by Jean Marie Carey | 10 Jan 2009 | Animals, Dogs!
Astra Carey, 31 October 1992-9 January 2009
My darling girl and the love of my life Astra died at 6:30 p.m. 9 January 2009.
She spent her final day being extremely boisterous for her breakfast at 5:30 a.m., being variously sat beside and sat upon by her young sister, Marcie, and taking in as many B-movies as it is possible for a deaf, blind, elderly dog to absorb, all things she did most days for many years.
Astra was an amazing Italian Greyhound. During her long life she climbed the Bridal Veil falls trail and played in the falls’ freezing spray, ran on Miami Beach at sunrise, chased armadillos and wild boars, aspirated a sandspur, consumed an entire bag of dark chocolate, was stung by a bee, dove into an alligator-infested river, and walked thousands of miles with me in all sorts of environments. Astra survived all her adventures and misadventures with good cheer and a hearty appetite. Over the years I said many prayers to Saint Francis and Saint Mary imploring them to watch over and protect this loving, gentle soul and I believe she is receiving a warm welcome in paradise tonight and rejoining her sister, Queequeg, who went first as always a few years ago.
Until arthritis affected her range of motion these final years, the first sound I heard every morning after the alarm clock was Astra’s tail, thumping the bed, ready to greet another day in happiness and with love.
Astra was frequently infatuated with animals of other species, particularly rabbits and cats, and though her affections were often misunderstood she remained steadfast.
I have no other words to express my grief but also my ineffable gratitude at having had so many wonderful years with such a wonderful child.
by Jean Marie Carey | 1 Jan 2008 | Animals, Dogs!
Astra finds her way to the doorway.
Astra has a New Year’s present, a motion-activated dual 150 watt sensor light that activates when she steps close to the path to the door.
Since her cataract debrasion Astra can apparently detect a general sense of brightness and she has taught herself very quickly to keep the sensor activated by remain in in its sphere and to then to navigate by the flagstones.
by Jean Marie Carey | 2 Dec 2006 | Animals, Dogs!
There has been quiet lately. We still miss our little dog so much it seems impossible to think of rattling on without her being present. Every day, Astra and I look for hours at the place where the girls slept in the sun, and the minutes drag as the light moves across that patch. Astra misses having her own personal guide dog far more than I had expected. We will all always miss Quee. This photo is one of the last I have of the girls taking their habitual nap together. They both looked melancholy in advance.
by Jean Marie Carey | 15 Nov 2006 | Animals, Dogs!
Queequeg Carey died on Wednesday, November 15, 2006, in Coral Gables, Florida. She was fifteen years old. The cause of death was kidney failure, against which she waged a brief and very fierce battle.
Born on the Ides of March, Queequeg was known for her intelligence, mischief making, and love of humans, dogs, cats, and rabbits. She enjoyed chasing but not harming squirrels and particularly ducks. Queequeg lived on three continents, visited 37 American states, and several times scaled the Bridal Veil Falls trail. She liked to sleep in the sun and be warm and once dragged a pillow she wished to nap on so close to a fireplace the cushion caught fire, with her on it (she was unscorched).
Queequeg was particularly loved by the citizens of Utah, where she lived for several years, and even became something of a local celebrity. The column named for her in the Daily Herald called “Queequeg’s Question” remains one of Utah’s most popular news features. Her antics were immortalized in a hilarious piece by author and entertainer Eric Snider in a story called “Stuff Happens.”
Queequeg is survived by her Uncle Paul, Grandfather Raymond, her sister and lifelong companion Astra and her younger sister Marcie, and by her mother, Jean, who could not have loved Queequeg more had she come from her own body.
by Jean Marie Carey | 2 Nov 2006 | Animals, Dogs!
Look at Marcie’s apple head! She was being very attentive to her sister last week, behaving civilly for a change…maybe she intuited something not yet known.
