Shiva was the first dog I got as a true puppy with my husband and the first dog that I had to make the choice to let go not because of cancer or serious injury, but because of old age.

We made sure her last days were full of spoiling and love, but due to the pandemic and some frustrating miscommunications with the vet it was the worst goodbye I’ve ever had. It’s taken me a long time to get to the point where I could write this post (it’s December now).

But as all pains do, it’s faded to the point where I can look past the heartbreak and remember the awesomeness that was my NinjaPuppeh. 💗

Shiva lived a full, gloriously Diva-charmed life, and even at the end when she couldn’t really grasp what was going on, she was as bossy and ninja-like as ever. The other dogs might have been larger, but what Shiva wants, Shiva goes and gets– sometimes to the confusion of the other pack members.

Yappy barking. So. Much. Barking. 😂😅

Ever since we brought the tiny ball of fluff home on March 19th, 2006 she ruled the house with an iron paw. She had Ginger, Rocko, and Bucket as long-term minions and Smokey and the Corgiador as short-term sidekicks.

It was something to see a tiny white bit of fluff run (and corner) faster than a giant black german shepherd as they alternated playing chase around the yard! 🤣

She was never quite sure what to make of friendly cats, since Dex taught her to leave them along, but graciously accepted Taft’s headbumps.

She loved to run (and to escape) and there were times when you’d watch her go and it seemed like her feet never hit the ground. She loved the snow, but she also enjoyed sitting out in the summer and smelling the good smells.

Thankfully by the time BucketPuppy taught her the joys of digging she’d learned to stay away from the fenceline. 🤦‍♀️

Towards the end, when she was mostly deaf and mostly blind, she’d still leap fearlessly off the deck and down stairs– even if the ground wasn’t quite where she expected it to be and her leaps not quite as powerful. She would bounce around the yard, smiling and having the best of times.

She was my BabyDog, FluffehPuppeh, ShivaDivaDog, FluffBucket, and all around shedding machine. I fully expect to be sweeping up fur years from now and thinking of her.

Thanks to cellphone cameras I have a giant gallery of photos and videos of her and it helps to remember the good times. And I’ve got Bucket and Taft to snuggle with to handle the bad.

Fourteen years was a good run, dearest fluff, but not enough. Never enough.