Goodbye Old Friend ...

Today we said goodbye to an old friend.  Fifteen years ago, I received a call one afternoon while at work at CIGNA.  It was Dad and Bill Mason, my father's best friend.  Bill's daughter purchased a purebred Beagle puppy and could no longer keep it in her apartment. Knowing I was looking for a playmate for Teddie Bear, they instantly thought of me. Without hesitation and sight unseen, I became the new owner of Pooh Bear.

Pooh Bear was a great dog; a challenge at times, but always adorable.  She was pure Beagle -- single focused on food, easily distracted, but amazing with other dogs and kids.  Pooh Bear was definitely my wild child. Her life was full of some crazy escapades, including:

• Visiting a couple of late night emergency rooms as she may have eaten something that she shouldn't.
• Opening/eating an entire carton of hot cocoa packets, with some assistance from Teddie, and powdering/vandalizing the entire house making it nearly impossible to clean.  
• She ate, swallowed and thoroughly digested one of my mother's diamond earrings.  Yes, I was able to retrieve it, but it was not a fun experience to recover.
• She was quite the Houdini always disappearing from the house.  We would find her later canvasing the neighborhood on the trail of some new smell.  Her Houdini act even landed one night in a Maricopa Dog Shelter.  
• Howling and howling until someone would notice her.  She enjoyed being the center of attention.

She was a little out of control sometimes, but she had so many loving attributes as well.  She was an amazing cuddler.  She would just jump up into your lap, even if you were not ready, and snuggle up to you with those big "puppy dog" brown eyes.  She always knew when you needed some love.  She even welcomed Capone into the family with open arms.  They were best buddies.

Pooh Bear was terrific with kids.  In fact, she was my kids' first dog.  Madilyn had officially claimed Pooh as her dog. My kids have been able to climb all over her, pull her ears and she never reacted in a malicious way towards them.  In fact, Pooh loved the kids as they did her.  She knew that anytime they were eating that some would end up on the floor for her to eat.  She was always on the pursuit of food.

Sadly, old age got the better of our old girl.  The young spry mischievous little puppy was no longer.  Even with all of the lumps, she continued to bring us joy and love. We are so lucky to have had her in our lives. She made us laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time.

We love you, Pooh Bear.  Bye-Bye.

Pooh Bear as a Puppy

Pooh Bear as an Adult

Pooh and Lynsey

Pooh and Capone Snuggling

Madi and Pooh Bear in 2010

Madi and Pooh Bear in 2014

Aiden, Madi and Pooh Bear

Aiden and Pooh Bear

Saying Goodbye...