Sad News Once Again From Ao4 HQs

Once again, as the "mom of the Ao4", I am taking over the blog post for the day, and once again, I have some sad news to share.  Monday, just two months after losing our Ammy to Lymphoma, we made the tough decision to let Stormy go.  Today is our 14th anniversary of adopting her; God blessed us with her company here on Earth for a good long while, but it was time to give her back.

Stormy Zoluschka Kryschtal, about 1 September 1995 - 14 March 2011

We released her from a body that just couldn't do what she wanted and needed it to do any more.  She fought the good fight, and as our vet said, she maintained her dignity the whole time.

She's free from her earthly pains now, and that is a comfort to me.  She has a young, strong body, and I'd love to think she is chasing around Heaven with her Ammy puppy and Booter.  She has met our Jesse and Lucky now, and all of them are playing happily with all the other dogs God has called Home to Him.  She can eat heartily, she can hear, and has no fears of thunderstorms or flies or anything else.  And no doubt she has adopted every puppy up There as if it were her own.

From 1999, Booter with Stormy and Ammy

Stormy was one of the most remarkable leaders I've ever seen - strong and tough, but with a heart of gold.  She was decisive and led by example, never asking her pack to do something she wouldn't do.  And she showed restraint - just because she could do something, didn't mean she did.  One of her most endearing traits was her maternal instincts.  Puppies simply melted her heart - and seeing her adopt every one that she met melted mine.  She was my confidante and in a way, I think I was hers.  We shared some very special times and I'll never forget them.  One of my favorite memories is of her first walks with me. She'd look up at me with those Harp Seal Eyes of hers in such a happy, almost unbelievable manner - "I can't believe we get to do this together!"  She (and I) always loved her walks - even on Monday.

When we lost Ammy, I asked you not to post about it to your blogs.  Ammy would not have wanted sadness spread around.  Stormy was the same way, but was more direct about it.  So in keeping with Stormy's nature, I'm spelling it out - please, do NOT take any photos of Storm off our blog or anywhere else and post them to your blog.  Please do NOT blog about us losing her.  Please let this be the post - the one post - to talk about the loss.  Please honor my request this time.  If you would like to say something to honor her, say it to me - either in the comment section or zip me an email.

So... how best to honor Stormy?  Truly?  What she would love is for you to get up right now, hook your pups up to their leashes and go for a walk!  And that's what I'm going to do now.  Hook up the boys and head out on an adventure.

Thank you for listening and for letting me share my very special friend with you.
KZK