by Karen McGrath
Crystal came into my life just before her second birthday. A breeder friend had sold her to a lady who she thought was a compasionate person. Turns out that she kept Crystal and her other dogs locked in crates for nearly 21 hours a day. This was causing Crystal to become depressed and she stopped eating. Through the grape-vine, the breeder learned of Crystal's situation. That's where I come into the picture.
Crystal - I realize that life started out rough for you and that through gentle words and actions, you learned to trust me and the rest of the family. You were a loyal dog who, while you hated being groomed, put up with alot of brushing and preparing for the show ring. Although you never got your Canadian Championship, you will always be a champion in our eyes. You gave us 5 beautiful puppies in three litters. Not the average Sheltie litter size, but perfect in our books. You were the perfect mother to the puppies, always making sure that they were well-fed and clean.
Time with you ended quicker than we wanted. You lived slightly longer than a year after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. I hope life for you in the last year was peaceful and you were comforted knowing that you were with people who loved you very much. A month has almost gone by and I think about you every time I look at one of your kids. You will be greatly missed by us and I hope that, where ever you are, you are with others who were loved as much as you were once we got you.
Take care and hope to see you again.
Karen
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