Goodbye Sweet Chloe ~ Love You, CoCo Puff

 "Chloe" Van Wylde of Mystic Mountain

Today was not at all what we expected. While the day dawned a beautiful, sunny, breezy Saturday...just one phone call catapulted our morning into a morning of mourning, filled with shock and sadness as we helped our sweet Chloe earn her furangel wings and journey North of the Rainbow Bridge to join her older brother, Gibson.

Puppy Chloe and her momma, my Daughter.

To say losing Chloe to sudden acute liver failure was a total shock. Her April vet check went well for an 11.5 year old pup with arthritis. While Chloe's legs had arthritis issues that have been steadily worsening to the point she was on medication, she was still a healthy, always happy girl.  Her leg issues stem back to when she was just four and during a leap up onto my daughter's bed, she blew out both of her legs, requiring her to go in for emergency double imbrication surgeries. So thankful at the time when she actually walked out of the vet (although bandaged up and heavily medicated), we were told severe arthritis would set in one day...and that day came. Even with a gimp, she was on medication and full-spectrum hemp oil to help alleviate her pain, she greeted each day with bright blue eyes and always a happily wagging tail. Seeing her, how could you not smile?!

Our vet reminded us this morning of how much joy Chloe and her siblings, Wolf and Bandit, our "Pupsters" brought to us. She remembered when we first brought home the three as puppies, and she said focus on the joy and happiness she added to our lives and we gave to her. 

Oh, there are so many precious moments, including how wonderful she was with my grandson from the moment he arrived! He even learned to call her by her nickname "CoCo." So dear to watch them together...my daughter's baby and furbaby.


Sharing in the raising of these amazing dogs with my daughter has been such a blessing, and so many days filled with laughter and silly Sibe shenangins. What is so hard for me now, is to how our FiveSibes went to four, and now three...and the empty bed, the space where Chloe should be among the others, and simply looking for the missing Sibe when the others come. So sad to know that the "three Musketeers" fondly known as "The Pupsters" will be together no longer...but, the joy in raising three littermates together and watching them bond and be each other's best friends for life is something that will always be so very special.

Chloe and littermates Wolf & Bandit: "The Pupsters" on one of their birthdays.

One of my fave photos of our fab FiveSibes, always together. The joy these Huskies have brought to our lives is something to always be treasured. Days go by way too fast. Now there are only three...but, will forever be the FiveSibes in my heart.

It's the silence that now is deafening as she was our "chatty Chloe," always talking, especially when it was meal time. That girl knew it was breakfast or dinner time a half hour ahead of time. She was like a Husky alarm clock! Oh, and how Chloe loved her treats. Honestly, Chloe just loved food. All the time! In addition to being the FiveSibes pack sweetheart, Chloe was also the chow hound! The mere mention of "treat" or "cookie" or that crinkle of a bag would have her come running front and center!

Chloe's face was that of an angel from the very beginning. The perennial puppy face. The sweetest dog,who never growled, grumbled, or grouched. Not ever. She greeted everyone every single day, almost right up until her very last, with a wag of her tail. And she never aged. Her face today was that of her puppy face, nothing belied the eleven and a half years under her collar.

Chloe was a such sweetheart, a gentle dog, who was always happy as indicated by her always-wagging tail. You couldn't help but feeling happy just being around her.

A Fave Photo of Chloe & my Daughter

Technically my daughter's second Husky (Harley is her first), Chloe and my daughter shared a very special bond. They were best pals. Chloe was so amazing and helped my daughter through some rough days. Then, after she blew out her CCLS and meniscuses and had her legs rebuilt, my daughter laid by her side all through her long rehabilitation. My husband built a special ramp for her, and all FiveSibes and family rallied around our girl. (You can read her story in my post "For the Love of Chloe" here).

It was so simple to please Chloe. A treat or meal sure made her super happy (and vocal)! That is why when she suddenly stopped eating, to the point of actually walking away from us, and then simultaneously becoming sick and vomiting, we knew something was wrong...way wrong. Yesterday she went to the vet for bloodwork and X-rays, and at first it seemed good news--no signs of cancer or growths. However, Chloe turned her nose up again at dinner, and not one snack--nothing--intrigued her. 

And then...the phone call. The news was not good--as a matter of fact, it was horrible news. Chloe was in liver failure and the critical point was coming fast.

 The very last pack photo taken with Chloe.

So on this beautiful, breezy day, we unexpectedly had to say goodbye to our pack sweetheart, one of the Pupster siblings, Chloe Van Wylde of Mystic Mountain. 

Chloe, lying on her favorite bed on the back deck--our FiveSibes favorite place to be--Chloe was held by my daughter, as we both pet her and told her she was a good girl, a special girl, and it was time for her to find Gibson, her big brother, at the Rainbow Bridge. He would meet her and together they would head north, and enjoy forever zoomies together in the softest snow with rays of sunshine glistening through, always and forever in our hearts. Harley, Wolf, and Bandit were with her...Wolf staying right by her side as she eased into her forever peaceful sleep as the sun twinkled, the birds chirped, and the breeze blew.

While we are numb, and I write this through many tears, we know she is safe from pain now. And, I remind myself, it was a beautiful day for her to take a trip to north of the Rainbow Bridge, surrounded by her family who loved her.

Run free now, sweet Chloe, with your big brother Gibson; forever happy and pain free. Know you gave us so many happy memories and meant the world to my Jenn. You will always be in our hearts. And...we hope it is raining treats up there just for you.

Love You Always, sweet CoCo, 

Your Hu-Momma & Grand-Hu-Momma

@FiveSibesMom

I will be taking a little time off to be with Harley, Wolf, and Bandit as we grieve Chloe's loss. I want to thank each of you for all your love, well wishes, prayers, and good thoughts. Our FiveSibes feel all the love, and I know Chloe carries that with her on her wings.

Heartfelt thanks to Zoolatry for this beautiful memorial.

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