Sweep Thru 10/15/09-5/27/22 [Updated, pic heavy]

[ramonaghan]

My beautiful brave girl is gone. She fought to the very end. I'll write a proper tribute when I can.

Sweep. Sweep-Sweep. Sweet Pea, Peanut, Puddin’, Button, Bug. Our girl. The best first dog we could have asked for. Not always perfect but always perfect for us.

It was a rocky start. I had fallen in love with her photo online. I know, you’re not supposed to do that, but can you blame me? In her heyday she literally stopped traffic, with her eyeliner and her dark mask, ears, and tail against bunny-soft fawn fur. Her foster mom never brought her to meet and greets, so someone else in the group volunteered to bring her. They got in an accident the day before. Everyone was fine, thankfully, but their van was totaled, so that plan was off. Then her foster mom decided she was going to keep her. I was so disappointed. We met some boisterous boy hounds, but none felt right. We decided to postpone our search until we returned from a vacation. When we got back, her Pending status had changed to Available again. Her foster mom had changed her mind due to her work travel schedule. We scheduled the home visit.

We met Sweep and two other girls. Those two were sweet, shy girls. Sweep walked right in like she owned the place. Next hurdle: she might have cheated on her cat test; she’d shown a little too much interest while at a temp foster’s home. We had two cats, so that was priority #1. However, she was so entranced by her own reflection in the full-length mirror that she hardly noticed the cats. She did well on our stairs, enticed by Babybel cheese. She put her head in my lap. SOLD.

Except. My husband, John, had a mean case of analysis paralysis. Dogs complicate your life. Could we still travel? Could we trust her uncrated with the cats? Would she have separation anxiety? He just couldn’t commit yet. So, we reluctantly agreed to let her stay on the Available list.

Then the foster needed a sitter for Thanksgiving, and our adoption coordinator asked if we might be interested in that as a trial run. We agreed, picked her up, and never took her back. She went to Atlanta with us over Christmas to visit John's family and charmed everyone. She even did well with the combined 8(!!) other dogs in the house at one point. (I will never forget the sight of one of the resident Shih tzus hopping up on an ottoman to reach Sweep's backside for a doggie hello.) Yet John was still waffling until a frigid February day when we finally loaded her up to drop her off for a home visit with another family. We were both crying. The group volunteer asked John if he loved Sweep. He said “Yes, I think I do.” She said, “Then you don’t have to do this; you can still keep her.” That was it. We signed the papers and took our girl home. She adored her pop.

Sweep made us laugh from day one. She did crazy zoomies when John got home from work, she was a champion leaner and roacher (including in the back seat and during nail trims), and she had the silliest, best smile with those tiny bottom teeth. We had our challenges with her: she was a major breed snob and would snark at other dogs on walks, and she had sleep startle that she never really grew out of. We dealt with a mystery limp for a couple of years that turned out to be an old racing injury.  But mostly she was easy, and easy to love. She just wanted to be with her people. She loved rides, walks, and cheese and hated bananas, thunderstorms, and stupid boy cats getting in her face. 

We never saw it coming. John let her out one morning in March 2021 and she zoomed around and then stopped short with a yelp. She wouldn't put any weight on her back right leg. We rushed her to the e-vet, not even thinking of a broken leg because she hadn't screamed or made any sound since that one yelp. And yet that's what it was: a gnarly spiral tibia fracture. None of the specialists saw evidence of cancer either before or during the surgery to repair the break, which took place on my birthday. We felt like we'd beaten the odds.

In May at follow-up x-rays, her break hadn't healed as expected. We took her back in June, and that's when they spotted the cancer. Also, a small bump on her left front leg turned out to be a soft tissue sarcoma. Although much less aggressive, this was a huge double whammy. She started chemo and the plate held steady until August, when she broke the back leg again jumping into the car. It was grotesque--the plate was bent and her leg at an impossible angle. Not even a yelp from Sweep. It was time to amputate. Until the break she was a very youthful 11 year-old, and she was feisty and spirited and we knew she could handle it. The post-amputation biopsy confirmed osteo.

Her life changed a lot after the amputation. Though she did recover within a couple of weeks and her stubbornness served her well, she confined herself to our living room and the path to the back door to go outside. Sadly, no more roaching; she couldn't figure it out as a tripod. No more walks of any length. No more hanging out in my office or watching us cook dinner, no matter how many rugs I put down or begging I did. So we put four beds in the living room and she played musical beds. We threw treats for her in the yard for exercise and played games with her to stave off boredom. She ate quite well until the very end. She sought affection and still loved her rides (when they weren't to the vet). She had quality of life but it was drastically different from what she had before.

In January routine x-rays revealed three tiny nodules in her lungs. We were told if we wanted to debulk the soft tissue sarcoma it was now or never, although they warned us it could come right back. We had the surgery done and got about three weeks before it started growing again. We put her on Palladia, which kept her lung mets stable for a while.

Earlier this month, the first time we have actually gotten to go inside the oncologist's office with her and meet him in person, we learned that the cancer in her lungs was rapidly progressing. She was tiring easily. Any exertion would cause her to pant. She wasn't in pain, but she was worn out. Even in the short weeks since then, we could see further decline. She was still eating, getting herself in and out unassisted, smiling, and giving us "the paw" for affection, but it was time. Nashville summer would have been hell on her.

Lap of Love came to the house this morning—an unseasonably cool, overcast day that allowed us to say goodbye outside. I fed her roast beef and cat food as the sedative took effect. I wish I could say it was totally peaceful, but my girl was nothing if not a fighter. She would have fought well beyond what we would ever have asked of her. I whispered how much we love her over and over, thanked her, and held her paw as she left her broken body. She was 12.7 years old, 15 months past the first leg break, and 9 months post-amp. We had 9 1/2 wonderful years with her. It wasn't enough.

Now she is healthy and whole again, and we are left trying to figure out how to navigate a world without her. 

Taken yesterday. My still smiling Sweep.

Edited May 28, 2022 by ramonaghan

[Remolacha]

Oh no, I am so sorry  Sweep was one of those special dogs that I fell in love with even though I never met her. She will be missed by her many fans, but so much more by her own people 

 

[FiveRoooooers]

Sweep, demonstrating to all how to Do It Rite: choose your people, make yourself at home, be ok with the kittehs, smile the most envious of smiles and later, defy all odds and predictions and with everything you had show them how to Kick Kanser's A$$. What a grand life you lived dear Sweep, and you will be missed beyond measure. Your cousin will help you get settled and Seamie   will have been cooking all day to welcome you. Sweep  If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.

{{{ Rachel and John }}} 

  

Edited May 28, 2022 by FiveRoooooers

[palmettobug]

NOOO NOT BEAUTIFUL SWEEP! 

Run pain free, sweet girl.

[MerseyGrey]

There’s a new star in heaven tonight…hugs to Sweep’s humans 

[macoduck]

We're all going to miss you dear Sweep.    Rachel, thank you for sharing your Sweep with us. 

[RaineysMom]

I am so very, very sorry   Sweep was such a special girl   sending many, many hugs

[Mercsmom]

Oh, gee! Such a lovely girl We are sorry for your loss.  She was so wonderful, it's our loss, too.  Run free, pretty girl.

[45MPHK9]

I’m so, so sorry, Rachel. Wishing you peace in the days ahead. 

[Houndtime]

I am so sad and sorry to see that Sweep is gone.  

[Beachbum1]

Oh no.  My heart breaks for you.  No more pain for your sweet girl.

[Potomacpupsmom]

Oh Rachel, I am so sorry     Sweep was such a beautiful girl and was such a big part of your life.   Such a beautiful tribute brought tears to my eyes.  She is whole now with no pain and can run free and fast-and sweep all at the Bridge off their feet! 

[Time4ANap]

I'm so sorry. We loved Sweep like she was one of our own even though we never got to meet her.

Run-free Sweep. When you see Rocket, tell him I said that the first round is on him. Petunia will be your enforcer if he gives you any trouble. We will all miss you very much here. 

[BatterseaBrindl]

Love that captures the heart and touches the soul remains forever.    Hold those special memories of Sweep close to your heart ......

Run fast and free dearest Sweep....

 

[greysmom]

Run with the Angels, sweet girl.  You will be missed by so many of us left behind.

{{{hugs}}} to you Rachel, and your whole family.

[GreyPoopon]

Damn. 

I am so very sorry. Sweep was a GT favourite and will be missed terribly. 

Godspeed precious Sweep.

[Lexi]

I am so sorry for your loss. Sweep was such a sweet girl. 

[spottydog]

Tears here…Run free, lovely Sweep.

[MerseyGrey]

Such a beautiful tribute. I love the picture of her looking up at her daddy 

[EllenEveBaz]

How is this even possible?

 

Fare well, most beautiful of girls.  

[LBass]

I'm so sorry your beautiful, beloved girl had to leave.  Rachael, your post is a beautiful tribute to a Sweep and the love you all shared.  There is heartbreak in the loss, but the love will always be a part of you. 

[Jerilyn]

I am so sorry! 

Sweep was a special girl and you took such great care of her.  She had so many quirky things in common with Lila, I like to think they are hanging out together now. ❤

[Sniffy]

Ugh, So sorry to hear about this.

[Annette]

So sorry.  I am sure our pups are hanging out with Sweep and doing some racing and showing off.

[ShebasMom]

I am so very sorry for your loss. Run free Sweep.