Today Sammi, our dog of nearly 14 years, died. She died with her ears still sticking up.
Some things I will always remember about my puppy: Taking her home the first night. Racing her up the stairs. The way she would get randomly hyper and run around the house. The way she knew when I was sad and made me laugh. The way I could get her ears to stick up by raising the pitch of my voice. How even she knew that wet, rolled up towels are a scary thing. How she always knew when dad was out getting breakfast and would wait eagerly for him (and bacon) to return. How she was always so warm and smelled like a dog, but I loved it. She loved toasting outside in the sun. She loved to have her ears scratched.
I don’t think she ever lived up to her name (Samantha means “obedient”), but she was a sweet, loving dog, and from that first night she was my baby. She will be missed very much.
This morning, when all seemed normal, I called her over and she laid down and rested her head on my foot. Totally randomly, I took a few pictures of her. I only wish now they had been better pictures.
Rest in Peace, Sammi. Thank you for being a part of my life.
Scraps of Paper 
I’m so very sorry for your loss :( It sounds like she was well-loved and had a wonderful forever home. Take comfort of the good memories you had together. May she rest in peace.
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Thank you! My family did love her very much.
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I am sorry for the pain you are feeling. I have 3 dogs and 2 cats. 4 are old and will be in that same place soon. I have been through it and it is tough. Remember the love and memories you shared with Sammi.
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Thank you for commenting. It’s always comforting knowing that other people have gone through the same thing and made it through.
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I am sorry for your loss. Losing Sammi, from experience, is never easy. “My” first dog, it was really my mom’s, was bit and killed by another dog and it took me 10 years before I was able to adopt a dog. Sometimes I think about it and tell myself, “what a waste of time. I should have adopted sooner.” But you know what? Every person grieves in a different way and as such the time to do this is never the same. I am glad you had your Sammi for 14 years.
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Thank you very much for commenting. I think me and my mother especially continue to grieve every time we “miss” something Sammi did or discover a dog-related habit we need to break. I think, in contrast perhaps to you, I find comfort in being around other dogs and listening to people tell stories about theirs. So thank you for telling your story!
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Your welcome.
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