For
the second time in a week we lost a dear little companion.
We
were surprised and shocked when Tess developed some very serious health
problems in the last few months. While we hoped we would be able to deal with
them, recent deterioration in her well-being led us to conclude that we needed
to spare her any unnecessary discomfort. We believed it was going to be an
uphill battle for her to regain a quality of life she needed and deserved in
order to go on. She died peacefully in our arms at the vet clinic on 13 October
2018.
Some
readers may find it strange to talk about dogs in a genealogical-related blog. My
view is that “family” often goes beyond just parents, children, grandparents or
siblings – or even human beings. Those warm, loving little animals we choose to
share our homes and lives with are also family. And their passing brings
heartache!
Tess
was born 18 March 2005: mother, Ellie; sire, Draco. She came home with us on 15
May 2005 and was immediately adopted by Robbie – the West Highland White
Terrier that we lost earlier last week – the two becoming life-long friends. And
family, of course.
She
was a sweet dog, prone to friendly licking of anyone who came within tongue
distance – which made children giggle and adults squirm. From the start she was
an energetic dog – in so being, energizing the rest of us. She never had a
litter of her own but she did her best to mother Robbie, regularly grooming his
coat and cleaning his ears. Tess could also be fierce at times, especially if
any other dog looked crosswise at Robbie.
Tess
was a brindle Cairn Terrier, with white, gray and brown in her mostly black
coat. We liked to tell people that she was a look-a-like to the original Toto
of Wizard of Oz fame, also a brindle Cairn. She was not a registered purebred
dog but that was not of concern to us. Our grandson did think she deserved a
bigger name, though, and decided she should be called Contessa Licksalot in recognition of her overbearingly-friendly
demeaner.
In
people years, Tess would have been close to 70, not a bad age for a terrier,
although we certainly would have wished for more time with her, as well as with
Robbie.
It
is difficult to convey in a few words what a lifetime of joy these pets gave
us. If electronic messages could be tear-stained in the way hand-written notes
can be, this would be one of them.
Robbie
and Tess had an enormous impact on our lives and will be lovingly remembered.
