Roxy is the June 30, 2019 Pup of the Week

There is something special about the relationship between dogs and parents when they meet as children and reach adulthood simultaneously. They are more like brother and sister than mom and dog. They become best friends, siblings, and confidants.

Mama Natalie became Roxy's official mom when Natalie was 15 years old. Roxy was already part of the family having been born in her room.   On Natalie's birthday, it was decided that Natalie would be Roxy's primary caregiver. From that moment on, Roxy was Natalie's constant.

There are many milestones young women encounter as they grow into adulthood. Achieving them can be frightening and painful. Natalie's journey was made more accessible because she had Roxy to comfort her with a lick on the hand and understanding eyes.
Roxy made being a parent easy. She potty trained quickly. She never tore up anything she wasn't meant to tear.   All she wanted was to be petted. Heaven helps anyone who decided to end a petting session prematurely. Roxy would reach with her paw and pull the hand back until she was satisfied.  She loved everyone she met, and they reciprocated. 

A week ago Roxy and Natalie celebrated the 14th anniversary as Mom and dog. Natalie noticed that Roxy had been sneezing at an alarming rate. She called the vet who said that Roxy might have a tumor in her nose. Natalie needed to look for the following symptoms: bloody discharge, difficulty breathing, and facial swelling. Slowly but relentlessly Roxy soon showed all those symptoms. 

The vet said some options could extend Roxy's life. She could have chemo or radiation. But, Roxy was a senior dog. She had been able to stay herself through her lifetime. Natalie knew that while she may still have Roxy physical form with the treatments, it would end what made Roxy Roxy. She also knew her little baby would suffer during the procedures. She did what parents do in the end. She took all of Roxy's suffering on herself and set her darling little baby-
 free at the Bridge. 

We at the Bridge knew that Roxy's transition would be difficult.  Roxy was convinced her mother would not last a day without her. It was going to be hard to get Roxy to understand that she could still help her mom without physically being with her.  

All of Roxy's friends came together at the Bridge.  She had an abundance because she was a social media superstar.  She started on the internet as a young pup. Most of her friends she made when she first went online were already at the Bridge.  

Roxy was reluctant to cross the Bridge. She did not agree with her mom and would have stayed with her until all Roxy's body parts fell off and she was left with just an eye and a tongue.  Midway across the Bridge, she stopped. Tommy Tunes took her paw and guided her across the river and up the stairs.  

Roxy was polite with everyone because that's the way she was raised, but she barely smiled. The angels understood her pain.  They had experienced it before and knew the first few days are the hardest. After her swearing in, and welcoming dinner. I told Roxy I would go with her to visit her mom. 

We became ghosts and watched her Mom as she slept.  "She's so beautiful," Roxy said. I explained to her all the ways that she could help her mom in her new role as an angel; she would have input in every decision, she would comfort her mom in her dreams and advise her when she had to make an important decision.  It was a vital and often frustrating task, but I knew Roxy could do it because a mother's love fueled her. Roxy said she would try. 

Within days Roxy was visiting her mom's dreams on her own.  She was also spending lots of ghost time watching over Mama Natalie. She's learned how to have her voice remembered so she could guide her mom in the right direction when she is faced with critical decisions. 

Hopefully, Roxy's mom will be able to understand when she wakes up smiling, has a pleasant dream, or knows the solution to a problem that has been plaguing her, that she just had a visit from her beloved little Chihuahua. 




No one has loved Mama Natalie more than Roxy.  Roxy's being at the bridge won't change that. Like a petting prematurely interrupted Roxy wouldn't stand for it.