I suppose it’s somewhat predictable that, as I near the end of my time with Izzy, I want to preserve as much as I can about her and her life. I regret that I didn’t start a blog straight away when I learned of her first cancer diagnosis, which was back in August 2015. Almost two years have passed which, for a dog of nearly 14 now, is a long time but is feeling ruefully short right now.
I recognize fully that I have been blessed to have so much time with my girl, cancer or not. There aren’t tons of dogs who live to 14, with the notable exception of tiny toy breeds which are absolutely not my style. I used to joke, “I like my dogs like I like my men – big and dumb” … Izzy isn’t *that* big (weighing in around 55 pounds for most of her life) and really isn’t dumb at all, but that surely didn’t stop me from bestowing the nicknames “Fatty” and “DodoBird” upon her, along with a great many others. She’s been my constant companion for all but the first couple of months of her life, give or take a week or two, seeing me through most of my thirties – which unfortunately included my father’s passing – right on into to “middle age” (I turned 46 just two days ago).
I was hoping that Izzy would make it to her 14th birthday and now that I think of it, that’s an odd wish given that I don’t really know when she was born. I’ve always pretended it was around Halloween/Day of the Dead, but likely it’s more along the lines of October 1st. When you choose to adopt your future heartbreak from a rescue or shelter, you have the luxury of selecting when you will celebrate the passing of years. I always loved Halloween and, when I learned about the Day of the Dead and its beautiful beliefs and traditions, it became an instant favorite. Since Izzy is my favorite dog in the world, a birthday was born. This year, however, I suspect we’ll be celebrating early; it’s important to squeeze this one in under the wire – although I’ve never really thrown her a birthday party before.
I’d come to believe that I adopted Izzy in January of 2004, but my ex-boyfriend from long ago stumbled across some baby pictures of her and in one, there’s a Christmas tree in the background. I know she’s just weeks or months old in it, so it was definitely taken right after she became my girl. That also means that her birthday could actually be in September. And in the end, it doesn’t really matter. I’m just happy to have these photos, once thought to be gone forever. Izzy looks so big, even though she’s just a baby, furthering the evidence that she was older than I thought when I drove to Orlando to adopt her (I did live in FL at the time) and stuffed her into a cat carrier, borrowed from my best friend, Kim, who also accompanied me on the journey. Weeks after I brought her home, I can remember looking at that carrier and thinking how impossible it was that she’d fit … she was growing so fast … and when I gave it away just about a year ago, I marveled again at the idea that Fatty McFatterson ever fit in the darn thing.
But enough of all this. Here are the pictures of my gorgeous girl as an infant and toddler, back when her markings were distinct and she had a heart on her nose.
9 comments so far
2:24 pm - 7-29-2017
Awww sweet Izzy. You were an adorable puppy and still very adorable now
I am glad I got a chance to meet you & your mom in May. Thinking of you
xxoxo
Michelle & Angel Sassy
3:05 pm - 7-29-2017
Dear old Izzy, you’re beautiful! You are also very lucky to grow into old age with such a great Mum! Happy Birthyear sweet old girl!
Hugs & sloppy kisses from Super Stu and his pack. xxx
3:41 pm - 7-29-2017
WE BEREBY DECLARE RODAY, AND EVERY DAY, HAPPY VIRTHDAY IZZY DAY!!! 🙂 🙂 HAPPY 98’YEAR BIRTHDAY LIZZY!!! 🙂 🙂
Seeing these ADORABE baby pictures of this BEAUTIFUL gal has me grinning ear to ear!! Honest ro goodness, she’s barely changed over all these 14 years 🙂 Well, except for the difference in the number of leg thing! Fatty McFatterson has kept her puppy look and her beautiful figure all these years just perfectly.
I’m sooooo glad you have these ohotos!! Every now and then an ex-boyfriend has a redeemjng quality or two!
A d make no mistake aboutnit, every singke photo from the Va Pawty is SAFE and, the Bucketeers will make sure all your FUbucket photos are safe! Do NOT delete your FUbucket photos as we need access.
And Amy, when I say one of the highlights of the Va Pawty was meeting you and Izzy… I MEAN IT!!! The months prior I was soooo hoping the two of you could make it! That Izzy kept everyone guessung!
True to Izzy form, not inly did she show up, but she showed up as a smilin’, tail waggin’, vibrant happy dog who still acted like a puppy!!! 🙂 🙂
And Izzy showed up with her beautiful human,whom she CLEARLY adores…and vice versa!! 🙂
I vividly remember when I saw you two walk up to the picnic shelter, I literally had some tears of joy well up!! I, like everyone else, was sooooo happy to meet TEAM IZZY!!! Yes indeedy, two Soulmates from the day Izzy picked you!!
So today Izzy, we celebrate how happy we all are that you decided to jump into your earth clothes 14 yrears ago…or 98 years ago!! 🙂 🙂 We celebrate the birth of a glorious Soul who came here to make a difference and to inspire in so many levels….and to look prettier in pink than any other being on the Planet!! 🙂
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET IZZY! WE LOVE YOU DEARLY!!!
Love and light,
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too
3:52 pm - 7-29-2017
Happy Birthday Gorgeous Girl!
https://youtu.be/RSvKO5hqApk
7:12 pm - 7-29-2017
Yes indeed – a VERY Happy Birthday to such a very special girl. Those pictures are beautiful she is such a pretty baby. I’m so glad that you two have had such wonderful time to make incredible memories. Here’s to a million more wonderful moments and celebrations of Izzy. What a sweet post.
❤️Amy & Rusty
11:10 pm - 7-29-2017
Izzy so sweet then so sweet now! Ahh if only we could turn back time. So glad I was able to meet you pretty pink princess and your Mom and be able to sing an early Happy Birthday song to you! Before I met you I didn’t even know Warriors came in pink! 😉 Love to you both!
2:42 am - 7-30-2017
Awww. Sweet Izzy.. her nose was a heart early on! That is so cool! Happy Birthday to her and also my condolences that you are feeling like you may be beginning the end of her great battle. I remember when you arrived at the VA event and all of us were in awe and so thankful to be able to meet her. Hugs to both of you.
w
3:06 am - 7-30-2017
Thanks to all of you. It looks like the photos are cut off … hope that’s just for me, but I promise, her head is in all of them – however it doesn’t seem to be rendering properly. So sorry!
6:30 pm - 7-30-2017
What a joy to see Izzy in her youngster days! Thank you for sharing with us Amy. And no regrets OK? You have done so much to give hope and help to others as you walked your own cancer journey with Iz, always know that her story is shared throughout the Tripawds community outside of this blog too. But hey, we are glad to see she has her own now!
P.S. I resized your photos for you by clicking on each one and dragging the corner inward. Usually 500 wide will do the trick, and if you’d like to make sure it enlarges when people click on the photo, just use the Photo Edit feature (pencil icon when you hover over the image) and select the “Link to: Image URL” for it to enlarge when viewed. Does that make sense? If not let us know OK?