PEACHES
This is Peaches. She is a Cocker Spaniel and is a Native Californian like us. We took her in when she was 6 months old. We had a kitten in the family but wanted a dog too, this is how she became part of the family. She got along well her her sister Chubby. She was also a little terror when we first brought her home. She was a baby and so she would wake up early in the morning and want to play. She also played with her sister and they liked to reck the house. I didn't really like that much and wasn't sure I made a good choice bringing another youngster into the house. But I soon decided that she was keeper. She was so cute and cuddly and I couldn't resist. As a baby we called her "Circus Dog". She loved to swim in the backyard pool and jump up on the patio furniture. On any given summer day you would find her swimming with us in the pool. Sometimes she wanted to swim so bad that she would jump in before the cover came off. She loved playing with her sisters, Chubby and Baby (who came last). I think she thought she was a cat while the cats thought they were dogs. She was best friends with Chubby. Each night they would lay on the floor together and cuddle up while Chubby would kiss and clean her. You can see from the picutre below how the two reacted with each other. That bed was brought home from Costco and Chubby decided that it should be her bed. She would lay on it and would stare at Peaches if she got up on it. Sometimes they would lay together but most of the time Peaches would lay wherever her sister would let her. Peaches was a huge part of our family! She provided us with such joy! All the times we spent with her will be cherished forever! We provided her a great home with much love and she returned the love 100%!
Peaches was a blessing in so many ways. When she was 5 she had to move with us from our home to my grandma's. My grandma had a stroke and dementia so she was no longer capable of living by herself. Since grandma never really had animals, except goldfish we did not know she would react to the animals. We brought the cats home first. She loved the cats especially Chubby. So we decided it was time to bring Peaches and she how she would react. Well, Chubby got ditched and Peaches was grandmas new love. Peaches followed grandma everywhere! Grandma insisted to us that Peaches get her haircut at least once a month. She also got very mad one time when the groomers accidentially cut her wiskers off. Grandma was in a nursing home twice (1 week each time) and we brought Peaches to visit each time she was there. It helped motivate grandma to get better so she could come back home and be with her baby. I know Peaches also brought joy to the other elderly people in the home. Each time we would bring her, people would come out of their rooms to pet her. You could see the smiles on their faces. There are also many funny stories with grandma and Peaches. Grandma always shared food with Peaches even though she was told not to. When we celebrated Grandma's 78th birthday Peaches joined in the celebration by eating grandma's cake (from her fork). She shared any and all food with Peaches. In fact one night we were having dinner (spaghetti and garlic bread) and she told me that she was still hungry and wanted more garlic bread. I cooked more and gave it to her. Well she didn't want the bread she wanted it for Peaches! There were also times I would walk into the kitchen and see grandma feeding her and I would say, "Grandma" and she would pick her hand up really quick and look and me and say, "I wasn't feeding her". She was also very protective of Peaches. Peaches had her own seat on the counch (left corner). If anyone sat in Peaches seat grandma would tell them to move. Even if that was the only seat left grandma would make you sit on the floor so that Peaches was in "her" seat. She would also share her blanket with Peaches because she thought she was cold. They would also sit outside in the sun to watch the fish (we have a koi/goldfish pond in the backyard) and one time grandma pushed her into the pond. After we got her out, grandma sat outside drying her off and brushing her. Sometimes Peaches would drink from the pond and sometimes I think she was trying to eat the fish. Grandma would say that it is okay if she eats the fish because we can just get new ones. Grandma passed away in '94 but will always be remembered. Peaches was a blessing to her and brought her so much joy!!
We thought the hard times were over after grandma passed but then when Peaches was 10, she started having health problems. She was diagnosed with a mast cell tumor on her right leg. She was checked and found to have another on her stomach. Both were removed and the vet was impressed with her recovery. We spoiled her when she was sick. She got treats and the world revolved around her. She couldn't jump so someone would sleep on the couch or air mattress with her. She had two other surgeries to remove mast cell tumors (toe, then neck and mammary gland). After each surgery she recovered well and was back to normal within a few weeks. After the last surgery the vet put her on prednisone. She was doing well on it and actually didn't gain much weight. We were hoping that the prednisone along with flaxseed oil and cottage cheese would keep the tumors at bay. All seemed well and I scheduled her 6 month check-up for Thurs. Dec 12th. Unfortunately she didn't make it to that visit. Monday night she was fine. I had come home from Xmas shopping and she was laying on the couch with my mom and Chubby watching TV. They all looked so cute! I gave her treat (flaxseed/cottage chesse). Then she got in bed and I covered her up. She palyed as usual by trying to get the covers off. I kissed her and went to sleep. We woke up Tues morning and she was sick! She was unable to move and her breathing was very fast. I picked her up and she was shaking. I rushed her to the vet. They took her into the back and put her on oxygen. My mom came and we went in to see her. We were petting her and talking to her. Mom left to go to work and I stayed with her. The Dr came in and listened to her heart and breathing. She was doing an EKG's when Peaches started dying. They stimulated her heart and took an X-ray but when they brought her out from X-ray she looked so limp! She arrested again and the Dr started giving her CPR. I had to make that awful decision to let her go. I believe in my heart that I made the right decision but I still find my second guessing it. I know that she lived a long life (13 1/2 years) in a great family who loved her and who she loved. I also know that she did not suffer. My mind just wonders and thinks what if? She was such a huge part of my life and she brought me so much joy! I am so sad that she is gone but I know that she is in a better place and watching over me with my grandma, I just wasn't ready for it. These last 4 days have been rough. My eyes hurt from crying as does my head. I come home and the house seems so empty! I sit down to watch TV and she isn't next to me. I think of all the memories we shared together and while they are all happy it makes me cry right now. I always thought the cancer would take her not a heart attack. I know it will get better with time. Talking about it and creating this webpage has helped too. I just want Peaches to know that her sister misses her as do we. December 10, 2002 will never be forgotten.
Peaches we love you and miss you so much....until we meet again. XOXOXO
