This was originally posted September 2019
If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know who Isis is. If not, let me introduce you. This beautiful face, is my whole heart. We adopted her back in June of 2010. Brought up from a high-kill shelter in Georgia, with a few others, she found her way into our home and hearts. And now she’s gone.
Isis was an American Staffordshire Terrier. Isis was happiest at home, playing with ball, laying in the sun with a full belly. She was happy being the only dog. She wasn’t a big fan of other dogs, especially if they rushed up to her, but she did okay with them. She loved children but really couldn’t be bothered with most adults unless they had food. She was a horrible watch dog, though I’m sure if someone stole her food, it’d be a different story.
Isis loved to run. She would play ball until her feet were bloody. Literally. We had to take the ball from her because she was so tired chasing it, we didn’t even realize she ripped a toenail, and then had to be carried to the house because she was exhausted. She just kept bringing it back to be thrown again. If you were just trying to relax, she brings you a slimy ball and put it it your lap. Give it a nudge and look up at you. If you decided not to throw it, she’d eventually grab it and run around with it by herself. She also loved going for walks. She was amazing on leash. Right beside you. Ears back, tail straight. Nothing swayed her attention. Except a child.
Isis also loved to eat. She knew when breakfast and supper were, and would let you know 2 hours before, so you wouldn’t forget. You’d only have to say “Suppie!” And she’s come running out and sit on the mat, waiting for you to say it’s okay. Drooling all the way. In the evening she would sit and stare and you a whine, hoping you’ll give in and give her treats. She waited every Sunday morning for her egg with her breakfast. And she could smell you peel a banana from down the hall. She would also check out the garbage cans when you weren’t home.
Isis likes going places, but not for long. She always got super excited to go for a drive but had no patience for the actual drive. She made the weirdest noises in the car. Once we got where we were going, she needed to be kept busy. She didn’t like stopping. And she was more than happy to go back home.
Isis loves to be comfy. She was never allowed on the furniture, but we’d occasionally find her curled up on a chair. Sometimes I’d pick her up and put her in the bed. She’d drop like a rock and roll to the side so you couldn’t get her back off. The bed was really high and I never wanted her to jump off, but she was not going willingly. She loved her beds and usually needed to fluff them up herself before laying down.
After making it two years with people who obviously didn’t care, and finding her way to Nova Scotia, she came to us. She was not what we were looking for, but she’s definitely what we needed. We looked at 2 others dogs and things just didn’t work out. We got Isis. 7 years after beating those odds, she broke her leg. We spent a thousands to fix it, only to have to have it amputated 7 months later. Shortly after, we found out it was osteosarcoma. They told us she’d have 6 months to 2 years. She healed. She fought. She won. My Southern girl, rescue, pitbull, tripod, cancer survivor. And then she got sick. And she fought. And we didn’t know how to fix her. And I didn’t want her suffering anymore. And we said good bye. I’ve been broken ever since. March 2, 2019 my heart broke and it will never heal. But I’m trying hardest to start my mind away from those last days and remember all the things I told you here. The noises she made when people came to the door because she wanted to see them. She sad resigned sigh she made when I gave her a bath. The weight of her head in you leg when you’re sitting out on the doorstep. Her waiting by the window for my husband to come home. The grunts when I told her to lay down and she protested but did it anyway. Those beautiful eyes and that quiet but playful spirit. Her company when I was lonely or sad. Always there when I needed someone to listen. Always there to try to sit on me when I tried to do exercises on the floor.
We recently adopted a dog. But no one will replace my baby. The one who was always there for me. The one who played with the cat and tolerated everything they did to her. Who never gave a chicken or rabbit a second glance. She moved into the house with us and she will forever be here.
Rest In Peace, my love. I will see you when I get home ❤️
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