Sophie Whyde

A beautiful tribute written by : Doug Whyde

Sophie Whyde, our beloved Golden passed May 4 2019. She was 13 years 7 months old. She sprung into our lives in December of 2005 and instantly became one of us. My wife thought it was  time we got a dog. We had 4 children ages 15, 12, 8, and 4. We lived on 3 1/2 acres but on a state road with no fence. This was a major concern to me. The children were all excited and wanted a dog so badly. So we had a family meeting about owning a dog and all the things that could happen. I wasn't against getting a dog, I just didn't want to see my children get hurt. Then we all piled in the van and drove to Westfield to see the puppy. There were 2 dogs left from the litter. The owners were keeping 1. We had no idea which was which. We arrived at the house and all went in. First my wife, then our kids, then me. The pups were playing when we walked in. After I was in the door, one puppy ran around my wife and kids, proceeded to jump up my legs and let out little puppy barks. I said you have to be kidding me. I picked her up, she licked my face {which she did her whole life) and that was that. She chose us or I should say she was sent to us. I truly believe that. We decided on two names, Phoebe and Sophie. We wrote the names down on paper and crumpled them up on the floor to let her decide. She ran over and picked one up and the legend of Sophie began. Sophie was her name but she went by others. My wife liked to call her Sophie Shell. Sometimes she was called Soph. A lot of times she was just talked to to in high squeaky voices saying Yil Yil or Sil Sil. She loved it and knew it was her. Her favorite things. She loved getting attention but giving it too. If you told her to smile, she would.

Playing games with the kids in the house, on the beds, under a blanket, in the yard, on the trampoline. We had a dog rope that she loved playing tug of war with. Even played with Jax, our Australian Shepard. She loved to chase the kids in the yard, tackle them, then pull there sweatshirts off, except my youngest daughter, because I think Sophie thought she was too little, which my daughter didn't like. She would put her sleeve in Sophie's mouth to encourage her but Sophie would have none of it. In the fall we would bury the kids in leaves and let Sophie out. She would run and jump on the piles. So much screaming and laughter. The kids would lie on the floor or a bed under a blanket and not move. Then they would make a raspberry noise with there mouths and Sophie would pounce  and pull there socks off, then walk away proud. Another game was called act like your asleep. We would hear her coming down the stairs to the basement and everyone would act like they were asleep. Sophie would just stand there and wait for someone to move or giggle then she would get them. She loved popcorn, peanut butter, and animal crackers. She loved Christmas. Sophie would help get the kids up and loved opening presents. She hated July 4th, well all of July. She loved going for car rides and laying on the couch with anyone especially my wife. But most of all she just loved being outside and laying in the yard, especially in the snow. When I worked in the yard, she would follow me around as if she was helping. She was! So over the years the kids got older, went to college, and a couple moved but the love for Sophie and her love for us never stopped. She spent the last days of her life saying goodbye to the ones she loved and who loved her. Two legged and four. Sophie was born October 13th 2005 and passed May 4th 2019 at 7:50am. She was in the backyard where she was the happiest. She laid down and I laid down with her and put my arms around her. She closed her eyes while I was talking to her and crying. I thanked her for everything she gave us and told her we would be with her again. She just closed her eyes and went to sleep. Sophie was survived by Jax the dog, Nala the cat and her best friend Boo the cat. Her human parents Kelly and Doug. Her human siblings Emily, Jacob, Noah, and Audrey.

The last night of her life I was watching her lay in the back yard as the sun was going down. The birds were chirping and she was looking up and all around. It looked like she was so at peace and happy. The way she used to always look when she laid in the yard. It looked like she was saying I'm ready. So it took over thirteen years for things to end up like I was afraid it might. But of all the ways it could have ended, this was the one way we could only have prayed for. What a life she gave us. I / We miss and love you so much Sophie. Thank you for choosing us.



 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sophie Whyde, please visit our floral store.