Thirteen years ago on the last day of a very hot and long July, my daughter brought home the cutest little black bear I'd ever seen....of course, she wasn't a real black bear, just looked a whole lot like a cub!

She was barely four weeks old, she was covered in ticks and she needed a home. My daughter, knowing her mother extremely well, brought her into my life......thank you daughter!!!!!

Thirteen years is a short time in a person's life, for Miss Nadiya it was a lifetime.

She passed on the anniversary of her birth, July 4th with the grace and dignity she showed her entire life.

I am tearing up writing this even though I'd thought my tears had finally finished, I guess I was wrong....Hard because she was one of the most gentile, beautiful and loving dogs I've ever had grace my life. I had told hubby that when Nadiya and Sadie passed, it would be very hard on me as they'd become my favorites (oh get real! Every parent has favorites in their children, I know you do too!!), I love all of our animal companions, but, some are just much more special than others and these two are special....not looking forward to my humongous 10 year old Anatolian Shepherd's passing.

Nadiya was a Chow Shepherd mix, some would think with those two, nothing gentile about her, boy, would they be wrong! Our cats would curl up with her and just sleep. When new puppies or dogs came into the house, she put up with their antics and their energy, she must have remembered her puppy days and forgave....

All I know is I miss her and know I'll never find such a special friend again............