We adopted the most wonderful dog from you in 2011, and I am writing to let you know that we had to let her go this week. We said goodbye on Monday, March 13. She was almost 12. Tilla was the sweetest, most loving dog I have ever known. She was a beauty queen (and she knew it), but she was also the most humble and gentle soul, overflowing with love for any person or creature she met.

She was just about 2 when my son was born, and she easily transitioned from being the "baby" to being the "big sister". Even as a newborn, she would nap beside him on the bed or the floor. She was gentle and tolerant as he crawled on her and gave her kisses. As he grew older, she became an active playmate, running in the yard or wrestling on the floor. I would find them "playing" board games, or "working" on Legos together, and she would happily sit and listen to him read stories, play video games, or watch movies together.

She was forever a pretty princess. We would go on long walks and she would prance quietly beside me and everyone would comment "oh what a pretty dog, what a nice dog" and she would take it all in with a modest smile that said "well, of course I am!"

She loved to find a sunbeam, and would often lay outside on our deck for hours. Our house backs up to a popular walking trail, and when people would walk by she would jump up, sprint off the deck and across the yard, howling and running along the fence to say hi. Once she got to know you, she no longer needed to bark, but would quickly trot over to the fence for a sniff and a head rub. She had so many friends. Often I would be out for a walk and people whom I had never met would stop to say hi to Tilla. They had already met her along the fence line. I joked that she had a more active social life than I did!

In the winter she would lay next to our woodstove and her fur would get so hot that we worry that she was going to catch fire. Trying to make her move was useless - once she was comfortable she was not budging.

As a puppy she was sassy and could be (very) mischievous, but as she grew up she became incredibly mellow and content. She was happy to lay on the floor all day next to me, never demanding too much attention (although she did love to play the "in / out" game to see how many times she could get you to let her outside). She loved head rubs and ear scratches, and once you started petting her she would refuse to let you stop. In her senior years she became a little more clingy - following us from room to room and would often just rest her head in my lap while I was working or reading.

She was a special dog and there will never be another one like her. She left a hole in our hearts with her passing, and we miss her terribly. I just wanted to thank you for bringing her into our lives. For over 11 years she was a bright light who loved us more than we ever deserved or could possibly match.

Cheers to all of the hounds.

Love,
The Turner Family

Tilla's Happy Ending Page