Lucy with Susie and Chloe

Marian Ogletree (Lucy’s sister) with Mickey - 1958

Bath time with Snoopy by Lucy Ogletree

When my Husband Mike and I moved to Sparta I adopted a little puppy named Sunny from the London Humane Society.

Sunny was an adventure seeking hound and would have made her breed proud.

She was a free spirit who chose to include me in her life.

Sunny was also a very social girl and had several dog pals who would go with her on her adventures hunting through the ravines and woods in the Sparta area.

Unfortunately, as a result of her self guided expeditions, she and I made many trips to the vet for stitches and antibiotics from the many cuts to the various parts of her body.

Of course, I tried to keep her from roaming the countryside. But my efforts were in vain. Sunny was a free spirit who was determined to live life on her terms.

Sunny passed away two years ago at the ripe old age of fourteen.

Sunny at Winter Wheat– A quiet little moment in the sun.

Along with Sunny, Winter Wheat has been home to two Cockapoo’s, Chloe and Susie, and Lily an eleven year old Lhasapoo.

I decided to write about dogs in this month’s newsletter in memory of my dog Susie who passed away this May.

Anyone who has seen our TV ad for Winter Wheat has seen Susie.

Susie wandered into my life in 1996 when as a little scraggly puppy she walked up my driveway - a stray that somebody dropped off on the side of the road.

Her fur was horribly matted and she was filthy. I had her groomed and took her to the vet for a checkup.

She was malnourished and covered with sores. When Susie was stronger I started to look for a permanent home for her because I wasn’t ready for another dog.

But the longer Susie lived with me the more I realized that Susie found her home and it was with me. Of all the dogs who have shared their lives with me Susie was the one who really touched my heart in a very special way. She was incredibly sensitive to my emotions and if I cried she would push her face tightly against mine as if she was attempting to comfort me or take some of my pain away.

Like many other people who have loved a dog, seeing them grow old or struggle with sickness is never easy.

The choices you are faced with are hard ones.

As Susie aged she started to show signs of dementia which progressively got worse. I continually questioned what was best for Susie. Was I keeping Susie here only for me? Was she still enjoying life or was she in pain? What did Susie want?

A friend gave me some advice and said to ask Susie to let me know when it was time for her to leave this world.

With a little faith, that’s what I did.

The day before Susie passed away, she became very weak. She wanted me to hold her and keep her close to me. So I held her and took her for a walk in our woods, the woods she loved so much.

Cradling her in my arms I walked to our new healing garden. Inside the little building I held Susie up so she could see out the cross shaped window.

The sun was setting and the winter wheat in the field was gently moving with the wind. I remembered how Susie and Chloe played in the wheat field.

As I remembered this, tears were running down my face.

At that moment Susie looked into my eyes and licked the tears from my cheeks. I knew in my heart that she was telling me it was okay to let her go. She was ready.

Susie – in one of her favorite spots

Poem – Special Friend

Special Friend

I lost a special friend today
the kind you can’t replace,
and looking at her empty bed
I still can see her face.

I see the endless energy
The sparkling puppy eyes,
Not the tired, fragile friend
I had to bid goodbye.

I know she’s in a special place our Lord has for such friends.
Where meadows, fields and flowers help make them strong again.
I know she’s watching over me
She’ll be with me when I cry,
So with one more kiss on her beloved head
I told my Susie goodbye.