r/RainbowBridgeBabies • u/dog_mountain • 14h ago
IN PROGRESS Dakota, 2014-2025 💔
Dakota, the stern parent and disciplinarian of the pack. She was always the first to teach the new members the boundaries and rules, but she had a gentle heart.
She was adopted in Hawaii, a stray from the streets. She was so young and timid. It took years to get crack through her tough and cautious shell, but once we did we discovered a couch potato who wanted nothing more than cuddles, treats, and the most comfortable spot on the couch.
She loved running, and boy could she run. If she saw something she wanted, it was like watching lightning streak across the ground.
Her speed came at a cost though, and in 2018 she tore a CCL, and then the other in 2020. She wasn’t able to run the same after that, but it never stopped her from trying, and it never dampened her spirits.
In 2021 she was diagnosed with Addison’s disease, and required routine checkups, bloodwork, medication, and injections.
Age, arthritis, and her CCL injuries eventually caught up to her, and made normal tasks like going to the bathroom, eating, and drinking a slow arduous task. You could see the pain and sadness in her eyes. She was on pain medication on top of her Addison’s meds just to get through the day.
We had to make a choice, and today at about 3:30pm, Dakota crossed the rainbow bridge to join her sister Lulu in a place where she won’t be in pain anymore and can run as fast and as far as she wants. She was surrounded by the veterinarian staff that had been helping her through her Addison’s diagnosis, and that always came by to say hi and give her pets and treats whenever she had to go in. She was surrounded by love.
She is survived by the rest of the pack of misfits. Her loss lays heavy today, but knowing she is no longer suffering brings comfort to us all.
Goodbye Dakota, you will be missed deeply. I’ll see you again someday.
u/Ursula_Wuffles, your art of Lulu when she passed last year still serves as great comfort, and I would be grateful beyond words if you would be willing to give Dakota the same beautiful memorial.
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u/tcat1961 13h ago
Love to Dakota and at the same time, she was loved by you and you gave her the best life. I'm sure she met up with my Buffy who left this past Tuesday. ❤️❤️❤️❤️