13/01/2025
From day one, Shawna knew that Birdy was a soulmate. They were two peas in a pod. Two weirdos in the woods. No matter how long they were apart, they both lit up when they reunited. Birdy would spring up & down until Shawna scooped her up, giving her lots of kisses. Birdy would try to give kisses back until Shawna said, “Thank you, Bird!”, at which point Birdy would melt into a sweet hug.
Birdy came to us after her owner passed away in his home. Birdy & over 20 cats had to fend for themselves for several weeks after their owner’s passing. Birdy arrived at Capital Humane Society in a frail state, with a mouth full of rotting teeth. The wonderful folks at CHS knew that Birdy needed to come to us. As usual, they were correct.
Birdy flourished at The Farm. For almost four years, she was one of the most joyful dogs we have known. She blasted down trails & bounded through prairie grass with the reckless abandon of a puppy. She loved every creature she encountered.
In May, Birdy developed cataracts but was not a candidate for surgery. Her vision loss was difficult. It dimmed her light. Luckily, she was still happy & comfortable. In December, Birdy started showing neurological signs. She had a few seizures. Then, she woke up one morning unable to walk & with a diminished mental state. It sounds strange, but sometimes it’s a blessing when there is a clear indicator that it is time to euthanize. If you have ever struggled with the impossible decision of “When is it time?”, you may know what we mean. Birdy let us know. It was obvious, but it still felt impossible to say goodbye.
Some Bird facts:
💛 Birdy found her better half, Hooper, at The Farm. Even if she was aimlessly wandering, Hooper would follow behind her, giving her nuzzles & sniffs at every stop.
💛 When another dog barked, Birdy had to bark along. She didn’t go to the source of the barking. Instead, she stayed where she was, threw her head back, and yelled until someone said, “Thank you, Bird!”, at which point she would fall silent, satisfied with her contribution.
💛 Birdy was an excellent hiker. She went on a few trips with us & kept up with much bigger & younger dogs. She forged water crossings & leapt over blow-down trees like an old pro.
💛 We joked she was “foldable for your convenience”. Birdy’s body was 90% legs, & she was incapable of sitting, laying, or being held in a remotely normal position.
💛 Birdy loved all humans, but she had her favorites. She especially loved Grammy, Brianna at Optimum Veterinary Medical Group, and, of course, vet students.
We are so fortunate to have had the opportunity to know & care for Birdy. She truly was a perfect creature: joyful, kind, & a stone-cold weirdo. We are also so fortunate to have YOU! Thank you for your endless support of The Farm dogs. 💛
Thank you, Bird. We will see you in the next one.
The Farm is a peaceful, joyful, and loving forever home for senior dogs. We are a registered nonprofit organization.
