RIP Sue

I wanted to share this beautiful memorial my husband wrote for our sweet dog Sue. She passed away this afternoon, with her loving family by her side.

There will always be a special place in my heart for that big, brown beautiful dog. I only wish Vivienne could have spent more time with her. I know they both would have become fast friends and loved each other immensely.

Today we said goodbye to a family member and a friend. Sue has seen myself and Dawn through the past decade and always had a wagging tail of approval no matter what turn our lives took. She started out as a puppy living with me and my roommates in college in Stillwater, OK. As puppy's go, Sue was unrivaled in her cuteness. A ball of brown furr that did not discriminate on what to chew or where to poop. Many times she warded off late night visitors with consumed flip flops and other accessories. As Sue grew, so did her appetite till the landlord paid a visit and let me know it was either "you or the dog gone by the morning". This is where her tale bends in the direction of Booker, TX where she spent the next three years living on my mom's ranch. She was turned into an outside dog with no protection from thunderstorms other than a dog house.

As I moved to Austin, met Dawn, moved into a duplex together, we knew it was time to return Sue to the land of spoiled dogs. Since 2004 Sue had always been waiting for us when we arrived home. Always hungry, with a crotch sniff, and a wagging tail. She never demanded much from Dawn and I, as we had no demands on her. Love and be loved was a simple aggreement and she fulfilled it perfectly. She was always happy when we were near and ever anxious when we were gone. The years were fairly kind to Sue, as to a lack of her inactivity, her joints and other "lab" issues never really arose. We were very thankful that we got to see her off in little pain. We still got to see the Sue that met us at the door till the last day. As we will so very much miss her, we know that she will no longer be hampered by the dreaded vaccum, thunderstorm, holiday fireworks, or water in any form (she set her self apart by being the only lab on record that hated water).

As you finish this, if you knew Sue, take time to let that dog get a snootfull of crotch/butt. Take a piece of that meal and "accidentally" let it slip to the floor. Tilt that forty on the ground and let them lap up a little in rememberence of a fantasitc dog/pet/friend. Think only of the happy memories that Sue and your pets have brought to your lives. We miss you Sue Bear.