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On October 27, 2003 I walked into Walmart and saw Casey. Needless to say, it wasn't hard to convince my dad into letting me get him. From that moment on, Casey and I were inseparable... mostly to the fact that wherever I went, Casey was right there by my leg. We always wondered why Casey was given up, and by his mannerisms, we figured he may have been a seeing eye dog.
*
Casey was a big teddy bear. There wasn't anyone as gentle and lovable as he was. He was really thoughtful and made sure that everyone always had a chance to pet him. Casey loved to be scratched and would flip his head under your hand until you would pet him. We always joked that if I burglar ever broke in, Casey would occupy him by making the burglar pet him. When we took him on walks, he made sure that he went up to every person that he saw so they could pet him. He was great in making us get to know our neighbors.
*Some of my favorite times with Casey were spent snuggling on the couch. Even though at one point he weighed 135 pounds, that didn't stop him from thinking he was a lap dog. He wanted to be right there, laying next to you. Speaking of the couch, that was one of Casey's favorite places to lay. It was evident that Casey started not to feel well, when he stopped jumping up on the couch.
*Throughout the time that Casey was with us, he suffered many health problems. Casey frequented the vet so often that they made him Dog of the Month. He got his picture put on the shelf there. The staff at Hunter Animal Hospital knew him by name and loved him. They were always so good to him and our family. We also joked that there was a reason that he was a "golden" retriever . . . because it cost the family so much to take care of him. However, I would pay the thousands over and over again to have him still....
*We should have known that Casey would have health problems. Within the first two days having him he was at the pet ER. He had complications following the mandatory neutering for adoption. The poor pup was swollen up to the size of a softball. Casey also had problems with his thyroid. Poor guy gained so much weight before we caught it. Another health problem was tumors. Casey underwent two major surgeries to remove tumors. The last one was unsuccessful because the tumor was wrapped around a major artery. In the end, the tumor grew so large that it affected his appetite causing him to lose large amounts of weight. It also caused pressure on his major organs and caused decreased blood volume.
*In the end I knew I was being selfish for keeping him here. My time with him was up. God had lent me his best pup for long enough and he wanted him home. I know Casey is in a better place, running and smiling like the old days, his tail wagging. His bud Sadie welcomed him home and is showing him the best rivers to walk through and the best grass to eat. I am sure there is a nice couch in the sunshine for him to take his naps on in heaven.
I know I will see him again, but until then I will miss my golden shadow,
my comfort when no one else is there, and one of my best friends.
my comfort when no one else is there, and one of my best friends.
*"Dogs' lifes are too short. Their only fault really." This can be said of my Casey.
