Memorial Cheyenne

When our family’s first dog Tess was about 12 years old and starting to slow down and the kids were away at college, we decided that we wanted to share our home with another yellow lab. We said that it was for companionship for Tess – but I know that it was just as much for us.

We knew that times had changed and there were so many dogs needing a home that we decided not to purchase a puppy again – but wanted to rescue/adopt a dog and stumbled onto Brookline’s website.

I saw a picture of Cheyenne and immediately fell in love with her. Her abandonment story tugged at my heartstrings. Although my husband and I had reservations about adopting a 9 year old senior girl when we already had a senior, we decided to adopt her and she became part of our family on February 10, 2008. That was one of the best decisions that we ever made!

Cheyenne was such a sweetheart. When she first came to us, she would wrap her paw around our wrist so she could be close. She had so much love to give and it was as if she was afraid that if she let go or left our side, she would be abandoned again. In time, she became comfortable in the knowledge that she wasn’t going anywhere. She quickly became the “top” dog in our house and settled into our family routine. When our Tess crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in 2011, the pain was eased somewhat by the presence of Cheyenne.

My husband and I constantly said that we wished that we had her from the time she was a puppy. We missed out on so many years with her but were glad we were able to give her a home in her senior years.

Unfortunately, one week shy of her 14th birthday, she began to have seizures and crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on January 2, 2013. There, she and Tess are running free together.

We know that we will be reunited again – but until then – once our hearts are a little less heavy, we will rescue another lab. We can only hope that they will be half as sweet as our Cheyenne.