jessa

As a young girl, my mother had dobermans, and they were our wonderful family dogs, all of them with their own personality's and their gifts of love, laughter, joy, loyalty, friendship. But even then I dreamed of you. I wanted so deeply a doberman girl of my own, and I knew from a very young age that when I grew up, and left home, I to, like my mother, would have my very own doberman girl. I took dog training classes from the age of nine. I attended every dog show I could, and even was grounded for a whole month when I ditched piano lessons and took my entire saved allowance of 3 months worth to take a bus 106 miles away from home to attend a dpca event. I was 11.Throughout my teens I was the girl that had a doberman velcroed to her hip at every turn. When I graduated from High School, I left for college with of course the goal of a degree, but also knowing my present to myself upon graduation, would be the purchase of my first home with you in mind. After graduate school I rented a condo, acheived my dream job, and saved like a miser for my first home. That home had a big backyard, and I put up a beautiful secure fence aound it-knowing you were closer to me than ever. The second thing i invested in after the fence, was a dog door. Only then did I start my search for you. My search for you took me through many dark alleys of dog breeder nightmares and the interview process was lengthy the research many times deceptive. The breeder I got you from passed the many obsessivecriteria I had over the years deemed absolutely imperative. When you were born, I had to wait 8 whole weeks before I could sit in the middle of your 5 brothers and sisters, but when I saw you and watched you, I had known you for years. Your beautiful face, your funny personality, your joy of life, your ability to make any and everything a point of extreme curiousity and surprise, and of course, goofy and funny. The second time I asked you to sit, you did so and looked up at me as if to say, Well? anything else? You were so very intelligent, and acted as if you were born trained. Even housebreaking, well, there was no housebreaking. I pointed maybe twice through the flap of your dog door and -it was outside to take care of your business from then on. Your puppy obedience classmateslooked on as you finished first in your class, AND won the "hot dog relay" jumping into
my arms and almost knocking me to the ground with kisses. You knew you were the "it" girl, didn't you? When you had your crop surgery, you carried your popscicle sticks like a crown, and your ears stood in record time and you were so beautiful. You were Sprite, you didn't care that you were not show quality, or had title after title. We had our own show ring, and you won first place every time, and you had more titles than anyone. You really did have a "thing" about squirrels and birds invading your yard didn't you? And then there was the kleenex issue, no kleenex went undiscovered with you. You would bring me every kleenex you found as if to say-look what I found. But you did sleep with Socrates the bunny. or rather, he slept with you. You loved everyone and everyone loved you so. You went to work with me and everyone in the building came to see Sprite, no matter what floor they worked on. Not a day went by that people in my workplace would hold elevators for everyone greeting you, Sprite, then taking off to their individual floor. You had your own bed,with your name on it, and a ton of toys, all gifts from your human admirers and fans. Your canine friends all came on your MONTHLY birthdays and your playdates were booked forever. When I noticed you weren't "right" somehow and took you to your beloved Dr. Joe, we went from initial blood workup, catscans, xrays, cardio, everything. then we took you to University, to the teachers at the teaching school. You were 5 months old and suddenly incontinent. You were not gaining weight, and you were the tiniest doberman. You ate with drive, but so little. And....you loved to be a lap dog, play a little, then rest a lot.
When you were diagnosed with renal failure due to a congenital defect, I was angry that dogs were not great kidney transplant receipients, if they were-it was a long struggle to failure and the ultimate outcome was bleak. I would have given you my own kidney, Sprite, if I could of.I remember I kept thinking you were just a baby, an infant, how could this be/ Why? it's not right!
To have a baby with a terminal result, not even through her first spring. Isn't spring when everything renews itself and the promise of life awaits us all? You were so brave and noble through all of it. You would still be the playfull and funny little girl, such a "mighty might', that you actually gave strength to others, whether you were having blood taken, or when you had your blood transfusion. Everyone, Sprite, everyone whose life you touched, from your playmates, your office friends, even your vet, wept when you left us, everyone held you so dear. Only now have I been able to pay tribute to you in writing-so this I send your way.
To many humans this letter to you may seem too much, but I want to put this, my letter to you, on rainbow bridge, to put down in words how much mommy loves you and misses you and to say to you and anyone reading this how very much I miss you and hold you forever in my heart. You were 10 months old and weighed 43 pounds. When you went to sleep in my arms, I kissed you goodnight, and I knew there were squirrels and birds to chase, sun and grass to lounge in, and all the springtimes awaited you. I thought that maybe it was just too pompous of me to want you for myself. My heart is full with love for you now, and will be forever. The hole in my heart that was left when you passed, still aches terribly for you, but is filled with all the love, and joy, and laughter you brought to it.
Mommy loves you, Sprite. I will always miss you so.
Rest in peace my little mighty might SPRITE.

Mommy Jessa

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DLS

I can tell your DObergirl was a much loved companion. Sleep Softly Sprite, Rest Easy.

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There are other fine dogs; then there are Dobermann - the dog of dogs!
www.nopupppymillscanada.ca
www.dobermanassistance.org. www.dobermannrescue.org http://www.doberman911.org:80/seniors/

Nikki

Wow, what a beautiful letter. It's very obvious that you two had a special bond and love for each other. So sorry for your painful loss.

Sweet dreams Sprite...

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"Dragon Slaying Dobermans Incorporated", Membership #024

Dragon Slaying Dobermans, where the primary objective is for Dobes serve and protect their humans from pesky dragons. Secondary objective; the fight against NILF. "I don't need to sit for the cookie, I hunt dragons all day dammit!"

evo8power

that was amazing....

Dobejazz

Jessa what a beautiful tribute to Sprite

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AnneMarie

Jessa what a beautiful tribute to Sprite !! I am so sorry for your loss its just not fair.

jessa

Nikki,
thank you for your post. obviously, you have felt the loss of a beloved and devoted friend too. i do not know what the Dragons Slaying Dragons, Inc., club is all about, i am new to Doberman Talk, but I DO KNOW that my Sprite was a definate dragon slayer, and she would pass up ANY cookie to slay any pesky dragon to protect me and be strong for me, when it was she that suffered because her body let her down...she was ALWAYS busy slaying dragons....even if they were insect or rodent dragons, or perhaps the all invasion meter man! (lol)....
Thanks again.
jessa

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heartbroken

Beautiful! Welcome to DT, Jessa, you are in good company. So deeply sorry for your loss, much too soon.

Rest in peace -- chasing squirrels and birds -- a sweet puppy forever, Sprite.

eclaire

Wow, what a great letter.

Sweet dreams little Sprite.... you were very loved!

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"Dragon Slaying Dobermans Incorporated" Membership #005 (aka DSDI)
"I don't need to sit for the cookie, I hunt dragons all day dammit!"

Nikki

Yes, I lost my best friend this July to DCM. So I can completely empathize with you. It was a shock and none of us were prepared but then again could I ever be prepared to lose her?

It's a terrible pain to watch them suffer and ultimately lose them to the disease but I wouldn't trade a minute of time I had with her. I know you feel the same way and I can bet that Sprite felt that too. She loved you and every day she had with you was her best day. She had a special mommy and you had a special baby.

I'm sure your Sprite is still slaying her share of dragons with my Cinder at the bridge.

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"Dragon Slaying Dobermans Incorporated", Membership #024

Dragon Slaying Dobermans, where the primary objective is for Dobes serve and protect their humans from pesky dragons. Secondary objective; the fight against NILF. "I don't need to sit for the cookie, I hunt dragons all day dammit!"