A Farewell...

This is a difficult post for me to write.  Over a week ago, we had to say goodbye to our faithful and loving pup Cleo.  I meant to do this earlier, but to be honest...I wasn't ready to write these words yet. 

Jason and I adopted Cleo into our family when she was an 8-week-old bundle of English bulldog energy!  We were married in May of '98 and found Cleo in at the beginning of November.  She was our first child and we treated her like one...as any childless couple does with their pets!  She went everywhere with us and when she was young enough to jump, even slept at the foot of our bed with us! 

This September, Cleo would have turned 12...very old in bulldog years!  In the past couple of years, she had developed arthritis and in the past couple of months had started to deteriorate quickly.  2 weeks ago, she stopped eating and finally was no longer able to use one of her back legs.  On the morning of Wednesday, June 2 we said a very tearful and painful good-bye. 

Even though it has been a week and a half now, I still think I hear her in the house, the click-clicking of her claws on the hardwood floors.  She was with us for 12 years and it is hard for me to remember (or maybe I just don't want to) that she isn't here.  Luci misses her too and often asks "dog???" and I have to remind her that Cleo went "bye-bye".  I know she doesn't understand where her play-mate is. We had some wonderful memories with her and we will miss her for a long time!!!

A picture of Luci and Cleo from last summer as they were just getting to know each other!