03/24/2026
TRIGGER WARNING... GRIEF AND LOSS
Saying Farewell To Our Hound Because It's Not Goodbye Forever... SPICE 2016-2026 🌈🐾🪽💔
Spice you came into our life in 2016 so small, super skinny, so afraid of the world. The first three months of your life you did not find comfort and kindness... Someone chopped your ears, starved you and very likely abused you physically! This came with so many challenges! ❤️🩹🙏🏻🐾
We faced all those challenges together especially in your first year! We learned that crate training was next to impossible... Confinement was not an option. You were terrified of every quick movement, the broom, the vacuum, my hair brush, keys... Literally everything was so scary! ❤️🩹😢
But then you began to trust, to love and to blossom! You started going to work with me and absolutely loved meeting all the kids I worked with... Especially playing ball in the yard or at the park or going to the dog park with us! 💕🐾
A year later we got you a little brother! 🩵💕🐾 You and Winston have been inseparable since! You taught him how to use the stairs, taught him how to play, taught him how to walk and how to trust!
The years went by far too quickly... We did everything we could go keep you healthy and active through your thyroid disease and arthritis diagnoses. Then two TPLO surgeries in 2025 which sadly were not successful due to the arthritic disease processes. But you kept going! 🥰🐾 Never wavering, never faultering.
We had a huge year last year trying to make your little brother's last year an exceptional one! Little did we know God had other plans.... We explored Canada all the way from the west coast to Quebec. We traveled all over the US and even went to Mexico twice! We had grand adventures all of us together as a pack with all our new friends on transport! 🌄🏕️💕 You loved our adventures and getting to sniff out everything like hounds always do!!
On March 6th as I was preparing to leave for the weekend I came back in the house to find you couldn't walk to me. Your other CCL had blown and I knew we'd have to say goodbye very soon. We gave you extra medicine to keep you comfortable and I contacted our amazing vet team at the Animal Care Centre of Strathmore to book your appointment for March 14th. 🌈😢🐾 You see, we had already had in-depth discussions with Dr. Dave about what would be the decision if the CCL on the other leg went due to your age, hip dysplasia and inability to fully weight bare on the leg we already had done two surgeries on.
Our week was full of joy, love, laughter and yes tears! Because it's never easy to say goodbye to a family member! We gathered our loved ones near and celebrated you with a family party on March 13th at home with our pack and the kids you grew up with! 🥰🐾🙏🏻 We cooked a huge pork loin and potatoes which we all got to share!! What a beautiful celebration of you it was!
On March 14th we got up and had a big breakfast... You got to eat waffles and French toast with the kids!! 😍 This time I wasn't telling anyone to stop sharing their food with you! Your brother Winston, and our dear friend Ashley joined us along with Ariyah and Ashelle on our final car ride! We stopped at the Memorial Garden on the clinic property... One of your favorite places to sniff and just sit in remembrance of all those animals who've crossed the 🌈 bridge! We took some pictures of all of us with you which I will cherish forever!
Our incredible vet team brought us through the back door of the clinic to our special room where we could spend our final time with you. You had zero interest in tasting chocolate🍫... Because the good girl you are knew this is not something you were allowed to ever have. But you got to literally eat handfuls of treats from the girls and from momma. We clipped some fur for keepsakes before the vet came to put the catheter in your leg.
I held your head in my lap as the sedation set in to help you relax and fall asleep. My heart wasn't ready... We allowed everyone their time with her before the final meds were given. It was peaceful but soul shattering for Winston, who misses you terribly every day! 💔😭🐾🌈🪽 After the final push my heart crumbled and I scooped you into my arms needing to hold you close one last time! You took your final breath and I wispered until we meet again.
There are no words to describe the pain felt when letting your cherished companion cross the rainbow bridge... Time makes it easier but doesn't erase the pain! I'll love you forever my girl!! 🪽🌈🐾💕 Run free from pain my sweet Spicy girl!!
