I can picture her! So proud of her bird. They will do anything for chicken:) Teddy shakes when he smells it:) Oh my gosh teddy would be so jealous of a dog who actually managed to catch a squirrel...try as he might, not even close. She must have been so quick!!

Yeah, Minnie's love of chicken was a huge asset to us when we needed to force her to drink more on a few occasions. Could always depend on boiling a chicken and giving her the water or mixing in some broth. And our goto meal any time she was having trouble eating was chicken and rice.

The way Minnie ate was really strange. She would never eat dry dog food out of her bowl. Instead she'd pick up a bunch of kibbles in her mouth, drop them on the floor, and then eat them off the floor. It was the funniest thing in the world to watch, because Minnie liked to eat fast and this definitely slowed her down. Luckily she didn't have this habit with wet food.

I tried using different bowls, larger, smaller, metal, ceramic, plastic, etc., and occasionally she would eat out of the bowl for a couple of days when I changed her to a new bowl, but then she would stop again and only eat her food off the floor. I'd wash her bowl every day thinking that was it, but it didn't seem to have any effect. Ah I wish I could have asked her why she didn't like eating out of her bowl. Well, I guess I could have asked lol.

If there's one thing Minnie loved almost as much as snack time and chasing birds/squirrels/cats, it was getting her butt scratched. If you scratched the top of her butt right by the tail she would raise her head to the sky like it was the best feeling in the world. We used to always joke that Minnie would get an organism when you'd scratch her butt. And when you stopped she'd turn around and face you, look you in the eye, and start whimpering for more. Then she'd turn around and stick her butt back out at you, and get annoyed if you pet her head instead.

what wonderful stories of Minnie!

So funny, Teddy moves his food out of his bowl too, and he always makes a huge mess. I have a placemat down, but it doesn't stop him:)

Just thinking back to one of the happiest days of my life... the Tuesday after she got sick at the end. On Monday morning we rushed over to our vet and she was in such horrible shape. When our awesome vet said he had to keep her overnight to get IV fluid into her we were so scared. Not only that she wouldn't make it through the night, but that she would die without us at her side. We were so happy on Tuesday that she pulled through and started making a recovery, because she would have surely not made it through another night without Dr Jaksik (amazing vet and a great and caring staff for anyone in the San Antonio area; I have the card he sent us after Minnie passed on my refrigerator where it's going to stay for good).

What makes that Tuesday so happy is that we were able to come visit with her for a few hours. Just to hang out under some shade and touch and kiss each other and spend time with the little girl we love so much. I know it sounds kind of strange that a day she was dying was one of my happiest, but each of the 7 days we had with her after she got sick were like Christmas morning. You just can't imagine the joy I felt the first time I heard her bark again, even though it was a distressed bark because she didn't want us to leave her there overnight again (which she absolutely needed to get more IV fluids in).

One of the funny things is when we took her in that Monday morning, she started perking up ever so slightly when we pulled up to his office. She was in absolutely horrible shape, but she knew this is the place we take her to make her feel better. Minnie had some real health problems later in life, and Dr Jaksik was so good to her. Minnie is the only dog I have ever had (or even known) who liked going to the vet's office, though it was still impossible to get her to stand still for getting weighed; she would for almost anything else when he wanted her to though. I really feel like Dr Joe Jaksik added not only that week to her life, but maybe a couple of years from things we dealt with before.

I miss her so much. I still cry multiple times a day and have no idea if it will ever stop. But I still smile more times every day when thinking of my Minnie. I knew it was going to hurt badly but never had any idea it would this much.

I can understand why that was one of the best days of your life. What a gift to be able to spend time, pay attention to her and love her. Every moment with her was so precious to you, and I have no doubt, to her. I feel like as deeply as we love, we also grieve that deeply. Just be easy on yourself, and know that you lost a family member, and healing takes a long long time. Hugs....

It does get easier with time, but it never goes away. I still cry at times for pups I lost years ago. Each one I have loved and lost has taken a piece of my heart with them.

I thought I would not survive the loss of my first one...his name was Maxwell.

I am so, so sorry for your loss. Your Minnie was adorable and oh so lucky to have been so loved by you.

Thank you, but I was pretty lucky too to have been so loved by her.

What a beautiful tribute to your beautiful baby. Rest in peace little Minnie Bear.

Thank you annie. I'm so sorry to hear about Kady and Heidi, and absolutely love the photo you have of them snuggling together in the bed in your album. Minnie is the love of my life too.

I just can't tell you guys how much your love for your guys and gals helps my family and I through this time.

It has now been a month since Minnie died; the hardest month of my life by far. Here is a shot of her final resting place :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

You made Minnie's spot so beautiful and special, thank you for sharing the picture. I am so sorry that you are going through this, grief tears your heart in two. I think of you each day, and I think of Minnie too. I like your stories as I feel like I know her now.