Name:
Rosie Smith

Date:
February 13th, 2000 - June 26th, 2010

Obituary:
Chelsey Rose's Rosalie "Rosie" Smith, age 10 years, 4 months, 13 days, was released from this life shortly after 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at the Oakland Veterinary Referral Services in Bloomfield Hills while she was closely held by her grieving parents, Sue and Art Smith.

She was born to Senkow's Jake and Senkow's Chelsey Rose in Emmett on the day before Valentine's Day, February 13, 2000. She was a beautiful English Springer Spaniel, a bit large for her breed. On April 1st she came to live with her adoptive family in Port Huron, the home of Sue and Art Smith on Gratiot Avenue. Rosie's schooling consisted of attending dog obedience classes with her "Mom" and she later attempted a few sessions in Brown City with her "Dad" to learn the finer points of being a "bird dog." She had a good nose and liked being out in the woods but bird hunting was of no interest to her. She did, however, spend many hours in the woods, fields, and many area cemeteries with her parents who were spotting and identifying various species of birds. Rosie grew up in a loving environment and spent time during her early years with young children. Family member Margaret Smith and her brother, Robert often fed young Rosie by hand helping her learn not to nip, bite, or react aggressively toward humans. They also were credited with giving her the nicknames that she had most of her life, "Rho-Rho" and "Rho-E."

Each day began with "Dad" taking her for a long early morning run, (and later walk) while every afternoon, Rosie looked forward to another long walk (often on the Fort Gratiot Trail) with "Mom." The day was usually capped off with a final short walk with "Dad" just before bedtime. Weekends were very special times when she would require...make that DEMAND... that BOTH "Mom" and "Dad" accompany her on an afternoon "Family Walk." Dinner time at home was another special time for Rosie with her family. It would begin when Rosie, seated in HER chair overlooking the driveway, would spot "Dad" driving up the driveway from work. She would then run to the door and wait with one of her favorite toys, expecting to be chased for a few laps around the dining room table. It continued during the cocktail hour which began when a bottle of wine was removed from the wine cooler, and she would howl for her "libation." (usually a big cookie) She would wait patiently (and sometimes not so patiently) for dinner to be finished so she could help "Mom" by licking the dishes clean.

During the summer months, Rosie loved to fetch tennis balls from the waters of Lake Huron outside her home. She would play this game for hours as long as she could get someone to keep throwing the ball. She was a good traveler and rode comfortably in the rear of "Mom's" Honda CRV. A few years ago she even traveled to Texas with her "parents" and spent a month at the family condo on North Padre Island in Corpus Christi. When traveling, a not-very-effective divider was always placed between Rosie's rear section and the 2nd seat, but she easily eluded the divider and often ended up in the front seat.

Rosie began to develop serious health issues in September of 2007 when she was diagnosed with viral pneumonia. Following a successful recovery she was found to have a soft tissue sarcoma on her left front foot along with several other subcutaneous masses on her skin. These areas were removed following surgery in January of 2009 and she was thought to be cancer free. Follow up appointments through 2009 at ORVS continued to show no new cancer issues. In June of 2009 she developed a cough which was a challenge to deal with and many trips to ORVS continued throughout 2009 and the first five months of 2010. Various pills and treatments were tried and finally breathing treatments administered by "Mom" appeared by be successful. Her fourth and final health episode became apparent during the 2nd week of June when she lost her appetite and began exhibiting abnormal behavior. Following a local consultation at North River Animal Hospital, she was taken to ORVS two days later where her internist, Dr. Tim Becker, performed an abdominal ultrasound which identified significant tumors on her liver and spleen. Due to these conditions she was bleeding internally in her abdomen. Optional treatments were considered but the end result would be the same. Rosie had a very short time to live.

Rosie is survived by many family members including her "parents" Art and Sue Smith, Stephen and Kara Smith and their children, Casey & Carly, Michael and Donna Smith and their children, Margaret and Robert, Sarah and Nick Markovic and their new baby, Nicholas Arthur, Uncle Bob & Aunt Julie Moak, and Uncle Dick & Aunt Laurie Poremba of Corpus Christi. Family pets preceding Rosie in crossing the "Rainbow Bridge" * included Sidney, Buddy, Lu Lu, Alice, Murphy, and Clyde.

Many wonderful people assisted Rosie along the way including her dog sitters over the years, Stephanie Johns, Holly Cook, and Joan Smith, the staff at Baur's Pet Salon, Dr. Bill Burrows and the staff at North River Animal Hospital, and Drs. Tim Becker and Erin Bannick and the staff at ORVS. Contributions may be made in Rosie's memory to ACVIM Foundation, 1997 Wadsworth Blvd., Suite B, Lakewood, CO 80214 or be e-mail, chaseawayk9cancer.org To send condolences, please visit smithfamilyfuneralhome.com

* RAINBOW BRIDGE...Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all our special friends so they can Run and play together. There is plenty of food, water, and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. Her bright eyes are intent, her eager body begins to quiver. Suddenly she begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, her legs carrying her faster and faster. You have been spotted and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face, your hands caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together...