Remembering Sophia

Dachshunds

Sophia

Sophia came to our home in July 2010. We were told she was a CTDR return foster, not because of behavioral issues, but only because her adopter could no longer care for her due to work and travel. He adopted her after her first family neglected to care for her properly and she was treated for heartworms. She was already a Senior Sweetheart at about 10 ½ years old and very overweight.

Sophia began her "transformation" into senior beauty with some daily exercise and a managed diet. At first she struggled with the diet. She barked that gruff bark and would take half your finger along with any treat you gave her! But within months she was walking ½ mile a day, running with the other doxies as they chased the squirrels and the neighbor's dog. She dropped from well over 22 lbs to about 18.

Sophia also struggled with affection from us. She didn't like us to hold her and she got nervous when we tried to put her in our lap or in the bed at night. Despite her nervousness, she didn't like to be alone, so we placed dog beds in every room. Soon she decided it was okay to sit in our laps and with a few gruff barks would get our attention! She eventually grew to love the naps on her daddy's chest while he watched TV.

We assumed Sophia would be with us for the duration of her life considering she was very overweight and already over 10 years old. We were wrong in a way. Within a few months, she had potential adopters! Jason and Tom had lost their beloved pet just months earlier and fell in love with Sophia! We quickly made arrangements to prepare Sophia for the adoption.

Unfortunately, during that time, we discovered Sophia suffered from Congestive Heart Failure, valve disease and Pulmonary Hypertension. She had 3-6 months. We quickly began treatment, but knew it was too much for her body to take. Jason and Tom stayed in her life, so she left this world with 4 parents to love her! We made the difficult decision to let her go on Tuesday January 25, 2011. Her cremains will be laid to rest underneath a cross adorned with her heart shaped name tag encrusted with pink rhinestones.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life ... The prayer of St. Francis

Sophia belle ... play freely and without pain over the Rainbow Bridge!

Special thanks to Dr. Bouloy & team and Dr. Charla Jones & team

Darrel & Mary

Her sisters Maxine & Marbles and her baby brother Jackson

View our other CTDR hospice dogs