Ozzy and Lucifer

by Paula
(Los Angeles, CA USA)

Ozzy, my sweet Australian Shepherd. We met on September 13, 2009 and he passed away on February 27, 2010. It was a very short visit that left a big hole in my life.

Ozzy had a very sad story that I felt so much compassion. Ozzy was an Australian Shepherd, double Merle, who had limited vision/hearing and he was abandoned on the street when he was 12 years old. He was found and brought to a shelter, where he stayed a few weeks. Since, Ozzy was so EXTRAORDINAIRE and everybody loved him, they took him to a better shelter to avoid euthanasia due to his advance age.

Then we met in a dog adoption, near the Malibu beach. I fell in love with him as soon I lay eyes on him. It was destiny having Ozzy in my life.

Ozzy was very, very sweet, intelligent, beautiful and he adapted to his new home in two weeks. I thought it was extraordinaire. He did everything to please me. For a dog with 12 years to adapted so well to his new life… AMAZING. I had the feeling that I knew him for a long time.

He used to play and jump on the grass like a puppy... it was great... I know he was happy. I am glad.

Unfortunately, those happy days ended soon. Ozzy got sick, he was hospitalized, but it was too late. Ozzy died, with pancreatitis, around 12 noon on February 27. It was a very, very sad day.

I miss my boy. I miss those sweet blue eyes. I always will miss him.

Losing Ozzy was already so difficult, but tragedy knocks again to our house. Lucifer, our dog of almost 15 years, was sick for a long time. We did tests after tests, but never a diagnostic.

Everything started 2 years ago, but it got worst end of 2009. I know now that the presence of Ozzy was also not good for Lucifer. Too much stress for Lucifer and his disease got worst.

What can I say about Lucifer? Lucifer was the perfect dog, my baby, the best anybody can have. He was just the perfect dog. Lucifer had a great and very original personality. Loved people and did not care much about dogs… he was very sociable. His behavior was so human.

Also, he was a beautiful dog. Very expressive eyes. I always knew that Lucifer was once in a lifetime.

My sister got him in Mexico and he lived in several countries around the world due to my sister's professional career. Finally Lucifer ended up in Los Angeles and stayed with me for 5 years.

What a WONDERFUL 5 years… so many wonderful memories, enough to write a book. He brought so much joy to my life and he became my best friend... my baby.

I was so sad when I lost Ozzy, but Lucifer was always there to support me. Thanks to Lucifer and my family I felt a little better.

I am not sure what it is about animals… but they are just wonderful and they bring so much happiness to our lives.

What do I remember about Lucifer? So many things, that there is no enough space to write all those wonderful things. But I always will remember his big smile, even when he was so sick…always that contagious smile. He was very cleaver, EXTREMELY sweet, comic, spoiled and respectful at the same time. Everybody loved Lucifer.

After so long, my baby was finally diagnosed, in August 2010, with a horrible disease Leishmania, a very rare disease in the States and the worst in a dog.

Lucifer went to the hospital for treatment, were we spend the day, almost every day, for 5 weeks, but in September 15, 2010, Lucifer passed away at home around 6 pm. Even though I knew he was very sick, I always thought he would make it. “Whenever there is life there is hope.” Lucifer was immortal to me. He got sick, he got better, he got sick, he got better…

Sometimes I think that Ozzy came to my life to prepare me to the loss of Lucifer.

I love Lucifer and Ozzy very, very much, but Lucifer was my baby. To many memories.
Losing Lucifer and Ozzy the same year, is being very difficult. Wish I could turn the clock back to 2009.

They are so wonderful, that it is very hard to imagine that we lose them one day. They are immortals in our mind and in reality they are. They live with us forever and ever.

Maybe one day I will see again that big smile from Lucifer and will hug them both in my arms.
Love you both my guardian angels.

Paula
(Los Angeles on December 31, 2010)

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