Animals come into our lives in different ways. A cat on the street needs a home, a bird hurts its wing and gets nursed back to health, a person relocates and a kind neighbor steps in to care for their dog, and on and on it goes.
Our 14-year-old Australian Cattle Dog rescue, Aja (pronounced like the continent, “Asia”), passed on Wednesday, June 29 around 9 am ET.
Aja 2022
She was spry until last week when she suddenly became ill and the vet found she had a hemangiosarcoma (tumor on her heart) that had ruptured. After talking about what was possible with the prognosis (which was a few days to a week) we took her home.
She looked like she was getting ready to pass sooner than anticipated so we immediately contacted our three dog caregivers. They stopped by to be with her one more time. I stayed up with her all night as she was only able to lie down. I gently pet her and said, “it’s going to be okay, Aja. We love you so much. You are the best girl.”
My husband and I were with Aja as our compassionate vet talked us through the transition ever so gently.
We are heartbroken. Our Australian Shepherd mix, Rosie, was also 14 when she passed October 2021. Our home feels very, very quiet. It is truly amazing how pets can fill a space.
Now, I will share about wonderful Aja.
She was named after the Steely Dan album and song of the same name. :)
Aja was my best buddy who followed me EVERYWHERE (she loved my husband, too, but we both knew she was my dog.) She would sleep until I awoke and would follow me up and down the stairs during the day. She especially loved to plop herself down in front of my desk to relax and kept one eye open as I taught classes on Zoom. It seems she enjoyed the music and the movement and laughter.
Aja was rescued a year after we adopted Rosie. They were a similar breed but they couldn’t have been more different. Rosie was fostered for a little while before we adopted her and she adjusted fairly well. However, Aja was left on the side of a road in Georgia and had physical signs that she had not been in good circumstances.
At first, the new sisters got along. Then Aja tried to become the alpha, but it just didn’t work. So, she learned to let Rosie be the vocal, demanding one, as she sat back and reaped the benefits.
Aja’s desire to be of service really shined through. She was loving and loyal and was super gentle with children and adults (she didn’t like other dogs so much).
While the girls tolerated each other, like human siblings do, they would sometimes sleep in almost the exact same position. They loved walks and we have a picture of them pooping at the same time, which was a riot to watch.
We humans realize that a pet’s life will most likely be shorter than our own. Yet, we open our hearts and adopt them anyway. And, we might adopt again and again. It takes deep love and courage to give our animal friends a good home, and to live in the present moment with joy. And the same goes for the animals we adopt.
I have been reflecting that we humans tend to focus on our separateness. However, we can also share a bond of love and compassion. It seems that in these difficult times, one of the beautiful things in life is the love and care we can provide for animals – adopting or finding a pet, owning a pet-sitting business, working as a foster caregiver, donating to save farm animals and those in laboratory testing, training service animals, or volunteering at an animal shelter.
We REALLY miss our Aja. We REALLY miss our Rosie. And, we are thankful they rescued us. We are grateful for the time and joy we all had together. If I had the chance to go back 15 years and do it over, I wouldn’t change a thing.
It takes a team, and we have been blessed in a big way by these women:
Rebecca, who I can’t say enough good things about — walked our girls several days a week, every week for 15 years, and took such great care of them when Mike and I traveled and worked.
Our backup caregiver, Terry, was always there with a smile and humor when we needed her. She especially loved to talk and play with Aja.
And to our neighbor, Brianne, who recently became fast friends with Aja and cared for her when we were away.
Love to our Aja, Rosie, and to all creatures great and small. May you find miracles in every moment with yours.