Since she was a puppy, she was sassy. She claimed me right away, running right into my lap and peeing on me as soon as I sat down to meet her. Her breeder called her GG, for GirlyGirl, and we called her Miss Ruby, because it just seemed to fit. We could tell she was loving, but definitely a girl who knows what she wants, and does what she wants.
Ruby came home with her brother Cannon at 11 weeks, and they kept me company in the next several months during my pregnancy. Ruby was a cuddler, and she made sure I was never lonely. She loved to cuddle with me, with Cannon, and especially with John- what a daddy's girl! Oh boy did she adore him. When she heard the garage open she would run to the door and just wait for him to walk in, usually getting hit by the door when he opened it because she just couldn't get close enough to him.
She adored her big brother James and her big sister Cassidy. She was ecstatic every time they came over, always the very first one they greeted when they walked in the door. The only one she didn't cuddle was Harrison. He was more of an obstacle to attention than anything else, but she did love him.
Clearly, Ruby and Cannon have chosen each other over fighting for space when Harrison is in the picture!
Everyone who met Ruby had the same reaction- what a sweet girl. Sweet, yes, and as I said, sassy. A little manipulator, which in a puppy is, of course, adorable! During house training she quickly caught on that if she peed outside she would get a treat. In the yard, she would stare at me until she had my attention, squat, and then ask for a treat. It took me a little while to realize she was squatting but NOT peeing!
Invisible Fence? No problem. If she wants to leave the yard, she will. SHOCK- SQUEAL- run around the neighborhood. Time to come home? Run back into the yard. SHOCK-SQUEAL.
She was a typical black lab. Some of her favorite snacks were hamburger, cheese, pretzels, and cauliflower. And anything she could steal- she was so stealthy! Very sneaky and quiet when she balanced on the chair to steal my sandwich off the plate, or the challahs she stole 4 weeks in a row from my bag or the counter, even the stale one I tossed into the trash!
Ruby also loved her stuffed animals. She always had one of her babies in her mouth when she greeted someone, showing it off with a rolling purr of pride. When she was resting, one of her babies would be safely snuggled into her arms. I will miss that purring, and her loud snoring too.
More than anything, she adored her brother Cannon. Their personalities are so different, but they were so obvious litter mates. They had the same walk, the same mannerisms, they even copied each other's bad habits. They fought tooth and nail- literally- covering each other with scabs when they were puppies! And they hated to do anything without the other. They would even wait for each other to go out. Those Cannon-Ruby cuddles were visions of beauty. He is going to miss his sister.
Ruby had lymphoma. She got chemo. She got acupuncture. She had an amazing last month and a half. With all of these treatments she was like a puppy again, so happy and so much energy. She had velvet ears and a wavy coat. She had soulful eyes. I feel extremely privileged to have been with her to the very end. She died in my arms, hearing her mommy and daddy's voices, surrounded by neighbors who came over to say goodbye, and she died on her own terms, literally seconds before our vet neighbor friend walked in the door with the meds to help her pass. Sassy girl to the end. I hope I never find the last clump of dog hair hidden in the corners of the house.
By the way, Sunday evening, or little town was awash in rainbows! Of course, I didn't see any of them myself, but there were so many, and I saw so many pictures of them posted on Facebook, she was making sure I knew she got where she was going. Love that girl so much.
