Shelby and I were together for all but the first 6 weeks of her life. She was very sick and was about to be put to sleep when I stole her away. I rescued Shelby that day but for the next 14 years Shelby rescued me. After an accident I was forced to stay in bed for almost a year and Shelby never left me for a moment. She refused to go play outside or to eat anywhere but in my room on my bed. The only time she would leave me was to go do her" business". Then she would run right back and run to my bedroom and cry until someone put her back on my bed.
During that time Shelby saved my life. I won't go into the details but if not for Shelby I would not be here today. Shelby was 6 pounds of pure courage, intelligence and love.
Shelby fought for almost 2 years to stay with me. My Vet told me to put her to sleep when she needed her spleen removed. I looked Shelby in the eyes, held her and I knew she wasn't ready. I was right. My Vet told me to put Shelby to sleep when she got a blot clot in her intestines. Again I knew she wasn't ready. And then Shelby got kidney failure and still she fought to stay with me. The very last thing-the very last thing I would ever do was make Shelby suffer. Each time she fought back death and returned to her happy playful self.
But as her small body began to succumb to the kidney failure we both knew the end was near.
One morning Shelby crawled into my arms and said "Mommy I'm sorry but I have to leave now". I called my Vet one moment later and had him come to my home. I held her in my arms and spoke to her, feeling her heartbeat against my chest as the Vet gave her the injection. The Vet stood up and said "She's gone". But she wasn't, I could still feel her tiny heart beating. The Vet said "that's impossible" and then he felt it too, Tears started to stream down my Vet'a face as he gave her a second injection. He said "in 35 years I've never had to give an animal more than one injection. Even in death Shelby is trying to stay with you.
I now have Shelby's ashes but I will have Shelby herself in my heart for-ever. She was more than just a dog she was my best friend.
I am told there is a special place called "Rainbow Bridge" where animals go to wait for their owners. I pray that this is true because I can't bear the thought of eternity without my Shelby Girl.
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Thank You to all the geocachers out there that are making this mission possible.