Sadie Mae was both the very first Newf we fostered and adopted. She came to us in July of 1999. We were recovering from a horrendous car accident when we got the call from our friend Susan Wagner. Susan told us about Sadie and asked if we could foster her. Focusing on Sadie was exactly what the Doctor ordered! She was a pistol, a fire cracker. She talked "wookie" with Russell every day. She was sassy.... and we adored her. It didn't take long until we decided to adopt her!
Sadie's former family had severely neglected her. She lived in her crate for at least 17 hours a day, was fed 10 cups of dog food, and 2 cans of Alpo every day. Needless to say, she was severely overweight. When she came to us, she went on a diet... and she became a champion counter surfer. Yet she lost 50 pounds, and felt a whole lot better! I took her to obedience classes, and watching her do a recall was a joyful event. She was happy, she was frisky and she was our Sadie.
However, the fates were not kind to her. She soon had her first seizure... and was eventually diagnosed with Epilepsy. The seizures became more frequent, and she often had cluster seizures. Our vet prescribed all the typical anti-seizure meds, and they gave her good control. However, she reacted adversely to the meds, and had a side effect to the drugs called ataxia. This means she had little control of her back legs. We had to use a sling to help her walk on most days. She weighed 120 pounds, so this was no easy feet, but we did it.
People often asked about “her quality of life". Through all of this, Sadie remained happy. Her tail wagged and she literally talked (wookie, or course) to us all the time. She did have spurts where she could get around ok, and I would catch her with her front paws on the kitchen counter, her head in the sink, eating lettuce that was draining.
One night, Sadie became very ill. We rushed her to the vet, and no matter what they did, she continued to slip away. We brought her home, and fed her ice and tried to get her to eat. Russell sat with her head in his lap for hours, talking to her, holding her.... she was peaceful, but she kept slipping away. After she hadn't eaten for several hours, we took her back in, so they could put her on IVs..... Sadie crossed the bridge sometime that night. I so wish she had been home with us, and in our arms when she crossed..... Words can not describe the devastation we felt. Someone once told me that when they leave us, they leave the hole the size of a crater. That says it all.... The day she died, I wrote this: Star Light Star Bright The First Star I see tonight I wish I may I wish I might See my Sadie's Star tonight. When I look up into the sky, I know that the very first star I see is Sadie's star, and I talk to her all the time, and I know she's watching over us.... We love you Sadie Mae... we always have and always will... forever and ever.
And that is why we refer to our house as “Sadie Mae’s Home for Wayward Newfs”. It’s our tribute to a very special Newf. Knowing Sadie, and her story, our hearts opened permanently to Newfoundland Rescue and to Newfs in need everywhere.
I extend my sincerest gratitude to Joan Edwards for creating this very special picture of Sadie Mae with her Angel. To visit her website, please click the link below
Joan Edward's Website
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Somewhere Out There
Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight
Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
written by James Horner, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
sung by Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram in "An American Tale" 1987
