Sadly, I said goodbye to my sweet Izzy last week after a relatively rapid decline in her health. She was a beautiful 15 ½ year-old golden doodle with a penchant for bouncing and spinning (I think she may have been part Tigger). Her sweet face, complete with big brown eyes and lashes that rivaled little Cindy Lou Who’s, brought a smile to the face of nearly everyone she met.
Izzy bounded into our lives on a snowy Christmas morning in 2008, a gift from Santa to my 10 year-old son. It was either a puppy or a cell phone and somehow a puppy seemed like the better decision at the time (of course, just a few months later a cell phone arrived).
Everyone loved Izzy, except my other dog, Rosie, a rescue whose territorial alpha female personality, made bringing this bouncy little fluff ball into our family more challenging than I’d anticipated.
Rosie was furious at us, especially me, for daring to allow another dog into her space and would do almost anything to ensure she kept between me and the puppy. In her own special way, with the hair raised on the back of her neck and what we used to refer to as “Rosie’s smile”, she would snarl and growl at our sweet new addition. Izzy was completely oblivious to Rosie’s ill-mannered behavior constantly making attempts to play with her. Not having any of this, and just to prove her dominance, Rosie would snap and give the puppy a good whack across the nose, making it quite clear she was in charge and if there was any playing to be done, she would be the one to initiate.
In 2010, our family took on a new dynamic when my husband and I divorced. New house, new routine, new life, everything new. My daughter had pretty much left home and eventually my son went off to college leaving Izzy and me rambling around the house together trying to navigate our new life. She had truly become my constant companion by then and accompanied me pretty much everywhere I went.
Izzy developed the art of adaptability, happily spending time with friends and family when I traveled and became quite fond of her many surrogate parents. Auntie Delani gave so much love, attention, and extra treats that often when I’d come to pick her up, Izzy refused to get in the car with me. Izzy was a frequent visitor at the home of my cousin Tina, and when I moved into my mom’s assisted living apartment to care for her during her last few weeks, Izzy was right there with me making friends with the staff and other residents.
Izzy was not fond of water. When other dogs were joyfully splashing around her, she would look interested in the frivolity for a moment then turn to see who on the beach might have food to share. My friend Sheila, another surrogate mom, was the only person to get Izzy to swim after having her dog, Ramzey, lead the way. Even then, it only happened once. Izzy had no interest in retrieving anything and balls were only something to steal from other dogs at the park. Apparently, the poodle personality overrode the retriever genes.
Izzy’s unconditional love taught me a lot about myself, and over the years I became a much more patient and kinder person. Pets have a way of doing that when we allow them to be who they are, and we allow ourselves to become more aware of who we are. I will miss her.
Love and Light,
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Michèle Heffron is a certified life, relationship & divorce coach whose mission is to empower women through life transitions to discover their purpose and create the life they desire. Her work stems from her life experiences and the lessons learned while paving her own path to empowerment. Michèle lives in Bellevue, Washington and serves clients in all 50 states.
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