Monday, September 9, 2019

Five Years Later - Remembering Greta

On this day five years ago 

our Greta left us for the Rainbow Bridge.


A few days earlier she had eaten a poisonous mushroom 
and the toxins were just too much for her little body
At 2 1/2 years old, 
she was gone and my heart was shattered 
 
Greta was my inspiration for starting this blog
and I want to remember her today by sharing this tribute originally posted Sept 2014.

Greta Pug Munchskin - Truly One of a Kind


Greta Pug Munchskin
02/22/2012 - 09/09/2014



Stan and I have been loved by pugs for more than 20 years. 
Of course they all have been different 
with different personalities and quirks 
but there had never been a pug quite like Greta.
A personality so much larger than her little body. 

Everyone who met Greta loved her, 
she was so full of fun and naughtiness.
What ?    Naughty?   Me?

Greta did everything with an intensity hard to match, 

whether it was having fun, eating, obsessing over her ball,




and of course her love for us.

As a puppy, almost everything with Greta was a challenge. Sometimes I would get so frustrated but I was determined to meet the challenge. Imagine a little 6 lb pug puppy so full of fight, I could hardly get a collar on her to go to puppy class. Finally the day came when she would stand excitedly for me to put her halter or collar on. 

She did not want to be held! OH NO! 
So it became a daily ritual for me to pick her up and hold her till she quit struggling. 

And after time it turned into our daily ritual 
for me to pick her up and hold her like a baby 
and we gave each other love and kisses, every day.

To describe her as naughty would be an understatement. 

 Always into something I could not let her out of my sight.


Modifications were made throughout the house and yard
 just for Greta. 
Sections of x-pen blocked room corners so she couldn't take the rocks out of the plant pots. Stan made panels to block her from getting behind the couches.
 Fences were put up around flower beds
 to keep her from stripping branches off the bushes 
and eating the bark and the decorations.



She was way too smart. When still potty training we would leave up the x-pen panels to block her from the living room. It did not take her long to figure out - a little push here with her nose and a pull there with her teeth and she could move it out of her way. So a more permanent gate was mounted on the wall.

I would give her a chew bone in the morning to keep her busy so I could get ready for work, and again in the late evening to help her (and me) relax before bed and it was still her routine, giving me her "time for my bone, Mom" look.



We started training classes when she was just 4 months old 

She loved learning new things and going to class.


 I wanted her to do well but most of all 
I wanted her to have fun. 



I never could get her to sit straight at my side, 



she would always rock back on her little pug butt 


so she could look up at me.

 Her recalls were pawsome!
 I would call her and she would run to me 
as fast as she could.


 At our last show the judge said 
"hard to beat a recall like that!" 

At home she always ran to her crate 
when we would be leaving for work or shopping, 
but if I was around she wanted nothing to separate us. 



That even included riding in the car. 
She would have none of riding in her crate in the back seat, crying and ripping up the crate pads. 


Finally she was happy to ride in the front with her harness hooked to the seat belt where she could be by my side

As much as she loved me, she also loved her Dad.

 I found it funny that she would lay near me on the couch 
but would not snuggle, 
but she was always willing to be on her Dad's lap
 to "help" him take a nap. 


But when we went to bed at night 
it was usually my side she was glued to 
or she would be on the pillow above my head 

Some of my favorite memories are of her
running so fast through the big yard she would almost fly.



 She ran with such joy and abandon

On the day she got sick, 
she was having a wonderful time playing with friends
Murphy & Stanley



 and I am so thankful that we have these last pictures of her

running - smiling with ears flying

What precious memories to have



So we are trying to adjust to life without Greta,
whose energy and passion for life
 filled every aspect of our lives


I can sleep in on the weekends if I want to now, I don't get smothered with kisses at 6 am telling me I need to get up and feed her breakfast. At some point the hair pulling to wake me up stopped, but I could not tell you when.

I don't have to sneak dishes into the dishwasher anymore to keep Greta from climbing in with the dishes and riding the basket right into the dishwasher.

 Greta is no longer pulling at the couch cushion -  
her way of telling me,
 get off the computer Mom and play with me!
The velcro underneath made it sound like she was ripping the cushion to shreds and she knew I would come running.  

I don't have to worry about disturbing the little pug wrapped around my feet while I am getting ready in the morning

And I am no longer late for work 
because after 10 minutes outside

Greta has yet to find that perfect spot to pee


You would think that life would be easier now
but all of this was so much easier than losing her
and I would do it all over ten times and more
for Greta

Going through all the pictures,
 I came across one that was taken last summer
and I envision a scene just like this one day


Greta by my side as we walk together 
to greet the rest of the PugRanch Kids waiting at the Bridge




My Dear Sweet Naughty Greta

there will never be another quite like you
I still can't believe your gone

I love you Baby

Mom



We are the PugRanch Kids
Mabel & Hilda

24 comments:

  1. we remember that day... and how much we cried as you shared the sad message... it feels not like 5 years... it is very fresh and it still hurts... this darned mushrooms are made in hell, we shortly had a case of a poisoned weimaraner who fortunately made it... it was like a deja vu.... hugs to you that are difficult days with hearts as heavy as a giant rock

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  2. It's difficult to think that 5 years have gone by. Dear Greta had such an impact on so many. Hugs from all of us as you remember your special Angel.

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  3. Hari OM
    OMD is it really five years already? I remember it like yesterday, so how much more must you??? She was a special gal, no doubt about her. Huggies and Love, YAM xx

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  4. So many wonderful forever memories♥ The picture of you pushing your baby in the stroller had us smiling, Greta. You were one of a kind and very special and you'll never be forgotten♥

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  5. I never knew Greta, but Momma told me all about how incredibly special she was. She got all leaky-eyed at your memories, but she was smiling through it too. She said some dogs just grab you by the heart and never let go, no matter what.

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  6. What a sweet tribute to Greta! Me and Stanley had so much fun playing with her that day. We never met a pug who could run as fast as Greta! Fly free our friend!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  7. Oh Linda and Stan sending you all kinds of Puggy Hugs in honor of Greta the Great.
    I always have to check my spelling my fingers always type Great...instead of Greta...which I learned was an accurate descriptive word for Greta.
    Hugs all around
    Cecilia

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  8. Thank you so much for re-posting this beautiful tribute. We knew Greta just a little bit, and know very well how much a beloved pet is missed.
    Hugs from Aberdeen,
    Gail and Bertie.

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  9. Such a wonderful tribute for such beautiful girl who loved life so very much!
    Sending lots of hugs!
    Beth, Arty, Jakey & Rosy

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  10. What a character...a huge personality bursting out of a small body. I think it was when Blogville was hoping Greta would pull through, that we first met you. So sad, but she left LOTS of memories.

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  11. Precious Gretta, like my Lexi, had an indomitable spirit. No one will ever take her place. Gentle *hugs* to you.

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  12. Hard to believe it is five years already. Everybody loved Greta, including us. We are surprised we didn't remember she was so young. Hugs to you on this day of remembrance.

    Woos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber

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  13. She sounded like quite the special pup. Hope your tender memories today provide special comfort.

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  14. What a lovely tribute to your sweet girl. We can't believe it's been 5 years since that fateful day.

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  15. This is a beautiful tribute. We can tell how much you adored her. We remember that terrible day. Sending you love and hugs.

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  16. Oh my gosh,, I cannot make it through this beautiful, beautiful loving tribute with out tears pouring from my eyes, any my heart hurting all over again,, for all of you.
    Greta loved life,,, yes, she was one of a kind.
    You will walk with her again.,.. she is waiting... and she is saying
    "meet me at the bridge, because I am waiting,
    love
    tweedles

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  17. Wow. It is hard to believe 5 years has passed. What you have written is the most beautiful memorial I have ever read. I believe she will be waiting for you at the bridge with your other pugs. I also believe that some of Greta's memorable traits: bounding around your yard with great abandon, that tenacious, joy of life, are right now, in Hilda! I love watching your bond, training, and relationship grow and change with every pug of yours that I've had the privilege to meet. Thank you for sharing all of that, I am lucky to know you and your pugs!

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  18. Never having known the whole story, it was wonderful to read it now, thank you for sharing your beautiful and truly special memories of this truly special little girl. I now feel as though I know her so much better ... and reading this brought tears to my eyes, you were blessed with her in your life. She was blessed with you in hers.

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  19. The naughty ones have a special place in our hearts. Thinking of you and your loss.

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  20. I simply cannot believe it has been five years. She was a very special girl and I enjoyed reading your memories of her. It has also made me keenly aware of mushrooms and their dangers.

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  21. Has it been five years? Where does the time go? We never forget our angels!

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  22. I agree with so many others. So hard to believe that 5 years have gone by already. Greta was a Blogville icon and I always looked forward to reading about her adventures. It was so hard to believe that she was gone so soon....way before her time. But I guess she was needed at the Bridge for a special job that only she was qualified for. We will never forget her and I still think of her often. Sending hugs and love... ♥♥♥♥♥

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  23. Oh, this is such a lovely tribute to sweet (trouble makin' ☺) Greta! You do knows the best doggies are trouble makers, right?? That's what I tells Ma at least! ☺
    I can't believes it's been five years. I still remember that day with Murphy (I just knew Greta would take care of him! BOL), it still breaks my heart. Butts, such fun, good memories. sendin' lots of {{{hugs}}} and slobbery kiss and AireZens.
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

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  24. Charlee: "Five years, wow, it sure goes by fast."
    Chaplin: "We are not even five years old yet, so that's literally a lifetime for us."
    Lulu: "We are sorry we three didn't get to meet Greta, she looks very sweet and fun."
    Charlee: "We send lots of purrs on this sad anniversary."
    Lulu: "And I send fluffy tail wags."

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