Cassie
Friday March 8, 2002

I adopted a dog named Cassie two months ago.  I was fostering her at the time but her cancer made her impossible to adopt out to anyone else.  Unfortunately Cassie, who had cancer in her leg, broke that leg last night trying to jump on the bed.  She didn't want me to pick her up - she hated that.  So she jumped when I tried to lift her and the comforter got in the way and she came back down on her bad leg.  She broke my heart with her crying.  I laid her in the bed and comforted her hoping it was just a sprain, but she cried and couldn't fall asleep.  I knew it couldn't wait until morning.  So I called and I got taken to the vet and we took the x-ray and it was broken all the way through.  Poor girl.  With that broken bone all full of cancer, I believe I made the right choice and I decided to have her euthanized.  And so Cassie died this morning with me rubbing her head like she loved.  I sure do miss her right now.

When I would come home she would be so happy that she'd cry and cry - a happy cry.  If I left the house, she'd wait by the door and cry until I came back.  I never even needed a leash to walk with her since she wouldn't stray more than a foot from my side.  I feel somewhat comforted knowing that this week I took her on two long walks down to the pier where she would jump around and try to bite the leash and get all frisky.  She loved being outside and especially going to the run and the pier.  And she loved getting attention.  In only two months, we formed an extremely close bond.  In the last few hours of her life, I gave her all the attention I could.  She really was my best friend, unconditionally.

Please don't feel sad for me.  Instead, if you can, please remember Cassie by making a donation to NYCA - the organization that helped rescue her from the pound (twice) - http://www.geocities.com/~nyca/index.html#howtoreach
Adoptions have really slowed down and during the summer the number of people giving up their pets goes way up which makes our job even harder.

Cassie's last few weeks were happy ones and I'm sure that made all the difference to her - all because Patty from NYCA went through the maze to get her out of the pound.  She deserved a loving home, which I tried to give her.

Bye Cassie-belle...We'll miss you.