2013-2023
She passed gracefully and peacefully at 9:38 AM, April 10, 2023, with her fathers’ caresses and tears at home. She was the sun, the moon, the stars, and everything that is good. She is forever loved and forever missed.
She arrived quiet and timid on the night of Halloween 2013, a gift from City Dogs Rescue. And from that day on, our lives were changed forever.
From the beginning, she ran the house by her rules, from what she was willing to eat to the unfortunate timing of her morning walks. The early years were filled with dog-friendly trips and vacations, outside restaurant visits, play dates with Bear, Ollie, and Tank, and long walks through new neighborhoods with one of her dads. She was the center of attention no matter where she went, and not just because she was gorgeous (she really was), but because of her gracious and approachable demeanor. She was Adele, and everyone knew it!
When her brother Jake arrived during the summer of 2015, she wasn’t quite sure what to make of him, this scrawny little pup who tried to steal her food and toys. What she did do, however, was to make sure that he knew that this was her house and that he had better follow her rules.
Soon after though, they bonded and became inseparable. Perched above the driveway, peering through the glass doors, they guarded the neighborhood together. Sound the alarms if a deer, a fox, or the ever-present squirrels, or chipmunks showed up on the hill in the back. They operated as a team. And if one of us became sick, Adele led that team, whether it be on or beside the bed, giving comfort and always keeping watch until we recovered.
One of her favorite games was “I’m gonna get you” which involved one of her dads chasing her, toy in mouth, around and under the dining room table while saying “I’m gonna get you.” She was so graceful as she walked up the stairs at bedtime. She would stop midway, turn around and look at you as if to say “Are you coming? What’s taking so long?” It brought such joy when you would kneel on the floor, usually in the kitchen, and say “Give me a hug.” She would do a slight jump, lift her paws onto your shoulders and lean in as if to kiss you. And oh, was she free with the kisses! Kneel, get close, and say “Gimme a kiss.” The love and the joy flowed freely.
We thought we were going to lose her in 2018 when she became ill and was diagnosed with PLE, an often-fatal condition. Thanks to the amazing Dr. Daniel the staff at Friendship Hospital for Animals, she beat the odds. Over the course of several months, we got back to our routines, albeit with the addition of special dog food and some meds.
For one person, walking Adele and Jake together became untenable. Of course, Adele became the beneficiary of that change. It was back to one-on-one time with long lunchtime walks. It was during one of these walks in August of 2022, that we noticed something was not right, a slowness, lack of interest, tiring easily. A trip to the hospital and some bloodwork delivered a diagnosis of lymphoma. Two weeks, we were told. Well again, thanks to Friendship Hospital, Dr. Foskett, and the oncology staff, Adele became a cancer survivor. However, the joy associated with Adele’s victory was short-lived. Less than a month later, a UTI, a hospital stay, and kidney damage proved to be too much for our little girl. Add on the loss of her brother, Jake, two days prior, and it was too much. There was no fight left. She was ready to go. All the love that we had for her was not enough this time.
