Farewell to Zulu

This is Zulu, she was our dog from January 2005 to June of 2007, when it became very apparent to me that I just couldn't give here the attention that she needed. We searched and searched for a new home but with no luck. Eventually I readjusted my expectations and figured out how to make her work with our two babies. Then out of the blue before we were to leave on vacation, we found just the right home for her, with a guy who spoiled her and took her hiking and swimming and let her sleep in his bed. We have assumed she was living it up with him for the past couple years, and likely she has been.

But I got an unexpected phone call on Monday, from an animal shelter in Texas, say that Zulu had been surrendered to the shelter by her owner because they lost their home and could not take her with them. Since my information was still linked to her microchip, they were calling to verify that I wasn't the current owner and stated that she was going to be put down.
If she had been here in Las Vegas, I know I would have found myself heading down the the shelter to pick her up, but I couldn't make any reasonable validation to head to Texas and go get her. Maybe better people would have. So now Zulu has past on, and I retain some guilt.
(Michael pouring sand on her)

I have come to the conclusion, that at least I saved her from death at the Lied Animal shelter (she had that bad virus that they'd put a bunch of animals down for, the vet was furious they had adopted her out so sick and warned me that she may not live more than a few more days). So she got 4-5 more years than she would have otherwise, and I think she was loved in those years. So my guilt has lessoned, but I'm still feeling sad for her passing. As crazy as she was, she was still endearing. I just didn't have it in me at the time to take care of a 15 month old and a newborn, and a very demanding dog. Think Marley and Me but not as destructive, just still crazy. So farewell to Zulu with the beautiful ice blue eyes, I'm sorry!