On Sunday, she suffered a stroke. It left her with permanent damage, and she was suffering a great deal. Having already lost of most of her hearing, her problems were only compounded. Her owners made the difficult decision to have her put to sleep, which finally took place yesterday.
Before this happened, however, Ben and I traveled up to Layton to see her one last time after the conclusion of Monday's FHE. Though she was not doing very well, Xena nevertheless visited with us in her usual, friendly way. I am glad we had the chance to say goodbye.
Though she was Mike and Jana's dog, Xena was very much a part of the rest of the Plowmans' lives, as well. Whenever we came over to visit, she was most always the first one to greet us and was never less than ecstatic to do so.
I've said it before, and I may say it again: Dogs are more "human" than many people are. They may bark at the wrong times, drool, and emit unpleasant odors, but they have never said a cross word to me or hurt my feelings. They are the best of companions a person could have. Somehow, they always know when you need them there. They're never too busy to spend time with you, and all they ask in return is regular meals and an occasional scratch behind the ears or on the belly.
In the film Marley and Me, John Grogan (Owen Wilson) says: "A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. A water log stick will do just fine. A dog doesn't care if your rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give him your heart, and he'll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?"
Like our golden retriever, Rolley, who lived to be 14 and passed away two years ago, Xena was definitely this kind of dog, and we will miss her.
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