RIP Shelby Jealousy Pemberton 2002-2012

This is not a post I wanted to make.  At the moment Brandon is taking Shelby to be put to sleep because I am too much of a basketcase about it.  Shelby has been having issues the past year and moreso the past three months(seizures, accidents, urinary tract infections, weight loss, throwing up, bacteria in urine).  She has been on three medicines this summer and nothing has helped.  I can't bear to watch her when she is having a seizure and thank God that the kids have never seen it.  She has dropped 25 pounds in the past two years and hasn't eaten a thing in three days.  Brandon finally got her to eat a hot dog last night and I was scrubbing carpets at 2 am.  I know it is her time and that we can't let this go on.  She has given us 10 great years.   I would like to share some memories:

1.  When we decided to get a dog ten years ago, we weren't married.  We picked out at a dog at the SPCA and then later received a phone call that we couldn't get that dog because it was being trained to be a seeing eye dog.  We liked this other dog named Ruby but she kept yipping and I didn't want a yipping dog.  Well we got Ruby who we renamed Shelby and later picked up the middle name of Jealousy.  She never yipped so we always said she was calling out to us.

2.  Brandon and I got married the next year and our evenings and weekends were spent taking Shelby to the park and for walks.  She loved to catch balls and frisbees.  One night, we came home to pieces of green plastic laying around only to realize that Shelby ate almost the whole frisbee.  Oh and it was a sight when it came out!

3.  Shelby used to get car sick when we would travel from Virginia to PA so the vet gave us some medicine.  We decided the carrier was too confined for her so I bought a puppy dog seat belt at PetSmart.  I thought she was in there good and tight until she jumps on my lap as I'm driving and later onto my feet.  I still don't know how she got out of that thing.

4.  She earned the middle name Jealousy because she was always pushing my hand away from Brandon if we were touching.  It was so funny.  I would put my hand on him just to see what she would do.  She would see me, come running over, and push me away with her nose.  She loved Brandon more than anyone.

5.  One time we were eating dinner at our apartment in Orange, VA.  She took a running start and tried to jump on the table.  She didn't make it but it was quite funny.

6.  We snuck her in a hotel room through a window once.  :)

7.  I was soooo afraid how she would be when Ashlyn was born but she was great.  She let Ashlyn to do whatever she wanted to her.  Trust me, Ashlyn would pull her ears, tail, and try to sit on her.  She may not have got much attention once the kids were born, but she was always a great dog.

I could go on but it has been a pretty emotional day.  We told the kids and had them say goodbye to her.  Ashlyn was so great about it.  She told Shelby that she'll get to jump and chase cats in heaven and she won't have to sleep.  She also said that she'll get to eat whatever she wants and not get sick.  As the kids went up to nap, Ashlyn put Shelby in our bedroom and told her to lay down and close her eyes because the angels would be coming to take her away.  Ahhh a full day of tears for me.  Ashlyn had more questions and I answered them as best I could.  She seems to have a great understanding of God and Heaven so I am hoping for the best.  Chloe didn't say anything but she wasn't as close to Shelby as Ashlyn.

So RIP Shelby Jealousy Pemberton.  We will miss you.