[I.Heart.Goldens]

Hopefully this won't be too long... but I just wanted to post a few pictures, and share a few memories of my beloved Molly through the exciting years of her life(and mine).
Molly was a promised gift to me, after moving half way across Canada at the age of 11, I really had no friends, it was an entirely new province far away from what I knew was "home". I had been wanting a dog since I could speak, and used to move as "YOU OWE ME...for doing this to me mom and dad"..Anyways, I got my girl, and the rest was history as they say. Molly was brought into my life to definitely teach me how to be a good dog owner. She was a tough puppy, into trouble constantly, testing boundaries, but was a sweet, loving girl at the same time. Finally by the time she was 4-5 her disobedience, and attitude(towards other dogs)got to me. That's when I went on a great journey into discovering what it was to be REAL dog owner. training, agility, professional showing,therapy dog, you name it - and we both flourished. Molly was by my side over so many crucial "teenage" stages, she was my rock, the one thing that remained constant. She waited for me the year I went away to college, (I became a veterinary technician - because of her), and when my second year started I moved into a place off campus so I could take her with me. When Molly turned 11, we did the unimaginable, we got ANOTHER Golden, we always thought Molly would be a "single" doggie home, it was Molly's way or the highway with other dogs, but she did soften up a lot in her older age... Otis came along and they were inseparable - best thing we ever decided to do. She taught Otis manners, respect, and Otis taught her almost how to be a dog again...definitely put those extra years on her life.
In feb of 2011, I was just petting her belly, and found a "bump" up in her groin area, of course being the worry wort had it removed immediately, surgery went well, and we sent it away. Results came back as a Mammary Adenocarcinoma...that has most likely metastisized to her Lymphnode... results were not good. There wasn't much we could do, keep her comfortable, and happy. She bounced back from surgery like a young healthy thing she's been her entire life, and we almost forgot about it. Then during one of our many camping trips in the summer she went off her food...that's not normal for Molly and we had a gut feeling it was not good. We then found out that week that there was Cancer in her lungs..everywhere. Within 10 days of diagnosis she went completely downhill...lost so much weight... so quickly... Otis was usually the annoying brother that would bite her feet, get her going, but instead of their usual playful relationship he just sat by her side, and cleaned her face....constantly. We knew it was time, and with my family surrounding her, we laid her to rest, as she was in my arms. As a technician I deal with euthansia's on a daily basis.... and I THOUGHT I could handle it, but that moment she left us there was such a emptiness in my heart that I will never forget. As much as an adult I felt I had become, I felt like a little girl who just lost her most cherished companion. Anyways, it feels great to tell her story, her memories, now that it's been 6 months I definitely smile when I think about her, rather than cry. But...yeah! There's her story...and I'll add a few pictures of her over the years....the last one was taken about 2 weeks before we lost her, my good friend is a photographer and when I was married in September of last year he printed large copy of her picture and framed it for us, as a gift, it's on my wall and I look at it every single day and miss her!

and a couple or more pics...could only load so much... professional pic is on this bunch...lol

[reeskujo]

What a beautiful and sad story!..It sounds like you were meant for each other and that you gave her a very good life..The pictures are beautiful especially the ones of the two of them together..I'm so sorry for your loss but it sounds like you made her very comfortable and in the end made the best decision for her..It always amazes me how much of an impact they can make on our lives and how most of the time they help us get through the rough roads in life more then the people who love us can...Thanks for sharing both your stories.

[lange]

I have to admit reading your words choked me up a bit. Thank you for sharing your Miss Molly with us. It sounds like you are kindred spirits and that is never gone from us.

Rest In Peace, Molly.

[I.Heart.Goldens]

Thanks guys! It's weird...it's almost therapeutic to talk about her. My husband and I have definitely talked about getting another girl, the house is not the same without two dogs. Otis definitely misses a play buddy (even though he has a bigger social network than I do, mr.popularity)... So we are looking forward to that. We're thinking another Golden, possibly a Newfie...because they're so darned cute!

[CorkyMax]

Thanks for sharing! All those pics were great--To be honest, it made me cry when I saw Molly's coat--Even though Corky was part Cocker---I knew he got his coat from a Golden---Love the way their coat 'lays' and with the feathering. Always loved petting him. He had his tail docked before I ever saw him but wonder what it would of looked like if it hadn't been docked.

I just posted this this afternoon but maybe you have already seen it: If a Dog Could Talk/Write...