Overlooks A Long Ago September Skye "September"

September was a Sutton x Sierra daughter and very much pick of that litter. Not only was she pick in terms of conformation, but she was going to be “picked” given her big mouth and absolute devotion to me.  It was amazing to see this adoration at 8 weeks and throughout her entire life: she was always ‘Daddy’s Girl.’ 

​September had her first litter in the Summer of 2014 and two more after that. She was an integral part of my breeding program and I will forever be indebted to what she gave me and the families who have her wonderful puppies.​​​​

As she got older, September became less and less enthralled with being a member of the pack. As tough as it was, we let her move two miles down the road to live with close friends of ours, Sue & Jeff. I see her often and every time I do she takes a sniff and suddenly the tail starts wagging as she realizes it's Bob! Nothing better than that.

For the last six years of her life, she lived with Sue & Jeff Edelstein and life was grand. When she started to decline, I went over to visit but knew I was saying good-bye and it was heartbreaking. I could write pages about this wonderful dog, but asked Sue to write a remembrance to celebrate her life. In Sue’s words, this was our September:

Her name was September. She was born in January. She died in October. 

She was 3 months shy of her 16th birthday!  

September, Seppie, Guiseppe, Show Me Your Teeth, Dee, Moo, Miss Moo, Missy Moo, Rocky, Rock-a-doo, Stinky, Stinks, Mama, Miss Piggy, Beauty, Beauty-Girl…

Initially she was traumatized leaving Bob and the only family she knew – but it took her just a short time to adjust and realize that Jeff and I were her new humans.   Having lived with men for 9 years she immediately gravitated to Jeff and attached herself like Velcro to him.  I was no doubt a valuable resource – but it was JEFF who was her idol.  JEFF who she followed.  JEFF, JEFF, JEFF.  I was there for an occasional respite, petting and treats.  Lots of treats and lots of loving.  But her devotion was to the male species.  Could you blame her? 

A Clown – Seppie was a clown, a never-ending, laugh-out-loud character – especially when you asked her to “Show Me Your Teeth”.   She resembled “Chewbacca” barring teeth with ears flipping up like the ‘Flying Nun’.  She looked fierce and frightful but all she was really doing was SMILING at us.

Crown Thief and Conversationalist – She loved to put anything in her mouth that was not nailed down…slippers, socks, clothing, all her toys, balls, apples from the trees and sticks. With objects in her mouth, she would have an entire conversation as she shared the woes of her day.  She was genuinely unique and quite vocal.   Sometimes she had a lot to say and other times just a word or two.  But we were her devoted audience listening as she poured out her heart.  

Car rides – She loved to go anywhere with us.  She was the best traveler – never complained and was just happy to be wherever we were.   She’d run down to the car, jump in waiting for the adventure to begin.  She never met an outing that she did not love if it was with us. (note: Jeff) 

Child Advocate – It might be true that dogs do not recognize each other as mother/child once they have been separated but I don’t believe it.  When Beau came to live with us at 3-years old, she knew exactly who he was and just how to handle him like a mother dog would with an insolent poorly mannered youngster.  She tried to mold him into the dog he was meant to be as he was trapped inside himself with fear and distrust.   Seppie helped him, she disciplined him, showed him attention and kindness and tolerated his insanity when it was warranted.  She was a mom!  He was one of 3 puppies from her last litter. Seppie never wanted to be with other dogs or play with them, but she instinctively engaged with Beau, and they were inseparable for the entire 15 months that Beau was here with us.   

Roll Your Body…. A day did not go by that she did not go outside, throw her body on the ground and roll – no matter the temperature, weather conditions, time of year, time of day…she ROLLED.   We all need follow our dog’s advice - Live in the Moment!!!  Live your life as if no one is watching.   Don’t take life too seriously and have fun in our daily lives. 

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Hiking – She never met a trail she didn’t love.  She never went hiking until she came to live with us at age nine and turned into an amazing trail runner and explorer.  Somehow it was instinctive to her to know her way through the woods, climbing a mountain, blazing new tracks.  Her sense of adventure and the great outdoors was amplified each time she put on her hiking boots and took to the trails.  

Begging – The quintessential beggar with those imploring eyes and deadlocked stare…. but only to me not to Jeff.  Can’t understand how that could be… 

Caregiver – We took her to the nursing home to visit my mom while she was living there. After my mom passed, I continued to bring September to visit the residents once a week without fail.  We had a list of people to visit in their rooms, but we always made our way to the recreation area during Bingo or Arts and Crafts.  September knew she had a job, and this weekly sojourn was something she looked forward to and took seriously.  All I had to say was “Ready to go to Work?” and she’d be pacing and raring to go.  Once she entered the front doors of the nursing home, she was on the clock and ready to work. She’d merrily jog down the hall to the elevator waiting to ride up and visit.  She was the best at spreading calm and ‘Golden Sunshine’ to everyone she met and never failed to bring smiles to each person she greeted.  The touch of her fur against a feeble hand summoned something once familiar, something lost from the past as she worked her dog magic.  Of course, it was a two-way street as she was rewarded with treats and love in return.  Win/Win…

As age crept in, she maintained her “Seppie-ness” but she slowed down, didn’t pick up everything in her path and stopped talking the way she once did.  She had a lot of aches and pains but remained stoic.  She never complained and never stopped trying to be the amazing silly girl and athlete she once was.  

We miss her beyond our ability to describe in words… we can feel her presence daily.  She’s in the house, in the car, on trips with us and hiking on the trails.  Her scent lingers; our imagination hears her toes on the wood floors.  I miss being able to hug her, feel her fur and smell her popcorn feet.  How could you not feel the presence of someone who got under your skin, who was always under foot, who looked at you with such soulful eyes every day, who never asked for much but wanted to share the world with us.   Seppie, our best girl, we love you for always and for always you remain a part of us.