We arrived in Paris yesterday. Today we received calls from our sons informing us that Sparty passed away yesterday. He was born on February 29, 2000 so he was 10 years old.
Sparty was up at our country house with our son Matt and his girlfriend Emily. It was a beautiful day, he was running free on the property and sunning himself on the deck. He came inside and started to limp. He went upstairs to see Emily (who became very attached to him) then went back downstairs. He laid down on the bed that Emily had made for him and they could tell he was not well. By the time they got him to the vet it was too late. Apparently, he had suffered a stroke or heart failure.
They buried him on the property and planted a sunset maple tree over his body so that he will always be remembered. They also planted two lilac bushes that will bloom each year around the anniversary of his passing.
Sparty was part of the family. Sparty loved the country house. He passed away without any lingering health issues. We profoundly miss him because, as we always said, “he’s the best dog in the whole world.” There was not a mean bone in his body. Everybody that knew him loved him, especially the children.
If there is a heaven for dogs we know Sparty is there.
