Puggy

Hailey “Puggy” or “Hai Hai” was born during the Summer of 2000.  My brother Danny, who was turning twelve that summer had been asking my mom for a German Shepard puppy for a long time.  We already had one other dog at home, Bailey a sweet Golden Retriever so she kept telling him no.  He had been working on my mom for a while and unbeknown to him, she arranged to surprise him with a puppy while he was visiting me  in San Diego.  When Danny would get off the plane and drive home, a sweet little guy, to be named Hailey, would be home waiting for him.

Hailey was a beautiful, perfect puppy, full of energy, curiosity, and love for my brother Danny.  I remember Danny telling me how smart Hailey was and sweet, but that he was also a big baby.  He’d sleep with my brother and would puppy cry with excitement and love when you’d pet him, and he learned his signature move; to take his paws and cross them over his eyes while howling when you would lean down to pet him or give him a hug or kiss.

Hailey was well loved in my family, most of all by Danny, but he went away to college in the Fall of 2006.  At that time, Hailey was six years old and had suffered a really bad accident the year before.  One night, Hailey was awake in the middle of the night, barking and howling at something he could hear outside.  My mom let him out, thinking he had to go to the bathroom, but it turned out, he went out to protect my family from a mountain lion!  Though Hailey was a great protector and very tough, he was no match for a bad cat that weighed twice as much as him… that night, the mountain lion took off Hailey’s entire hind leg.  When my siblings and I all heard of the accident, we for sure thought he was a goner, but Hailey persevered… he made it through the night, though having lost a ton of blood and a limb.  He was as good as new in only a few months, romping and chasing around his playmates at home and the deer that roamed my parent’s fields like he had all four legs.

Hailey relaxing in the shade

Hailey passed away, on November 11, 2010 a little over ten years after he was adopted into my family.  He will always be remembered for being a sweet, good-natured, loyal, and loving family member.  He’s survived by his human family: Danny Jr, Amy, Danny Sr, Christina, Diana, Sonya, and me (Jenny).  He’s also survived by his immediate four legged family: his best buds and soul mates, Riley and Izzy, and his newest family members – Chloe, Rowdy, and Luke.

Hailey and Ri Ri

Every time someone’s dog passes away, I think of this poem:

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

Author unknown…

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