From Forgotten to Forever: The Story of Sofie

Sofie joined our family after her freedom ride across the northern border from a kill shelter in California in 2021. We knew nothing of her history other than she was quite old, had birthed a LOT of puppies over the course of her life, was now riddled with cancer and mobility issues, and that some heartless prick had just left her to die alone down there.
She looked like such a sweetheart in the pictures online, so we contacted the rep of the dog organization and asked if we could go on a walk to meet her.
 
Sofie had terrible arthritis in both back knees that limited how far/often she could walk and caused her some stability issues. She had skin cancer and abdominal area tumors that the organization was willing to cover surgery costs on while she found her forever home. Despite her body starting to give out on her, she had an infectiously upbeat, happy demeanor and exuded a mellow, peaceful, serene energy. As we slowly meandered the trail around a snowy field on that bright, sunny, crisp winter afternoon we quickly fell in love with her. We made plans to welcome her into our home with our other dog ASAP.
We took Sofie on as a palliative care case, knowing that her time was very limited, and committed to Sofie, M2BL, and ourselves, to give her the best life we could while she was still around. After she moved in and had her surgeries, the vets gave her 6 to 9 months to live. As of writing this, she made it just over 4 years with us. She was resilient and a survivor, but I also like to think she was having a pretty good time with us and wanted to stay for awhile.
 
The organization had been calling her Penny, but she didn’t seem to respond to it, so we figured she deserved a new name to match her new chapter in life. Something that matched her timeless and regal beauty. We decided on Sofie, after Sofia Loren. As the days, months, and years ticked by we came up with dozens of additional pet names based on her sweet, gentle personality such as Lady Sofia, The Sofster, and our Lovely Licking Lady. The latter because she was completely obsessed with licking my bare feet if I dared be around the house without socks on.

Her favorite place to kick back was underneath my desk, nestled in between my feet, licking any bare skin she could find, with her slow, deliberate, gentle and soft licks. It never bothered me as it always just felt like her way of showing affection, like a mother would dote on her pup.

Every day during feeding times, while the other dogs would wait near where they ate, she would escort me to the kibble bins and supervise to make sure I was giving everyone enough grub. As a payment she always got a small extra pinch to eat right there on the spot. That was our special tradition. Her and I’s little secret custom.

Like many dogs she LOVED to be around the cooking and meal prep, if we were in the kitchen cooking, she was in the kitchen laying in front of the stove waiting to hoover up anything that might come her way, while completely blocking access to the pan drawer. We’d have to push her along with the drawer to get into it.

Being a cali girl, she absolutely adored the summer, the sunshine, and the heat. In mid summer, she was always keen to get up and go outside in the back yard first thing in the morning to stake her spot for the day, which was always somewhere in direct sunlight with zero shade. There she would lay, panting like crazy, for hours if we let her, but we’d always make sure she moved to cooler spots or indoors before she got too hot.

Sofie had her red bandana on the day she arrived, which we kept her in for most of the time she was with us, including on her final days. It’s now in our photo hutch, resting on a framed photo of her. In time I hope I can look at it without being moved to tears, remembering all the joy, laughter, and love she brought into our lives for the time she was with us.
 
Thank you for taking the time to read this and learn a little bit about our beloved dog. She will live on through memory.

Bye for now Sofie. I hope you will come visit us in our dreams sometimes until we meet again.

Ben and Krystle ❤️🌈