Monday, January 19, 2009

Fancy

We lost one of our dogs Saturday evening. Eler Beth's fox terrier, Fancy, died. She had been doing poorly for about a week now, and I figured she was nearing the end. She suddenly started losing weight. She was 13 years old, so she'd lived a nice, long life, and more than six of those years she'd lived as the favorite dog and soul-mate of my little girl.

Fancy had belonged to a friend of Thomas' who lives on a huge farm in Kentucky. Thomas and Eler Beth had gone to visit one day and to look for fossils in his hills where they wash down after a good rain. Fancy took a "fancy" to Eler Beth and vice versa; she followed Eler Beth around the whole time they were there and wouldn't have anything to do with anyone else. Jim (our friend) said to Thomas, "Looks like you've got a new dog." Thomas said, no, he couldn't take Jim's dog from him, and Jim said, yes he could and that she apparently was Eler Beth's dog and he just insisted we take her. He wouldn't let Thomas pay for her, even though Jim had bought her from a Fiest breeder in Virginia.

Later that summer she bred with another fox terrier and we got four pups out of her -- Scout, my very intelligent and loyal boy; Little Bit, the girl Eler Beth bonded with and kept; and another boy and girl that we gave to Jim.

We'll miss her, and our beagle Heidi will miss her. Fancy and Heidi were very close and even shared a dog house. But I don't think she was in pain. She was alert and loving up to the end; she just wanted to sleep all the time. Eler Beth is handling it very well, and I'm very proud of her.

21 comments:

Missie said...

I'm so sorry! Sending hugs.

Donna. W said...

Well, it's never easy to give them up, but I'm glad Eler Beth is handing it well.

Bill said...

It is never easy to lose a fur friend. I have had a number over the years and still miss them all, especially my K-9 partner Bear. I'm glad to hear that Eler Beth and all of you are handeling the loss well.
My Regards, Bill

Jmoqueen said...

I'm sorry to hear about fancy x I'm glad that Eler Beth is okay :o)

Jenny said...

Sorry to hear about your dog it's always sad to lose a friend.
Jenny <><

ADB said...

Sorry to hear you lost your dog, Lori. It is like losing a member of the family, isn't it.

Beth said...

Oh, I'm so sorry, Lori. My condolences to you all, especially to Eler Beth.

Hugs, Beth

Traci said...

I'm so sorry! It is miserable to lose an animal. Especially one who was so loyal!

Ken Riches said...

Hugs to you both :o)

Glad that you were able to give pups back :o)

Anne said...

Oh my gosh....I am so very sorry for you and for Eler Beth. It's so very sad when that happens and I know how Eler Beth loves her animals. (I do too!) Anne

Lisa said...

Awwww, I'm sorry to hear this. I am happy to hear Eler Beth is handling it well. Sending hugs all around.

Coelha :B said...

:( Sorry to hear about Fancy! It's always very hard to lose a friend! Julie

Yasmin said...

Sorry to hear about Fancy, and glad to hear eler Beth is coping well, sending good wishes.

Yasmin
xx

Leigh/BlueDragonfly said...

Oh how sad. It sounds like she had a good long life and didn't suffer very much.
Hugs to your family, Leigh

Joann said...

POOR ELER BETH!!! Jim sounds like a great person, that was really nice of him!! I'll go visit Eler Beth, now!!

chefkelly25 said...

Sorry to hear about Eler Beth's friend. It a hard thing to go through. Kelly

Bea said...

So sorry to hear about your loss of little Fancy... Fox Terriers are so cute. I saw them on the Dog Whisperer the other day, and thought if I had another dog, I'd like to get another Miniature Schnauzer (like our Max and Misty) or possibly a Fox Terrier. Such handsome little dogs they are. My Misty was 13 when she did last May. She had been sleeping a lot toward her last year with us. I know you'll miss her. What a sweet dog she was.

I Have Tea said...

I'm sorry to hear about Fancy. It isn't easy...hugs to all.

Lisa said...

I am so sorry to hear about Fancy....
Lisa

MammawsDecorativeArt said...

I'm so sorry to read about this. How's Eler Beth holding up? And the rest of you?

Nelishia

Kathy said...

Oh, it is so tough to lose a pet. They really are members of our families.

My sympathy to Eler Beth and to all of you.

Hope you are having better days now with happy and funny memories.