Allee
Well-known member
- Oct 27, 2013
- 16,852
- 228
- Parrots
- U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
My husband was driving home from work and saw her beside a dumpster. He couldn't catch her so he took food to her, it was several days before she agreed to be his girl. He couldn't find her family so he kept her. He saw her with a group of coyotes several times, a large male and female, he saw them sniffing her, they had a litter of pups, after a few times, he knew Sparkle was safe with her wild cousins. She howled with them at night and for them in her later years. She chased rabbits and dug up gophers. The only thing she enjoyed more than chasing rabbits was chasing the UPS man. She loved car rides. She walked hundreds of miles with my husband near the Brazos River. She loved to swim, she would stand in the river and try to dig a hole in the water with her forepaws. In her sixteen and a half years the worst thing she ever did was steal a baby wild hog, how she got it away from it's mother, Hogzilla, we'll never know.
When my husband moved to a duplex near his job, his mother asked to keep Sparkle, she needed a gaurd dog, he had misgivings but he agreed Sparkle could stay at the ranch she loved. It was a mistake, my husband's mother has no maternal instincts. He found Sparkle a few months later with a tumor on her abdomen. His mother admitted she no longer wanted the responsibility, she'd been feeding Sparkle cookies and milk since Joe was no longer there to care for Sparkle's daily well being. Thrown away for the second time, Sparkle was fourteen and a half when my husband, Joe, brought her to me. She was a bag of bones and recovering from surgery to remove the tumor. I had to beg her to come inside at first but not for long, she was tired, she enjoyed the indoors, a soft bed and plenty of attention. My oldest son has a mobile grooming service, he and his wife brought their equipment and treated our wild girl to a Hollywood spa treatment, she surprised us all with how much she loved it. She got to know my long time vet, there were lots of visits during her final two years. Her vet, Kathy took such good care of my sweet girl, she will have my gratitude and respect forever.
A couple of nights ago, I was talking with my youngest son, he said, "Sparkle has always been a firecracker. Has it really been sixteen years?"
Yesterday afternoon, Joe, Kathy and I said goodby to our love. She was the best, true to the end. We'll always miss her.
I always dedicate a song to those I love and lose. When I hear their song, I always pause to remember them alone until the song ends. This is Sparkle's song, it describes her last two years with me much better than I can.
Bette Middler Lyrics
"Baby Mine"
Little one, when you play,
Pay no heed what they say.
Let your eyes sparkle and shine,
Never a tear, baby of mine.
If they knew all about you,
They'd end up loving you too.
All those same people who scold you,
What they'd give just for the right to hold you.
From your head down to your toes,
You're not much, goodness knows.
But, you're so precious to me,
Sweet as can be, baby of mine.
-Bette Middler, Beaches 1988
If anyone reads this and thinks, how could anyone feel this away about a dog and admit it, all I can say is, I feel for you. I'm guessing there aren't too many of you on this forum. Thank you for listening.
On Sparkle and my grandpuppy, Squishey's behalf, I humbly ask that if you are considering adopting a rescue, please consider a senior, they have a lot to offer even after someone gives up on them.
Her "sparkle" will live forever in your hearts! 
