This is dedicated to Fia, our "Baby Girl"
April 1984 -- October 1997
Fia came to us when she was four months old. She was living on an abandoned farm with her mother and litter mates before she came to live with us. We don't know what happened to her while she was there, but she was obviously abused by someone -- we thought by the gas well workers who came occasionally to check the machinery. She was absolutely terrified of everyone and everything, but she was especially afraid of men who wore hats. It took many days before she would even come into the house from the garage, and it was many months before she got over her fear of my husband. But once she did, she was totally devoted to us. We felt that she must have suffered something really terrible, and we were determined to protect her so she wouldn't have to be afraid anymore.
My husband traveled for his job, and was gone eight months out of the year, usually for four months at a time. Fia became my only child, my best friend, my confidant. She kept me company on those long cold lonely winter nights, and was always ready for a walk or a picnic by the pond.
When she was eleven years old, she developed severe arthritis in her hips and was not able to even walk at times. We did everything we could to help her, but her suffering continued to grow. We finally had to accept the fact that it was time to let her go. I held her in my arms as the vet put her gently to sleep, and hated myself for not being able to protect her from this final act. To this day I miss her and her sad eyes looking at me, depending on me to love and take care of her.