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Yesterday was one of those days that will go down in history for our family. A ferocious electrical storm blazed through here this morning leaving behind over 3 1/2 inches of rain, flooded roads and properties, and power outages. We lost our sweet black Lab, Penny, to a lightening strike. The strike evidently traveled uphill from a tree that was struck just yards away at the bottom of a slope outside our front door. It struck the corner of her doghouse where she had sought refuge from the storm. I was sick when I found her after the storm had moved on. It was heartbreaking.

My 5 year old granddaughter was heart broken when we broke the news to her. She loved Penny dearly, and spent a lot of time with her when she visited us. She’s concerned about our yellow Lab, Pedro, just as we are, because he has lost his best friend who was actually his half sister. He’s feeling lost without her. They were born just a day apart and have been together since birth.

Penny was always so loving and patient with my granddaughter. She would do anything Bella asked her to do practically. She ate up the attention, love, and affection Bella gave her. She was always careful not to hurt her. At times she was purposefully slow and methodical with her actions so as not to harm her by accident when they would run and romp together. Thank God I have lots of pictures of the two of them playing together.

It took a while to console Bella last night. She was upset when we first broke the news to her earlier in the day, but she had calmed down and settled back into playing eventually. Then as the evening wore on and she began to wind down for the day, her thoughts turned back to Penny. Her Mom (my daughter) called and asked me to please try to console her on the phone because she hadn’t been able to calm her down. At first she didn’t want to get on the phone with me. She was still crying too hard and could hardly talk.

After her Mom and I had talked a little longer, she was finally willing to talk on the phone. We talked about Penny being in doggy heaven now looking down on her and watching over her. Bella lost her paternal grandfather a little over a year ago, too. She began talking about Penny and her grandfather being together in heaven now. That seemed to help her begin to accept the loss of another family member dear to her. Although she understands they wouldn’t be alone without the other in heaven, she knows it’s even better that they now have each other and can share the joy of heaven together.

Penny will always have a special place in our hearts just like our other family members. I have family pictures all over the house that include pets we’ve had over the years as well as pets our adult children have and have had. It’s time to choose a special picture of Penny and give her her rightful place among the others pictures. I’m sure Bella will appreciate being able to see her picture when she comes to visit next time.

We love and miss you, Penny.

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…the cable to my satellite dish????!!!! My adorable, sweet black Lab, Penny, seems to be rather fascinated with that cable for some reason. This is the 2nd time this year she has chewed it into. She’s not cutting teeth. She already has all of her teeth. She’s not bored or lonely. She has her brother, our yellow Lab named Pedro, with her all the time and they do everything together. (more…)

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