Up high from Sissi to Nathalie

In tribute to

Up high from Sissi to Nathalie

Thanks to

Cyriel to Nathalie

You met me when I was just 15 days old, and you were told to come and see me regularly until I could leave my mom.

And you did, naming me CYRIEL, the pretty little Yorkie.

You always saw my mommy, but I had my daddy, and for good reason you'll find out much later.

When I arrived at your place, there were already other dogs, a Whippet mom and her children, who didn't hesitate to take me under her wing along with her puppies.

And as the little bundle of joy that I was, I was the law among them from the moment I arrived.

I amused the whole family.

At the age of three months, I began to fall ill and wither away.

Already the vet's direction.

He tells you nothing but bad things about me, that I won't be the mini Yorkshire you were expecting, that I was a "degenerate", because in fact my mom was also my sister and my dad was my mom's dad.

After many tests, the verdict was that I wouldn't live long (4 years max) and that my health wasn't going to get any better, that as time went by, other problems would be added.

He suggested euthanizing me at the age of 3 months, or trying to save me by putting me on a drip all night without hope, and you, who already loved me with all your heart, refused euthanasia outright and had me drip all night while staying with me.

And for you, I resisted and got through it the first time.

I grew up as best I could, under the guidance of Alvina the Whippet, who taught me not to bark - hats off to a Yorkie - so I never did.

I didn't become the 3 kg York we told you I was, but I'm now 6 kg, and then my health deteriorated, I was epileptic with heart failure, distended patella ligaments, and finally I had uterine metritis, due to urea.

Every time I had an epileptic seizure, day or night, you'd take me to the vet to make sure everything was back to normal, even though you'd already done everything necessary to bring me back to myself.

You never went out day or night without looking after me for fear of something happening to me, so while you were at work I was being nursed at grandma's (your mother's) house.

As I could hardly walk, you bought me a doggy bag to take me everywhere like a normal dog, and when we went into the woods, I walked as long as I could and then went into my bag.

People thought it was weird to be in the woods and walk your dog in a bag! But they didn't know anything about me...

Then my urea level went up, and my kidneys weren't working on their own.

Every month you took me to the vet for an injection, like a kind of dialysis for humans.

When I arrived at the vet's, I made everyone in the waiting room laugh, because I didn't understand why we had to wait for the doctor to be free, so I'd drag myself along and scratch at the door, and when he opened it I'd celebrate, while the other dogs would go in backwards.

But I knew he was going to do me good.

Then one day, my uterine metritis broke out.

I had to have an operation right away, but I had a 1 in 10 chance of making it with all the problems I was having.

But you tried anyway.

And I woke up for you, but not for long, 3 days, because on the 4th day I made you understand that I had to go, that it was over for me because I'd bled internally.

And since you had the vet's personal number, he came in the middle of the night to put me to sleep for good without any pain, with you still by my side.

The vet couldn't believe how long I'd lived, 10 years, without suffering because you were always there to understand me whenever something went wrong and you made sure I didn't suffer.

I know he kept a photo of me.

You are an exceptional master, because many people would have had me put down to avoid all the trouble you had with me.

But for you, love of animals comes first.

Today, you picked up another Whippet who was heading for the SPA, because her owners were getting divorced and neither of them wanted her.

And there you were.

I know she's happy, I can see it.

Because I haven't left the house, since I'm in a box with a little cross on it on one of your pieces of furniture in your office.

And yes, I'm still here, that was your wish out of LOVE for me, the SISSI we'll never forget.