Sunny
A donation was made in memory of Sunny on Oct 02, 2009.
2006 was a very sad and heartbreaking year as my husband and I were separating and our seven year old son and I were moving from Montana to Oregon. I grew up with dogs but my husband would never allow us to have one. Before we left Montana my son and I began to pray for the perfect dog. I believe every boy needs a dog!!! We saw an ad for Yellow Labradors in a town near Glacier Park. The owners were strictly selling them for 'hunting dogs' but after hearing our story said we could come and check them out. There were ten rolly-polly yellow labs who had been conditioned to the sound of a gun going off over their heads and had been trained to have a 'soft mouth' by the owner placing a bird wing in their mouths and not allowing them to chew it.
It was easy picking which pup we wanted. When I was growing up and we would go get a puppy my dad would always bring a tennis ball and throw it to see which pup would continue to fetch it. He said that was always the smartest one of the pack! Our Sunny was relentless in beating out her brothers and sisters getting that ball! We picked our 'Sunny' or 'Sunnygirl' up on July Fourth and took her home to lots of fireworks and kids in the neighborhood. Nothing fazed our Sunny, loud pops, bangs, kabooms, the shrilling screams of children, nothing. She loved life, all people, big and small, cats, cows, and fish. As we explored Oregon's creeks, streams, ocean and mountains, Sunny was with us every step and with every stroke when swimming. She especially loved floating down the rivers by our side.
In 2000 my husband divorced me and I have raised our son as a single mom for 13 years In 2003 I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and proceeded to have 9 surgeries and chemotherapy the next two years. Sunny was by my side 24 hours a day. I could not have made it through many days without her love, comfort, humor and companionship. She was my sweet shadow and a snuggle bear while sleeping.
When Sunny was a pup I taught her to first, sit, then shake, lay down, get up, turn around, sit, then bark. She would perform them perfectly every time so long as I had a 'cookie' in my hand. As she got older and we entertained our guest with Sunny's antics, as soon as she saw the cookie in my fingers she would do the whole trick, with no prompting and very fast! It was very impressive and hilarious to watch. Sunny also loved to go in the car, anywhere! When she could get into the garage by slipping through an open door, we would find her sitting by the car door shaking with anticipation with her face saying "Let's go, let's go, let's go!" And, oh, the miles we walked together! Morning and evening, rain, sleet, snow, it didn't matter, she had to take her 'walkies' and stop to say 'hello' to every person or dog along the way. During the 'baseball years' my son, Sunny and I would practice at the park behind our home. I pitched, my son batted and Sunny was our fielder. She would run so fast to get that ball her back legs would sprawl out her sides making her look like a frog-in-a-hurry! She would have played until death, her huge tongue hanging to the ground yet with still a broad grin spread on her beautiful face.
Soon after moving into our new home our neighbors orange Persian kitty would pop over our fence and hang out on our patio with Sunny quickly deducing that Sunny was harmless. Sunny wanted to play with 'Molly' and with tail wagging and her whole body with it could only come up with sticking her muzzle under Molly's belly and lifting her off the ground. Molly did not take well to that and would hiss and harmlessly claw at Sunny. As the years past they became friends sleeping on the patio in the sun together. When the neighbors moved they asked if we would like to keep Molly since she spent most of her time on our patio. Thank the Lord we said "yes" which will be explained at the end of this story.
As Sunny aged she continued her unabashed, uncontrolled athletic life sadly tearing her cruciate ligaments in both back knees. This slowed her down, bearly. Sunny was very stoic when it came to pain and it was very difficult to know when she was. She was always happy, always loving and the sweetest dog I have ever known. While I gardened in the front yard Sunny would sniff around the yard then lay down on the grass until someone passed by and she would greet them with gentle enthuiasm and make everyone feel loved. The only time Sunny would bark was when someone was walking by our back fence and it was one, maybe two deep barks, with her tail wagging like crazy, so funny! Sunny loved apples and carrots (the only 'people food' we gave her) and would chew and chew and chew them. The only thing she didn't wolf down!
A few months before Sunny's 13th birthday I noticed a bump inbetween her toes (paw). It was cancer. We cleaned it and wrapped it every few days for several months. She began limping on our now short walks which eventually stopped and she began sleeping most of the day. The day I saw 'the look' in her eyes, I thought I would just die along with her. It was clear she was telling me she was all worn out and ready to be a pup again in heaven. Yes, I do believe our precious pets (family) will meet us in heaven. In the Book of Revelation 5:13, in the Bible, it says "And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They also sang; "Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever". After all dog spelled backwards we all know is GOD! What a beautiful reflection our dogs are of God's unconditional love for us!!
My dear veterinarian, Dr. Dwight Sinner, came to my home on May 15, 2009 and as I spooned my sweet, precious Sunnygirl, sent her off to a place where I know she is running and loving everyone she meets!
This was a loss I never imagined would leave me so empty, lonely and aching for her smiling face everytime I enter my home. The year has continued on a sad note as my 80 years old best friend and mom went home to the Lord (and Sunny!) after suffering with Parkinson's. Then my son left for college last week. Time to get another angel who I am so excited to train for a Therapy dog and fill the huge empty place in my heart. Remember Molly? She is now 'top cat' of the house, greets me when I get home, follows me most of the time and after a few weeks of looking around for Sunny has taken to sleeping on my bed right where Sunny slept for 13 years and 3 weeks!
Linda B.
It was easy picking which pup we wanted. When I was growing up and we would go get a puppy my dad would always bring a tennis ball and throw it to see which pup would continue to fetch it. He said that was always the smartest one of the pack! Our Sunny was relentless in beating out her brothers and sisters getting that ball! We picked our 'Sunny' or 'Sunnygirl' up on July Fourth and took her home to lots of fireworks and kids in the neighborhood. Nothing fazed our Sunny, loud pops, bangs, kabooms, the shrilling screams of children, nothing. She loved life, all people, big and small, cats, cows, and fish. As we explored Oregon's creeks, streams, ocean and mountains, Sunny was with us every step and with every stroke when swimming. She especially loved floating down the rivers by our side.
In 2000 my husband divorced me and I have raised our son as a single mom for 13 years In 2003 I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and proceeded to have 9 surgeries and chemotherapy the next two years. Sunny was by my side 24 hours a day. I could not have made it through many days without her love, comfort, humor and companionship. She was my sweet shadow and a snuggle bear while sleeping.
When Sunny was a pup I taught her to first, sit, then shake, lay down, get up, turn around, sit, then bark. She would perform them perfectly every time so long as I had a 'cookie' in my hand. As she got older and we entertained our guest with Sunny's antics, as soon as she saw the cookie in my fingers she would do the whole trick, with no prompting and very fast! It was very impressive and hilarious to watch. Sunny also loved to go in the car, anywhere! When she could get into the garage by slipping through an open door, we would find her sitting by the car door shaking with anticipation with her face saying "Let's go, let's go, let's go!" And, oh, the miles we walked together! Morning and evening, rain, sleet, snow, it didn't matter, she had to take her 'walkies' and stop to say 'hello' to every person or dog along the way. During the 'baseball years' my son, Sunny and I would practice at the park behind our home. I pitched, my son batted and Sunny was our fielder. She would run so fast to get that ball her back legs would sprawl out her sides making her look like a frog-in-a-hurry! She would have played until death, her huge tongue hanging to the ground yet with still a broad grin spread on her beautiful face.
Soon after moving into our new home our neighbors orange Persian kitty would pop over our fence and hang out on our patio with Sunny quickly deducing that Sunny was harmless. Sunny wanted to play with 'Molly' and with tail wagging and her whole body with it could only come up with sticking her muzzle under Molly's belly and lifting her off the ground. Molly did not take well to that and would hiss and harmlessly claw at Sunny. As the years past they became friends sleeping on the patio in the sun together. When the neighbors moved they asked if we would like to keep Molly since she spent most of her time on our patio. Thank the Lord we said "yes" which will be explained at the end of this story.
As Sunny aged she continued her unabashed, uncontrolled athletic life sadly tearing her cruciate ligaments in both back knees. This slowed her down, bearly. Sunny was very stoic when it came to pain and it was very difficult to know when she was. She was always happy, always loving and the sweetest dog I have ever known. While I gardened in the front yard Sunny would sniff around the yard then lay down on the grass until someone passed by and she would greet them with gentle enthuiasm and make everyone feel loved. The only time Sunny would bark was when someone was walking by our back fence and it was one, maybe two deep barks, with her tail wagging like crazy, so funny! Sunny loved apples and carrots (the only 'people food' we gave her) and would chew and chew and chew them. The only thing she didn't wolf down!
A few months before Sunny's 13th birthday I noticed a bump inbetween her toes (paw). It was cancer. We cleaned it and wrapped it every few days for several months. She began limping on our now short walks which eventually stopped and she began sleeping most of the day. The day I saw 'the look' in her eyes, I thought I would just die along with her. It was clear she was telling me she was all worn out and ready to be a pup again in heaven. Yes, I do believe our precious pets (family) will meet us in heaven. In the Book of Revelation 5:13, in the Bible, it says "And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They also sang; "Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever". After all dog spelled backwards we all know is GOD! What a beautiful reflection our dogs are of God's unconditional love for us!!
My dear veterinarian, Dr. Dwight Sinner, came to my home on May 15, 2009 and as I spooned my sweet, precious Sunnygirl, sent her off to a place where I know she is running and loving everyone she meets!
This was a loss I never imagined would leave me so empty, lonely and aching for her smiling face everytime I enter my home. The year has continued on a sad note as my 80 years old best friend and mom went home to the Lord (and Sunny!) after suffering with Parkinson's. Then my son left for college last week. Time to get another angel who I am so excited to train for a Therapy dog and fill the huge empty place in my heart. Remember Molly? She is now 'top cat' of the house, greets me when I get home, follows me most of the time and after a few weeks of looking around for Sunny has taken to sleeping on my bed right where Sunny slept for 13 years and 3 weeks!
Linda B.
