In Memory of Sadie
By Sheri Snider
Although each pet is very special, I believe there is one pet in your life that stands out among all the others. For the Snider family, that one special member of our family was "Sadie". She came into our family in 1989 and instantly took over! In true dachshund style, she was determined (okay, perhaps "pig-headed" is a better term!) and met each day with such enthusiasm. We often said that she "oozed" personality. Sadie wore a hot pink harness with a huge pink polka-dot bow. It became her trademark, and she loved the attention that bow brought to her. We have told our son that we hope he marries someone who loves him as much as Sadie. And his reply is "There is no way that can ever happen."
For 15 years, we gave her our love and devotion, and she gave us hers. Sadly, we first came to CVM-VTH on an emergency basis in December, 2004. I rushed into the building that Friday morning with Sadie in my arms, scared to death...scared for the diagnosis, scared for the chance of her suffering, scared that I was entering a harsh and sterile place. I was right to be scared for the diagnosis but wrong on the others. Sadie was treated with the respect and dignity that she so deserved. I quickly realized that she was in loving hands…the loving hands of people who cared about her almost as much as we did. The doctors, technicians and staff understood the bond we had with Sadie and not only respected that bond but also honored it. They were extremely professional yet also had that personal touch that is so very special.
On Saturday, December 11, 2004, we made the most difficult decision of all…we had to love Sadie enough to let her go. Even though this was a horrible, horrible time for all of us, we were allowed all the time we wanted to spend with Sadie. She was given an oxygen hood which enabled us to hold her and even feed her the chicken and vanilla coke that she loved so much. I held her in my arms as she went to heaven as a little angel.
Sadie's last gift to her family was to bring us to the vet school…a place that has brought us such comfort and peace. I am now a volunteer with the Friends Helping Friends program. When I come to the vet school each Tuesday, I see the bricks in the walkway that are in Sadie's memory, and I can smile. I smile with the beautiful memories of a very special little girl. I smile when I meet other owners and their beloved pets. I smile because I am in a facility that offers so much hope. I smile because I am surrounded by wonderful doctors and a compassionate staff who care so much, and who want so desperately to relieve the pain and suffering of our furry children. I smile because I am so blessed to be a tiny part of this special place called "The Vet School".
April 12, 2007