ESTABLISHED 2014

BY MIREILLE BECKWITH

To My Georgia, the greatest pup

I said goodbye to her this morning, a day I always knew would be filed in the back of my mind as far away. I’m writing this saying goodbye post mainly for me, so thank you if you love us enough to read it. A year ago her heart murmur got progressively worse, and she started medication. She had a slight murmur for about 5 years, but it was never an issue until last year when I think one of the valves was fatiguing. It caused the beginning stages of congestive heart failure. It was every day medication that helped her blood pressure for her enlarged heart, and then an ’emergency pill’ as we called it for whenever too much fluid would enter her lungs. I was pregnant and needed her with me still. I also knew she had a little bit of life left in her, so every day for a year, I gave her medicine, I took her out way more often, and I was up with her every night as she wandered scratched to go out, and jump on and off the bed. It was killing me mentally as it was exhausting, but I needed her more than the maintenance it was becoming. And I know she wasn’t ready to leave yet.

Saying Goodbye

This weekend she told me it was time. I agonizingly went back and forth whether it really was time, whether I was selfish for keeping her here with me, or selfish for letting her go. Thank you to everyone that I’ve been messaging this weekend just listening to me go back and forth, or just offer kind words or memories. Friday night, she had a coughing fit which was normal as of late, and usually she jumps off the bed. This time she came straight to me, was looking me in the eyes, and couldn’t stop. It’s like she was coming to me to tell me it was time. I took her to the vet Saturday morning and this vet who I had never met before, talked to me for 45 minutes. We went back and forth, he told me stories of his own life, raising kids, his experiences, and just listened to me cry. I am so thankful for Dr. Esbeck at Sawnee Animal Hospital, they don’t even realize. I wanted to shout him out because they got me in on a busy day, and were so kind.

This past year, I would watch her constantly. I would make sure her breathing was normal. I could hear her heart pump from across the room. It would give me so much anxiety mainly because she was my baby, but because I was so nervous she was uncomfortable, or that her heart would just give up all of the sudden. This morning I feel a deep deep heart wrenching pain and hole in my heart, but I also feel relief that she is no longer struggling or uncomfortable.

I got Georgia when I was 25. I wanted a Cavalier King Charles all my life, and did so much research to find a good breeder. We drove down to Georgia from Charlotte to go check out a new litter. There were a ton of new puppies running around, and she was one of the older ones at 4 months old. I thought I wanted this 2 month old named Charlene lol, who kept hiding under a table. Georgia kept coming up to me and sitting in my lap, I know she chose me that day. She took me from lost girlhood and gently guided me into adulthood. She saw me at my most broken and was there for the hardest times of my life. She is the one that got me through it and I know I was stronger because of her. She was my security and what calmed me every night. She made 8 moves with me, from within Charlotte, up to New York, back to Charlotte, then back home to Georgia. She was there for self discovery and figuring out my path through a lot of trial and error. We met so many wonderful people along the way, if you spent time with her, thank you for loving her.

From those first few years in Charlotte, I took her to dog parks and open fields. I used to walk her around this country club in Charlotte and explore for literally hours, taking new streets, and imagining our future life. I worked at Carolina Place Mall Abercrombie as my first Charlotte job, and would come home every lunch break and throw the ball to her at the tennis courts just to wear her out. When I worked late hours at Abercrombie, I had a dog walker go see her when I couldn’t be home for long stretches. She was there in the passenger seat for the 13 hour middle of the night drive, moving my entire life up to NYC to live. On my days off, we would wander the city together for hours, I would just explore so many neighborhoods and streets with her. When we first moved there, she would not use the bathroom on the concrete and I would sneak to this tiny patch of grass, lift her over this small fence, and let her pee. I got caught by the building super so many times and he would run outside and yell at me as I was running away. It took me 4 months to train her to pee on the street, and ever since, she rarely used the grass… even when we left NYC. She always preferred the cement from there on out. I remember I joined a Cavalier meet up group in Manhattan (I know I was very extra), and the funny thing about Cavaliers, is that they prefer people to other dogs. So during these meetups every Cavalier would be standing by their owner, rarely ever playing with any other dog. Needless to say, I never met anyone else on these outings lol. During my single days when I would go out in Charlotte or Buckhead, she would bark or just sit by the door until I came home that night. She was my gmail photo when I started work at AirWatch, which Robert said prompted our first conversation, asking me about my dog. Georgia happily went along with any blog campaign I needed her in, and would take any photo and just sit patiently. When the kids were tiny, they could put their face right up to hers, and take a treat right out of her mouth, she was the most kind and gentle dog, and the only one I trusted fully around my kids. Every single life event, she was there. When I flew home to visit I had a little carrier that I would sneak her in, and somehow get by security without a note. I think they just figured I either paid for her or had a note, and never checked me. I was definitely attached to her as much as she was attached to me. I took her on so many adventures and so many places through these last 12 years. I literally brought her everywhere, it was just her and I for so many years. She watched me grow and find my way and through that, stayed my constant.

In her last moments this morning, I thanked her for getting me here. A life I created with her, that I used to wander around New York feeling so lost in our daily walks talking to her, to a life she got to help me build. I thanked her for waiting to meet all my children, and for loving them, despite them taking some of the time that was once hers. I thanked her for being the most incredible dog and best friend anyone could ask for.

I know she held on as long as she could, and although I would still need and want her forever, I think she knew I would be ok. She was calm and comforting as we said goodbye, just as she always was every day of her life. I will never forget her, as she is a part of who I am, but it will take some getting used to not having here by my side physically and mentally. I hope her spirit lives in my happy memories and millions of photos that she I loved her more than anything.

the day I got her
the day I got my jeep in Charlotte
birthday friends
trips to alive after 5 in Roswell
she was happiest with me
I made her pose with pumpkins a lot
and dressed her in this shirt… I didn’t have kids yet
As a puppy, Georgia used to push a soccer ball around this field and just bark and run like crazy. I have vivid memories of doing this every weekend
Georgia’s first snow
Georgia meets a horse
Georgia went through a phase where she wanted to be in my lap as I would make the drive from Charlotte to Georgia
I carried her in this carrier as a puppy… this same carrier was what I brought her on the subway with me while in NYC on our visits to Central Park
When I first got her, I would spend hours reading about her breed
she loved to be up high and look out the window
early 20’s furniture… loved being on top of a table until her last years
she slept so soundly on me… just like all the kids, so maybe they took after her
went to the river one day, took a pup, lost a shoe
Abercrombie work days, Georgia in a scarf

Georgia cookie cakes
She always barked at the dog show after the Thanksgiving Day parade
In my New York apartment, there was only a window air unit and it would get so hot in the summer. Georgia would sit in front of it often
Georgia at The Plaza
Georgia at The Plaza red carpet, only fitting
Georgia’s first best friend, Zoey
Zoey was crazy, Georgia was calm – it was the perfect combo and they loved each other
Best Friends
adventures at the airport, flying home from NYC a few times a year
walks in Long Island City to see the Manhattan skyline
Central Park walks
we would walk deep into Central Park and find this field that people sneakily took their dogs off leashes. She would run and run!
NYC
NYC apartment
Parallel Parking in NYC… Georgia was always along for every ride. This was the day I arrived actually

Every birthday of her life, I cooked her chicken and rice and put a candle in it. July 31 was her birthday.
sitting on our window in NYC
She carried a bone around NYC
Best friends in Charlotte
Charlotte is so beautiful, we would take so many exploring walks
Hotel Avalon staycation and jobs… Georgia was part of the family so she was with us
PBK campaign photoshoot
she was such a good model
She was just always with me. Whatever we were doing, it was like she was my right hand
when the kids had their spotlight and attention, she was always there, patient and calm
family photo 2017
building Elston’s dollhouse for Christmas
dog campaign, she did great! Got paid in treats
more NYC apartment
second best friend and roommate, Vayda
this was her plane carrier
baby shower for Jackson
driving to the hospital, we dropped her off at Amy’s house on the way
meeting Jackson for the first time
I took this photo so I could impress Robert while we were dating… he loves motorcycles… I think they are dangerous 😉
babies, at alive after 5 in roswell
the night we got engaged
our pregnancy announcement with Jackson
after the first ultrasound appointment for Jackson
Georgia at our Rehearsal Dinner
I snuck her in the hotel
Robert was such a wonderful sport only knowing me for less than a year, and then including this girl’s dog in his wedding photos
Georgia walking down the aisle with Matron of Honor Joy
first seat next to mom

Have you ever experienced saying goodbye to a pet? Let me know in a comment below.

9 thoughts on “To My Georgia, the greatest pup

  1. Mireille,

    What a beautiful tribute to your sweet Georgia. She will always be with you. Those memories are yours to keep. XO

  2. So well said and I love reminiscing on all the recent times and Georgia was always there. Wedding day was my favorite. Love her to the moon. The perfect dog and the perfect pair. Xoxoxo

  3. This post gave me all the feels. Georgia was such a sweet girl, and I’m certain she knew just how much you loved her. I think it was kind of you to consider her pain in your decision. Jackson, Elston, and Gable will always remember her just as you do. ?

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