Emmy, my blind puppy mill girl, gave up the fight against lymphoma today. She let us know it was time to let her go. I am still pretty numb - even though I thought I was prepared for her passing to the Rainbow Bridge, I don't think I really was. I would like to thank all of you who have sent words of encouragement and support when we heard the news and over the last month as we struggled with helping her. I will try to answer you all personally as soon as I can.

Emmy came to us as a foster for the local rescue in May of 2000. She was born at a puppy mill here in AZ and was kept to use as a breeder. She was bred every season for 6 years until the puppy mill owner decided she was no longer useful. When she was released from the puppy mill she was sooooo thin. It turns out that her teeth were rotten and infected and it hurt too much for her to eat. The vet said she had never seen teeth as bad as Emmy's. We had her spayed and had her teeth pulled and she started gaining weight. She trusted us immediately, unlike many of the other puppy mill dogs that were rescued alongside Emmy. She sought out attention and affection whenever she got a chance and settled into a life of leisure. Her only issue was that she tinkled when she ate; a habit we never broke her of. A family expressed interest in adopting her and assured us that the tinkling would not bother them. Unfortunately it did, and she was returned a few days later. Shortly after her return, one of her eyes swelled up. We rushed her to the vet, but it was too late. She had genetic glaucoma and we discovered that she also tested off the charts for tick fever, which aggravated the glaucoma. She needed eye surgery, but the rescue couldn't afford it. I cried all the way home from the eye clinic, worried that Emmy was in pain and needed help. Her Auntie Mel [Melissa Rogers] came forward and made 17 "Emmy dolls" that were sold for $100 apiece to fund Emmy's surgery. She came through the surgery with flying colors and my husband and I made the decision to permanently add her to our family. A few months later here other eye started bothering her, and she eventually underwent another surgery. A few bone infections later, she was fine. She enjoyed her weekly visits to the bark park, trips to Petco, even attending ceramics classes. Then early this year, my husband found a lump on Emmy's neck and we took her to the vet. We were given the sad news that Emmy had lymphoma and we vowed to spend as much time with her as possible for as long as she was with us. I'm happy to say that we fulfilled that promise and I have so many happy memories, especially her day as Queen of the Waddle of the Green.

Emmy charmed everyone she met. She was always attracting a crowd at the dog park when she would "accidentally" bump into someone to get them to pet her. She would sit patiently and wait her turn if there was any petting to be had.

We always joked that Emmy had no vocal cords (she'd been de-barked by the puppy mill), no teeth, and no eyes, but she had all of our hearts. :-) Emmy, you will be missed, but we'll meet again. In the meantime, hopefully Hannah is there at the Bridge to show you the way.