Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Dear Lonesome Grove ...

 

We are supposed to be preparing for Champ’s 10th birthday today. His birthday cookie was ready. His presents were ready. Yet we don’t get to celebrate with him. Champ was perfectly fine until he woke both Justin and I up in the middle of the night and then showed us he wasn’t ok. After hours at the vet ER it was determined that he had cancer mass on his liver that ruptured and was internally bleeding. Something we couldn’t fix to make him stay with us longer. Champ started with Justin and I and we both sat with him as we said goodbye to him.

So many people knew Champ with mainly remembering his shenanigans. But what I remember most is him growing up with me… from the support he gave me while Justin was away on his first deployment for a half a year, to getting married, to when we moved to our forever home, to welcoming two little sisters, to then making many memories as a family. He’s been there with me through all the highs in my life and all the lows. He laid by me at night while I cried myself to sleep and he knew when I needed his comfort. Little does he know that he saved me. Justin always said that even though people were at the house, if I wasn’t there he was waiting for me. I was his person and he was my forever dog. It’s honestly not fair and I wanted more time with him but I’m trying to trust God’s plan. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. And thank you for bringing him into our lives. We are forever grateful. He was the dog we needed in our lives. He was the sweetest dog, but found himself getting into some trouble whether it was ripping up blankets and stuffed animals to opening all the Christmas presents. We even had to put our presents in a closed tote because he would find them, get excited and open them. He loved presents. He loved to lounge on the couch but also chase bunnies and was always out and about with that nose of his. He was the best dog. Thanks again for bringing him into our lives.

Champ, I loved you for your whole life and will miss you for the rest of mine.

~ Katie (December 17, 2024)