Snapshot Chronicles

When we moved to Connecticut last year, one of the biggest stresses was whether I would be able to find a good vet. I had been with the same veterinarian for about 15 years. Dr. Cindy Schaefer and the staff at Apple Country Animal Hospital in Stow Mass. had seen us through so many things from illness and loss, to the joy of new puppies! Cindy was more than our vet; she became a friend.

So I searched carefully on the Internet for a veterinary hospital that had similar facilities, and really lucked out when I chose Shelton Veterinary Center. The doctors and staff are both skilled and friendly, and have done a great job for our menagerie over the past year.

And no time more so than on March 3d when I had to say good bye to Music. While they didn’t have the history with this marvelous bitch that Cindy had, and may not realize how much Music contributed to the Scottish Terrier breed, they understood how important she was to ME. In that hour, that’s all that mattered.

Yesterday when I was going through the mail, there was a condolence card from the staff. Signed by the vets and the techs, with short personal notes.

The staff at Apple Country cried with me when I lost Sabrina and Nick; they had after all been treating them most of their lives when we lost them in 2008 and 2009 respectively. I didn’t expect the same at Shelton; they’ve only known us a year. But I was both touched and impressed by the thoughtfulness of the personal notes in the sympathy card.

That’s the bar, folks – veterinarians and vet techs who care for your pets nearly as much as you do.

I am so very lucky to have found it twice.

March 23, 1998 – March 3, 2012

I’ve known the day was coming for a while now, and earlier this week, knew it would be soon.

But it was still too soon, Music. It’s always too soon. We will miss you terribly and always.

Music came to live with us in Fall of 1998 a few weeks after the Montgomery Kennel Club Show. She was my second show dog, and became the dam of two multiple BIS winning champions Carly (GCH Blueberry’s Attitude Dancing ROMS HOF) and Henry (GCH Blueberry’s Surely You Jest HOF), and many more wonderful show dogs and pets. At my home now, I have a Music daughter, grandson and great-grandaughter.

There are so many memories of this wonderful bitch, but I think my very favorite is the day I realized she wasn’t just going to live with us until she finished her championship and then be placed. It was January 1999, and I had just returned from a business trip with a miserable sinus infection. I was lying on the couch feeling sick and pathetic, and she jumped up, licked my face and curled up to nap with me. Yup, not going anywhere.

She never met a toy she couldn’t destroy in under 5 minutes. Not even the so-called indestructible ones could withstand her powerful jaws. Luckily, once she had destroyed the squeak and pulled out all the stuffing, she was happy playing with the toy “carcass.” I was so glad when they came out with toys that had no stuffing, just a squeak.

Music was a wonderful mother — she took excellent care of her babies, and of mine too, when we had Douglas in April 2000. She loved to camp out under his highchair, and scored some tremendous treats for many years by being in the right place at the right time.

I don’t have many pictures of Music. Like many women, after a certain age she didn’t like to have her picture taken. As soon as she saw the camera, she would turn her back or walk away. Unlike her grandson Cash who will ham it up whenever you ask. The picture on this post is one I love from when she was a puppy. Not too crazy about the person whose lap she is sitting on, but all my other pictures of her are in storage or buried in file boxes in the attic.

I am sure she would have held on another week, maybe even longer. She was a tough girl. But I knew it was time when she stopped eating. Not even her favorite treat, cheddar cheese. So this morning we went to the vet, and I said goodbye.

Love you Music. Miss you already.