Marlee
A donation was made in memory of Marlee by the doctors and staff at Valley Veterinary Hospital on May 28, 2021.
In 2012 I was asked to dog sit for 5 year old Marlee Ann for a couple of days. I had never met her before but I reluctantly agreed. She was a huge pain in the butt, didn't get along with my Piper girl very well, chased everything, but was a beautiful heeler mix with gorgeous markings. We made it work. A couple days later, her "family," who was vacationing in Arizona, sent me a text message telling me they weren't coming back for her and asking me to either find her a home or drop her off at the shelter. They were staying in Arizona and felt it would be "too hot" for her. I was furious, as Marlee's "mom" had told me how much she had already been shuffled from home to home and I have never understood how people can just walk away from their animals. It is mind boggling to me.
Of course I would take care of her. For several weeks I looked for a good home for her while temporarily fostering her. She and my Piper finally started working their differences out after much firm scolding and training. I had a local rescue group helping me try to find a home for her. I knew it was going to be Marlee's 5th family, wherever it ended up being, and that really broke my heart for her.
We could not find a home for her. We finally decided to put her on a local television segment to see if we could find an adopter. That day I drove up to Cle Elum with her to meet the cameraman and the lady from the rescue who was helping me and I just could not do it. I could not give her to someone else AGAIN, not knowing if they would turn around and abandon her too. I decided right then that she was a keeper and she would be staying with me and Piper forever. I knew it would be tough, she was kind of a mess, but she was worth it.
It took us probably 3 years, honestly, to get all the kinks worked out, but once we did, she was basically the perfect dog. I taught her to get along with other dogs and Piper and Marlee became best buddies. I changed her name to Marlee Jane and simply adored her, as if she had been with me from the beginning like Piper was. Marlee JANE really bonded with myself and with Piper and the 3 of us were pretty much inseparable. Nobody where we live really knew any of us apart from one another because we were always together.
Marlee climbed many mountains with me, camped with me, ran with me, went to work with me, and really did everything I did. I taught her to swim in the Columbia River at Vantage. Piper helped because before that, Marlee was terrified of the water. After we taught her, sometimes I almost regretted it because the little poop became fearless about it. Ha!
Marlee became sick with pancreatitis in 2018 after eating too many field mice at Ringer Loop (where she taught Piper how to dig them up and eat them!) and almost died. After that she had to be on a special prescription diet the rest of her life and I had to watch her like a hawk. She always had gastrointestinal problems from that point forward, but we managed them the best we could.
After Piper passed in 2020, Marlee became depressed just like I did. We both held onto each other and saved each other. Later in 2020, Marlee's arthritis had become so bad that she was having a really hard time walking without pain and could do very little hiking anymore. It hurt my heart to see her unhappy so often. In early 2021, I bought a folding wagon so we could still go on long walks and I could pull her when she was too tired and sore. We called it "Marlee's Big Red Wagon" and people around town were gaga over it. I think Marlee was a little embarrassed but also a little thankful. I just loved her so much.
Her birthday was celebrated on May 13, 2021 and she turned 13 years old that day. She LOVED opening presents so I always got her some and tortured her with a birthday hat photo. She was doing pretty well and managing her pancreatitis and arthritis ok, having play dates with friends from the neighborhood, playing by the river, snuggling with mom. She seemed happier than she had been in the time since we lost our Piper girl.
On May 28 we woke up in the morning and were laying in bed watching television when out of the blue she began having seizures. Horrible seizures. She had never had a seizure in her life and it was absolutely horrific for me to watch. Her first one lasted awhile and it took her probably 30 minutes to come out of it. I made her a vet appointment for later in the morning and we went back to bed to rest. Shortly thereafter she had another seizure. I picked her stiff, shaking little body up and put her in the truck to rush her to the vet. It was the 2nd worst day of my life. I can't even talk about the rest, but I lost my sweet Marlee Jane that morning, May 28, 2021. I came home to an empty house for the first time in 13 years and swore I could hear my heart shattering.
Marlee Jane, sweetheart, mommy loves you forever and misses you forever. I am sad the way you had to leave but I understand. You are my sunshine always.
Soft Marlee, warm Marlee Little ball of fur Happy Marlee, sleepy Marlee I LOVE HER
Never ever forget how loved you are and that you were ALWAYS a keeper. My only wish is that I found you sooner. You're in my heart, my best girl.
Of course I would take care of her. For several weeks I looked for a good home for her while temporarily fostering her. She and my Piper finally started working their differences out after much firm scolding and training. I had a local rescue group helping me try to find a home for her. I knew it was going to be Marlee's 5th family, wherever it ended up being, and that really broke my heart for her.
We could not find a home for her. We finally decided to put her on a local television segment to see if we could find an adopter. That day I drove up to Cle Elum with her to meet the cameraman and the lady from the rescue who was helping me and I just could not do it. I could not give her to someone else AGAIN, not knowing if they would turn around and abandon her too. I decided right then that she was a keeper and she would be staying with me and Piper forever. I knew it would be tough, she was kind of a mess, but she was worth it.
It took us probably 3 years, honestly, to get all the kinks worked out, but once we did, she was basically the perfect dog. I taught her to get along with other dogs and Piper and Marlee became best buddies. I changed her name to Marlee Jane and simply adored her, as if she had been with me from the beginning like Piper was. Marlee JANE really bonded with myself and with Piper and the 3 of us were pretty much inseparable. Nobody where we live really knew any of us apart from one another because we were always together.
Marlee climbed many mountains with me, camped with me, ran with me, went to work with me, and really did everything I did. I taught her to swim in the Columbia River at Vantage. Piper helped because before that, Marlee was terrified of the water. After we taught her, sometimes I almost regretted it because the little poop became fearless about it. Ha!
Marlee became sick with pancreatitis in 2018 after eating too many field mice at Ringer Loop (where she taught Piper how to dig them up and eat them!) and almost died. After that she had to be on a special prescription diet the rest of her life and I had to watch her like a hawk. She always had gastrointestinal problems from that point forward, but we managed them the best we could.
After Piper passed in 2020, Marlee became depressed just like I did. We both held onto each other and saved each other. Later in 2020, Marlee's arthritis had become so bad that she was having a really hard time walking without pain and could do very little hiking anymore. It hurt my heart to see her unhappy so often. In early 2021, I bought a folding wagon so we could still go on long walks and I could pull her when she was too tired and sore. We called it "Marlee's Big Red Wagon" and people around town were gaga over it. I think Marlee was a little embarrassed but also a little thankful. I just loved her so much.
Her birthday was celebrated on May 13, 2021 and she turned 13 years old that day. She LOVED opening presents so I always got her some and tortured her with a birthday hat photo. She was doing pretty well and managing her pancreatitis and arthritis ok, having play dates with friends from the neighborhood, playing by the river, snuggling with mom. She seemed happier than she had been in the time since we lost our Piper girl.
On May 28 we woke up in the morning and were laying in bed watching television when out of the blue she began having seizures. Horrible seizures. She had never had a seizure in her life and it was absolutely horrific for me to watch. Her first one lasted awhile and it took her probably 30 minutes to come out of it. I made her a vet appointment for later in the morning and we went back to bed to rest. Shortly thereafter she had another seizure. I picked her stiff, shaking little body up and put her in the truck to rush her to the vet. It was the 2nd worst day of my life. I can't even talk about the rest, but I lost my sweet Marlee Jane that morning, May 28, 2021. I came home to an empty house for the first time in 13 years and swore I could hear my heart shattering.
Marlee Jane, sweetheart, mommy loves you forever and misses you forever. I am sad the way you had to leave but I understand. You are my sunshine always.
Soft Marlee, warm Marlee Little ball of fur Happy Marlee, sleepy Marlee I LOVE HER
Never ever forget how loved you are and that you were ALWAYS a keeper. My only wish is that I found you sooner. You're in my heart, my best girl.
