the leader, “get this off, and I will comply” she seemed to be saying three feet out in front of me.
She loved meats, cheeses, ice cream, peanut butter, lamb lung and greenies. The cheese drawer, carving knife sound, jiggle of the door handle or our particular engines would make her run from anywhere to not miss the action. She loved figuring out puzzles for treats and was an excellent swimmer.
She could sniff out the park from the highway. And would get so excited and watched to make sure you took the correct turns. If you missed to go anywhere else she was eyeing you instantly.
Always the most patient model for dress-up with Caelina and loved hugs from Malachi. Frequently she has starred in their stories and illustrations. She’s been hidden amongst stuffed animals like E.T., snuggled into forts and read a lot of stories. Wherever they were outside she wanted them in her sight. Even as she was older and moved slower. “I just need to keep watch over them.” She would sit and smile at their adventures. Maybe even make camp under the hydrangeas for some shade.
Her best pal was Oliver and they had their way with all kinds of park adventures, puppy pools, chasing ducks, barking at squirrels, alerting us to people outside, bounding through the snow or tall grass, playing tag and wrestling...not to forget naps together.
She loved laying in the sun and would seek out the best place to catch some rays. There are ideal spots where her beds are positioned for just this purpose. She would stay there until she was smiling, panting and I’d make her get water.
Alexus quickly learned words and spelling. Taught us we had to creatively disguise our discussions about taking her places because she would figure it out and be off the walls excited!
“Wanna go to the park?” “Wanna go to Marymoor?” “P-A-R-K”
“Go for a walk” “Shall we take a tour?” “Tour the block?” “W-A-L-K”
“Cheese” “Dairy product” Maybe even a little Spanish, “queso?”
She loved the holidays. Chasing kids for egg hunts, making camp under the Christmas tree, barking at trick or treaters, snacking on thanksgiving dinner. Never a big fan of the 4th of July... but put on the movie “eight below” and she was golden!
In March, she started to have some trouble with her back leg. She rallied, we slowly walked the entire block on 3/27/19. Then both back legs stopped moving on 3/30.
On 4/1 she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer throughout her body and organs. Love, prayers and pain management was our remaining course of treatment.
I slid onto the floor and sobbed when the doctor called. The kids snuggled into my arms and cried. Oliver climbed onto the pile and frantically, lovingly tried to lick away all the tears to make it better. That’s his loving healing nature.
Knowing her time on earth was changing, we spent the last week of it snuggling. We watched National Geographic and Animal Planet. We took wagon rides in the sunshine and I’d hand her things to sniff. I’d carry her outside and find sunny spots for her to enjoy. I got all her favorite treats, mostly she wanted the peanut butter.
On Sunday 4/7/19 we took one last long wagon ride passed the flowers and around the neighborhood. We visited her horse friends Taylor and Sue around the corner. We snuggled and took a nap with her in my arms. Oliver nuzzled her nose one last time as we headed to the animal hospital because her breathing was so shallow and labored now. We drove through Marymoor Park with the windows open to smell it one more time.
We tried the horrific animal hospital on Cleveland Street. They were not empathetic and had no reverence for life. I clutched her in my arms and kicked the door open to get out. There was no way, her beautiful life was going to end there, with them, like that. Not my girl.
The SVS animal hospital in Kirkland was lovingly awaiting our arrival. They gave her some oxygen to ease her discomfort. I held her in my arms, everyone loved on her, had a hand on her somewhere.
I was nose to nose looking into those intelligent soulful almond shaped brown eyes telling her “I love you” as she slipped off to heaven.
“God took her breathe away. When she saw God, it was so amazing that it took her breathe of life.” - unknown
It’s really no accident that God and dog are made up of the same letters. Most amazing beings. I’m grateful and blessed to have been family with Alexus, to have had her as my dog and to have been her person. Truly grateful for our time together.
When we stepped outside into what had been a wet gray day. The sky burst open and the sun shined on us. I drove home in silence and sobs. But when I turned the radio on, Kane Brown “Heaven” filled the silence with love. I’m sure it was her.
Caelina says with such certainty “Alexus is in heaven with Jesus. She can run again like when she was a puppy. She is with her puppy mom and dad, brothers and sisters. She has no pain and she is always with us. She is always in our hearts.”
Someday, I’ll meet you on the rainbow bridge puppy girl. Now you get to come back for me and take me home. I love you Alexus! 😘
