Sunday, January 26, 2014

Good-Bye Afton

Sorry for the bad quality of the pictures. These are the only photos I have of Afton.


This is how I will always remember her: standing in the door of her home, waiting for me to come up the stairs, cookie-ball in her mouth and her tail wagging like crazy.

Afton, my friend K's golden retriever. She was one of the sweetest and gentlest dogs I have ever known. She was also an incredible goofball. In just a matter of seconds she stole my heart and kept it forever. She did this big dance of joy whenever I came to her house, knowing that I was so easy to persuade to give her one of those dog cookies she loved so very much. She would sit right next to the jar, look at me as if she was starving and then take the cookie from my hand in the gentlest way possible. She had quickly figured out the pattern - there was a cookie when I had just come, one kind of in the middle of my stay and one right before I left (I think K had planned that in her daily diet on the days she expected me). She would lie next to me, sleeping and sometimes sighing in her dreams. She loved to be petted - of course. Sometimes she would lay her big head on my leg and "talk" to me with those grunts deep down in her throat.


Like every dog Afton loved to soak up the sun. And of course, one of her favorite things was to fill that orange ball with dog treats. She would bounce it through the house until that ball was empty and the contents had ended up in her belly. It was hilarious to watch her doing that.

She was not only a pet, but also a breeding dog for Canine Companions for Independence. She had several litters of sweet puppies until she could finally "retire". Then the funny girl she really was came out.


She had a happy life in a warm, loving family. Last Friday she died of cancer. Although she wasn't my dog, I feel very sad. I loved Afton and I will miss her.

14 comments:

Jeanne said...

So hard to lose the fur friends that we have isn't it.

Laurie said...

I'm so sorry for your loss, Carola. Pets have a way of being more than just pets, but great friends. I'm sure you are better for having had her in your life. Hugs!

GlorV1 said...

Golden Retriever's are known for their cancers. It is so sad. She was beautiful and yes they are gentle and loving family pet members. So sorry to hear and I do know the feeling of losing a family pet member. We have lost two and have 2 still living. Time is flying by fast for one of them. It's a terrible sadness when they go. Sorry for your friends loss and yours too. ::hugs::

Amanda said...

I am so sorry Carola! Pets (even if they don't belong to us) are part of our family and we are rewarded by their unconditional love

Erika said...

Liebe Carola, es tut mir so leid von Deinem Verlust, über Afton zu lesen. Es war gut, dass sie in einer liebevollen Familie gelebt hat und dass Ihr viele schöne Stunden zusammen verbracht habt. Es gibt keine Worte für den Abschied eines geliebten Wesens. Ich fühle mit Dir und Aftons Familie und glaube ganz fest, dass Afton an einem schönen Ort ist.
Viele liebe Grüße zu Dir!
Erika

Giggles said...

Awe you certainly captured the sweet essence of this beautiful creature. May she Rip...She knows you loved her, I understand that love even though she wasn't yours! We babysit a toy poodle and when she's with us we love her to bits!

Hugs Giggles

Willkommen auf meiner Kreativseite. said...

Ich kann dir nachfühlen, wie es dir geht. Aber tröste dich, sie hat nun keine Schmerzen mehr. Ich habe unsere Hündin vor 10 Jahren verloren. Sie fehlt mir heute noch.

Knuddel
Renate

Cheri said...

So sorry for your (and K's) loss Carola. Even if it was not your own pet, it is easy to form attachments.

Friko said...

Two of my labs died from cancer. Millie is a lab cross, I hope she’ll be spared.

Afton is a darling. I am sure you will miss here even though you were only her auntie.

Magic Love Crow said...

Bless her heart! I am so sorry! Such a beautiful dog ;o)

Val said...

I'm so sorry. She looks and sounds like a beautiful soul.

KB said...

I'm so sorry that your friend Afton passed away. She sounds like such a sweet dog. And, it's wonderful that she left a legacy of service dogs who she whelped.

I know that you and K have holes in your hearts... My deepest sympathies.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Oh Afton! What a sweet, precious love she was.

Sally H said...

So sorry, Carola. Big hugs to you and K x