< Pit Bull/Beagle mix >
< brought into my life 4/15/05 & taken from me on 5/31/06 >

This beautiful girl was also a rescue from the local SPCA. Yet another animal I came to fall in love with while I worked there. She came in as a stray & I swear, it was love at first sight. For being a stray - she was so perfect. A tiny little brindle girl. Again, I was one of the first to see her, so I got to choose her name. I chose the name, Paisley, after the print - due to her brindle markings, I thought this was quite fitting. And for some reason the name just really fit her. She was my little Pais-O! *heh* Within a few weeks, she was home with me - where she belonged! She truly was so very special. One of those dogs that is more than just a dog - she was my best friend! We just had a connection & I'll never forget her.

Snoozing all comfy in "her chair."

I was at work one night & the whole night I just had a gut feeling that something was wrong at home. I called home & didn't get an answer - which made me worry even more! And then about 20 mins. later, Mike called me at work. I could tell by the sound of his voice that something wasn't right. Well, it wasn't. He told me that Paisley had just been hit on the road... she was gone. My beautiful baby girl was gone! It was the worst feeling ever. I hope to never have to go through something like that again! Knowing that I didn't get to say good-bye was just horrific to me. I should have been there!! Apparently, since we had quite the severe thunderstorm that night, she was scared & had gotten tangled in her runner & ended up slipping her collar somehow. God, I KNEW I should have put her in her crate that day! I can't help but blame myself - I think it's everybody's natural reaction to do so. At least I had some kind of solace in knowing she didn't suffer - it was quick & painless.

This is one of my favorite pics of her.

Just to be at work & knowing this was horrible. I was doubled-over at work, crying. My co-workers were asking me if I wanted to go home. But how could I go home? Even at the end of my shift I dreaded going home & not seeing my baby. Mike buried her for me. Which was awesome of him. He knew how much I loved her. But the only bad thing he did was take her collar off before he buried her! I was doing OK until I got into the house & saw her collar just sitting there on the counter. I lost it & started bawling again. That was such a hard night for me... I don't think I slept very much. And the next day was even harder! Not having her there snuggled up next to me in the bed in the morning. Not having her lounging in "her chair" after eating her breakfast. Just heart-wrenching! The only thing that helped me through it was knowing that she was still there. I'd be watching T.V. & catch a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye. Or I'd be reading a book in the living room & hear the familiar squeak of the springs in "her chair." She's still around me, I know she is. I know some people may think I'm crazy, but I don't care. I believe in spirits & no one can tell me otherwise. Call me crazy if that makes you feel better, it makes me feel better knowing she really never left me... just her physical body did. It's still hard not having her there to actually hold & cuddle with, but with each passing day it gets easier.

RIP, Paisley - you will forever be missed!!

I love the fact that I captured the above shots - nappin' with Daddy - some of my favs!

She definitely had the Pit Bull look about her.

Almost always smiling!

My precious girl w/a friend's Chocolate Lab, Bear.

Here's Lulu & Pais - yes, they got along quite well.