Goodbye, Spirit
Celhaus In Love with Life
1/22/15 – 7/1/26

Spirit spent her entire life living into her registered name, “Celhaus In Love with Life.”  She always seemed to have a smile on her face.  She loved life and enjoyed every minute.  She helped me learn to live in the present and to enjoy those blessings right now.  She was such a sweet, gentle girl, a real gift to me.  And to many others.  She ended up with 307 therapy dog visits under her belt – nursing homes, VA hospital, supporting firefighter crews from out of town, supporting students during college finals weeks – AND doing Reading Dog at the Children’s Library and then at two schools. She actually did more visits than that, because I didn’t begin seriously tracking them until AKC began giving awards for therapy dogs.

She LOVED the kids!  The last two pictures are of a note one of the kids sent after he heard that Spirit had died.

See Reading Dog Pages:  2025, 2024 and 2023
See Spirit’s Trading Cards:  Spirit’s, Spirit with 2024 Reading Dog Kids, Spirit with 2023 Reading Dog kids

See TRE kids reading to Spirit, October 2021
See Spirit celebrate her 8^th birthday with the HNS kindergarteners  
See the HNS kindergarteners with Spirit, May 2024

A friend asked me, “Can you imagine the joyous reunion in Heaven when all of the nursing home residents who have passed recognized & reconnected with Spirit?”  I hadn’t thought of that before, but now I can.  She visited some residents for years and years.  Tell them hello from me, too, Spirit!  (The first photo shows Spirit and I visiting through the window during the covid shutdown.)

She LOVED agility in her (and my younger) days and was notable for her extreme desire to please, to know exactly what I wanted and go just where I directed her. 

Spirit was a little straight in the shoulder, so when she began developing arthritis in her spine and front feet, we quit agility.

Thankfully, about that time, nosework became an option.  Spirit dove into the new adventure with great enthusiasm.  Nosework is a competition sport which is a spinoff from narcotics dog training. They search for certain scents – essential oils – instead of drugs. 

At home, Spirit loved her ball sessions. She was a two-ball dog.  She had such strong booty drive (desire to possess the toy) that she struggled to give the ball to me so that I could throw it. So we used two balls.  I threw the first ball, and when she returned with it, I had a second ball in the Chuck-It and showed it to her.  And waited. And waited.  And waited until she finally decided she could drop the first ball.  I would IMMEDIATELY throw the second ball, and off she’d race.

Spirit is the mother of the MM litter of July 2017 and the PP litter of October, 2018. 

She was a good mother, but her litters weren’t uniform in health, temperament and working ability, so I retired her from breeding and made the difficult choice not to keep a daughter.  She was fine not having puppies, because she didn’t lose time from therapy dog visits, training, nosework trials or BALL.

As she aged, Spirit developed spondylitis (arthritis in her back). And the arthritis in her feet, especially the right front, began limiting her activity.  In January she began going downhill.  We added a third dose of painkillers to her day, but gradually she spent more time “killing” her ball during ball sessions rather than bringing it to me.  Some days she never once chased the ball; other days she would do it once or twice.  Two weeks ago, when a bunny jumped up under her nose and she didn’t even try to chase it but stood there and squeaked in a high-pitched prey bark, I called the vet.  By the time I took her to her appointment two days later, she had begun stumbling and licking hind feet.  The vet said that the arthritis was now compressing her spinal cord so that she had stenosis – sometimes she couldn’t feel her feet; other times the nerves to the feet tingled so she would lick and lick in an effort to relieve it. 

On Saturday when I did toenails (I use a Dremel grinder), she absolutely refused to let me hold her right front foot. She is EXTREMELY ticklish and doing her nails has always taken time as I try multiple times on each nail.  That right front has always had the most arthritis in it.  But this was different; she begged me not to hold it.  I knew then that she was telling me that the time had come to free her from her pain.

My Spirit was gentle and sweet.  She was a “heart” dog, one of those exceptional ones who teaches you have to love and treasure another being.  She always did everything I asked willingly and enthusiastically.  Her only questions would be to make sure exactly what I wanted.  I did what she asked this one last time, but it wasn’t willingly or enthusiastically.  It was with a lot of tears and great reluctance.

She got to go do nosework one last time on Sunday, at our favorite training place, and was in heaven – but it was hard watching her limp as she tried to bounce happily. Earlier this summer I quit having her wear the nosework harness when it seemed painful to put it on; and the last few weeks I quit throwing the ball for her as a reward for completing a search.  She was happy to play tug – and keep away.  We do 5 hides per search, and the dogs get treats for each find, and then the ball after the last find.

Denise, my training partner, confirmed that by watching her she could tell that Spirit was much more painful than just a couple of weeks ago when we trained.  It was obvious to us, as I edited today’s photos, that she was in pain.  I made the decision that it was time for me to do the last loving thing I could for her, to release her from her pain.

I called the vet on Monday morning and made the appointment to put her down on Wednesday afternoon.  I was home all day on Tuesday, so we made it a special day to celebrate our love  – long, leisurely morning ball session (she must have known it was our last because she retrieved FIVE times! -) and then her favorite marrow bones.  And, of course, lots of time hanging out together and remembering all the good times we’ve shared.

The vet came to my home to put Spirit down. When I brought her out (carrying her ball), she wanted to head to the back, to our ball area. It took a lot of persuading to get her to stay in the front area.   Once convinced, of course she had to socialize with the tech and the vet and show off her ball – It’s mine; you can’t have it!” – before she would settle in the blanket. She had us laughing.  And I had a chance to tell favorite stories to her and the two people.

I talked to her until she was gone. Hearing is the last thing lost, so she left this world once again hearing what a fantastic dog she was and how much I loved her. She went with love, still holding her balls. Very peaceful. And she was cremated with her ball, so she has it to play with in the heavenly pastures. I’m sure she’ll make sure the angels throw it for her A LOT now that she can run without pain.  And they’ll need to keep her busy while she waits for me to join her.   

Sone people doubt that we’ll see animals again, but I have no doubts, because her great-great grandmother, Glory, came to me as I was grieving terribly from her death.  Glory was such a fantastic producer that I wanted to breed her one more time and keep another daughter. She was just seven.  My vet noticed that she would be due for her annual distemper/parvo and rabies boosters while she was raising the puppies, so we decided to do the boosters before I bred her.  That was a mistake, because she had an auto-immune reaction to the vaccinations.  She became terribly dizzy.  We put her on prednisone (the only thing available at the time), which controlled the dizziness.  But every time we tried to lower the dose little by little, with an eye to weaning her off of it, she would have another extreme dizzy spell.  This went on, over and over, from January until September.  The last time, she fell hard during a dizzy spell and hurt her elbow.   Always before she had been fighting for life, saying we’d beat this, maintaining the joy and exuberance that she was known for.  But that last time, she told me it was just too much and she quit.  After we put her down, I felt that I had killed her in my desire for one more pup from her.  I cried and grieved something awful.  Until one night she came to me, absolutely glowing with health and joy, accompanied by an angel.  I was able one last time to sink my hands deep into her ruff like I loved to do and hold her close, to murmur how much I loved her.  Then the angel made a gesture and she said she had to go. I watched the two of them until they went out of sight.  I still can see them.  So I know I will see all my beloved dogs again.  I know they’ll be waiting for me, and that they’re happy while they wait.  So I’m sure Spirit will be celebrating the love we shared, until we can again share it in person.

So now, those of you who have my pups, you will understand why I am adamant that only single vaccinations be given, at least three weeks apart, all their lives. No doubling up on distemper/parvo and rabies, no matter their age.  I would gladly have gone back and paid an extra vet visit for a second separated shot if it would have been possible for Glory.

Comments from People Who Knew Spirit & Lovely
(See Lovely’s Goodbye page)

P (has a Spirit daughter):  The Peace of the Lord be upon you.  What special dogs those ladies were.  As mom to my girl, Spirit will always be remembered around here. 

M (training friend):  My heart just broke in a million pieces for you. Give Spirit and Lovely a big hug and we know God will care for them. So very sad. I’m so very sorry, Cel. So many memories with both of them. Will be praying all day.   

K1 (has a Lovely son):  I will so miss the updates on the babies, such outstanding girls.  They made such a difference in the world! So do you ❤️ 

K2 (has gone on many therapy dog visits with me, just to observe):  Brings so many tears… What a gift to have watched them work and change so many lives.  You made that possible, my friend.

K3 (has a Lovely son):  Oh Cel, I’m so sorry to hear that. Praying for all of you. Love and hugs. Please thank Lovely for making such beautiful babies and being such a good Mom. We are so honored to have a piece of her legacy.  Our mutual friend always swore they were born with those balls in their mouths, so how perfect they leave this life with the balls they so loved.  Love you, Grandma  

T (has a Lovely daughter):  Your dogs are so incredibly intelligent. It’s amazing. 

G:  Ohhhh, Cel, I’m heart broken. I prayed for them and you.  If it’s any consolation Titus (Hesed son, SAR dog) was working today on a case and doing you all proud. 

D1:  I love those two.  I’m crying with you.

D2 (has a Lovely daughter):  I swear my girl is Lovely’s clone. She does the exact same thing when people come over. And when I’m having ball sessions with her, after about 8 or 9 throws, she just stands about 20 feet from me and holds it and won’t give it back. At first, I thought to myself, she can’t be tired already but then I read that Lovely does the same thing so now I ignore her and start doing something else in the yard and in a few minutes she drops the ball at my feet. I swear every day she does something that makes me laugh at her.  When I read Lovely’s profile and her antics, I told myself I have to have a dog like that. As I’ve said to you before, she’s exactly what I ordered and that’s why she’s perfect! 

S1 (has a Lovely daughter):  Take some tiny bit of comfort that a Lovely daughter is living her best life here with me 

S2 (has a Lovely daughter):  Oh Cel, I am so very sorry.  I’ll be there with you in my thoughts holding you, Spirit, and Lovely especially close to my heart.  Thank Lovely for our beautiful girl.  I’ll be hugging her at 4pm in her honor, being very grateful.  Be strong – sending much love! ❤️ 

S3 (has a Mercy son; Mercy is closely related to Lovely):  Thank you for letting me know. You are all in my heart and prayers. I’m also going to sit down in the 4 o’clock hour to have some quiet time to be there in spirit and for prayer. Lots of love and blessings to Spirit and Lovely as they make this transition.  So much love to you. Thank you for everything you do for all of these dogs and for the people who love them. 

M (has a Lovely daughter):  Oh, Cel, I am so sad to hear about Lovely & Spirit. K told me. My heart is broken for you…such beautiful girls…we never get over the loss. My girl & I are sending big hugs to you & for her Mom & Spirit. ♥️ 

J (had a Lovely brother):  I totally get how you miss them so much. We still tear up and miss ours daily.  I don’t know how you have managed all thru the years with all the heartache and decision making for their health end of life care. You truly are a blessing to the breed with a heart of gold to devote your whole life to them.  

C (has a half-sister to Lovely):  I was sitting down, relating your ordeal with Lovely and Spirit to Hildy, and she came over and pressed her chin into my thigh. I think she understood and was conveying that. In other words, she sends her condolences.

to Spirit’s page