In Loving Memory of Haley

In Loving Memory of Haley - Born 6/10/07 – Died 11/29/18
Adopted by Pat & Randy Brown from Sunny Sky’s on 8/11/17
 We first met Haley at a Pawsitive Alliance-sponsored adoption event at Marymoor Park. Although we had attended the event to “just look”, this quiet, somewhat forlorn waif of a dog caught my eye and my heart. She had been relinquished to a kill shelter in CA at the age of 10, flown to WA, then rescued by/sheltered at Sunny Sky’s Animal Rescue. Given her age and introverted nature, it was a miracle that Wings of Rescue chose to fly her out and that Sunny Sky’s chose to bring her to this adoption event! We are so thankful they did! Soon she became our Haley.

During the 15 months that Haley was a part of our family, it was a joy to see all the little things that made her life happy. Haley loved having a secure and loving home to call her own – so much so that she walked somewhat reluctantly away from the house on our multiple daily walks – but she always walked vigorously heading toward home. Whenever Haley returned home from a walk or car ride, she always insisted on walking a circle around our backyard to make sure her yard was as it should be. Although Haley was a small dog, she had the full-bodied bark of a larger dog, and while she did not bark frequently, she would bark to announce, “This is my home!” to anyone approaching the house. She was an expert in napping, enjoying sleeping in one of her two beds – curled up like a cute powdered donut!  Her bed in the family room was also her favorite spot because from there, she could monitor activity in the “food room” (kitchen), and the other areas of the open floor plan. She loved looking out from her perch on the ottoman under the front window, attentively watching cars and people. She savored sniffing the scents during our walks in the neighborhood and the trails of Edith Moulton Park near our home. She loved running unleashed on the beach at Seabrook with our girls on family vacations.

 Underweight when adopted, Haley would vocalize impatiently at our feet as we served her breakfasts and dinners, “talking” to us (“Hurry up! I’m hungry, you know!”), then she would prance excitedly over to her feeding area to receive & eat her meal. She also loved her “people food” treats of plain Greek yogurt (from a spoon or almost empty container), scrambled egg, a shred of cheese, pumpkin puree, a bit of plain pancake, or ice cream on occasion. Resigned to the rule of no treats from the dining table, Haley would face away from us in her bed (“I won’t look at you.”) until our dinner was finished. After her meals, Haley delighted in carrying her favorite Lamb Chop doll around the house, vocalizing as she went, often joyfully running from living room to family room! As she recovered from oral surgery, she was not to carry any toys until her mouth healed, so she & I invented another post-meal game - taking turns running & chasing one another around the house. Haley hated baths, but would tolerate them as long as there was a yogurt treat involved. After her bath, she would bolt from the bathroom, exuberantly running all around the house, so happy to be done!  

Haley did not like to cuddle and declined our encouraging invitations to hang out on the couch with or without us (that must not have been allowed in her previous life!).  But there were many ways we knew she loved us. She loved being close to us, snuggled in one of her nest beds. If we were in different rooms, she would walk back and forth, trying to persuade us to settle together in one room, so she could lie down close to both of us. Haley would watch at the front window for our return from errands, and if we were away from the house for more than an hour, Haley would often greet us with vocal “yowls” that sounded quite cat-like. In the last months of her life, Haley was more receptive to physical affection, lingering to accept chest rubs and standing belly rubs – I like to think if she’d been with us longer, that she would have become comfortable with cuddling up with us on the couch.  
The people at Sunny Sky’s had characterized Haley as a “nervous little dog.” (who wouldn’t be after being given up as a senior dog?!) She was very timid about meeting new people (tucking her tail & pulling away if unfamiliar people talked to her), about riding in the car (she’d shake like a leaf), and about going to the vet, but for all her timidity, her basic sweet nature shone through and people loved her wherever we went.

Haley had several serious medical issues from her previous life – a mast cell tumor; loose, infected teeth; skin allergies – but with the work of several specialists, we got her through all these. It was rewarding to see her healthy & comfortable with a sense of wellbeing. We knew when we adopted an older dog that we might not have many years with her, yet fervently hoped that after getting her through her medical issues we would enjoy some good golden years together – it was not to be. Sadly, Haley died from an aggressive cancer 10 days before her 11 1/2th birthday. Despite her rapid decline, she had been able to enjoy some leisurely trail walking with us at Edith Moulton Park on Thanksgiving, only a week before her death. Our vet came to our home to help Haley to the Rainbow Bridge, allowing her to die in her favorite nest bed as we loved and held her. Fifteen months was not nearly enough time to give Haley all the love we had for her. The death of this sweet little dog has left a large hole in our lives & hearts.  
 
Oh, Haley, I miss the soft sweet sound of your ears flapping as you shook upon awakening. I miss our morning routine of a short walk (with you pulling hard toward home & your breakfast), followed by sharing some egg or yogurt with breakfast. I miss seeing you napping contentedly in your bed near me. I miss seeing your beautiful white eyelashes & darling caramel speckled ears. I miss seeing your little face at the front window. I miss having you underfoot “assisting” in the kitchen. I miss the wisps of your shed white fur around the house and your nose prints on the windows. I miss singing love songs to you throughout the day. I miss “mothering” & pampering you, dressing you in your various vests & coats for warmth (and fashion!). I miss taking you for rides in your stroller. I miss patting your soft, smooth fur. I miss seeing your sweet face looking up at me.
If love could have cured you, you would have been healed.

Farewell, precious Haley girl, rest in peace.

Postscript – When I brought the wooden urn with her ashes home from the veterinary clinic, I carried the little urn in a circle around our backyard to honor her coming home ritual– Haley’s last circle in her yard.

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