Someday, on the other side of the rainbow bridge, I'll throw another frisbee for you.

The post I’ve dreaded almost since the day I got her.   Unexpectedly fast, the wiggly ball of fluff so many of you knew from GRS and others from my 912384735 photos, is gone.   All was normal on her walk before work this morning, but she had a heart attack slightly later (forever grateful I was at home!).  I got her to the vet quickly but between neither her lungs nor her heart working properly anymore there was not much they could do.  With an oxygen mask they bought me a few minutes to say goodbye, then shortly after, she died lying with her head in my lap.

Sasha went everywhere with me and was a great car dog!
Also, people at drive-throughs loved her - and her them ;)

Sasha was the ideal dog for me at the right time.  Very much a single human dog (although she made an exception for my Dad whom she loved just as much), and had very little interest in other animals although was kind to all of them (even the barn critters that other dogs hunted).  

She was SO tiny when she first came home!

She would wiggle her bum when excited and cock her head when listening and those two things never, in the entire 14 years we were together, failed to make my heart melt.   

She didn't know the meaning of tired until a couple of years ago;
She never learned the meaning of slow.

Sasha wanted to run - always.  As a younger dog chasing rocks or a ball or her frisbee ring was her favourite thing to do (still can’t believe she never destroyed her teeth!) and she would outlast any human she convinced to play with her.   Always friendly and she could herd with the best of them; it was often amusing watching her try to herd the lesson horses ;).   She also gave confidence to countless nervous riders by showing how easy a jump was because obviously if Sasha could do it, so could their horse!   It was always magical to me to be out hacking w Sasha bounding in and out of the trees around me.   

Snow AND a Ball - life doesn't get much better

She loved the water - swimming and chasing sticks.  But only if she could run or climb in — dock diving was not in her contract.  Watching her and Bailey (the only other animal she ever really bonded with) swim together always made me smile.  

Teamwork

She also loved the snow.   Any deep snowfall was magic to her, and she particularly loved when people shovelled the driveway if they would throw the snow for her.   

She never got why nobody wanted to play outside w her
for long enough in the snow (no time was long enough!)

The last couple years she’s slowed down.  She still wants to do all the things - but not as long or as hard or as fast.   When she runs on our walks now, it’s at a speed I can keep up with (and suffice to say, I am not fast!)  - and even last night she ran a little bit.  Cool fall weather had her feeling good.

We had so many adventures together

Sasha meant the world to me and my world is a much sadder and harder place without her in it.  I just hope she knows how very much she was loved.

I will always love you Sashabear