by Daphne Branzell
(The following story was submitted by Daphne & Marshall Branzell - STCA Rescue Coordinators. It originally appeared in the Scotch Bark, the newsletter of the Greater Dallas Scottish Terrier Club. Heidi was placed through their Scottie/Westie Rescue Program in San Antonio, TX.)
Heidi traveled to the Rainbow Bridge on March 12th, 1998 after heroic efforts to save her. Heidi was rescued from a Missouri puppy mill, and her story appeared in the Scotch Bark last year. She touched the hearts of many people in the Scottie community, the Lacoe, Hollingsworth, Thomas and Branzell families especially knew and loved Heidi.
Her loving family wrote the following tribute on the day she died. We felt we should share this with you.
Heidi's Story
She was 8 1/2 years old when they rescued her from a puppy mill in Missouri.
They called her "Pretty Heidi", and she was. Gentle, expressive brown eyes and the shy, expectant expression of someone who'd known little affection, but had the grace to hope.
She came to us on a hot summer day, weak from being spayed, her incision still red and sore. She was afraid to come out of the crate, dropping her head submissively when we called her name, convinced no good was coming her way. But when we carried her out to the garden, her spirit soared. She smelled and explored, tasted and wondered, sat in the sun and gloried in her freedom. Within days she became our lap dog. Magazines and books, her declared enemies for our attention, were batted out of our hands.
This lovely creature, who'd lived in unspeakable conditions all her life, revealed herself as a born lady. She was fastidious and naturally clean. She took to a leash as if she'd been walked every day of her life. She began to make friends, first with Coco, a Sheltie who shared nose kisses with her, then with Mollie, a Scottish terrier. She followed Mollie and mimicked her faithfully, even barking when Mollie did, which we marveled at, never having heard her speak before. Heidi soon developed her own preferences: burrowing her face in pillows, long walks, tummy rubs; and her aversions: going in cars and baths. Her favorite place (besides our laps) was beneath the kitchen table - ears alert, eyes bright, waiting for another new smell or taste. She was re-born, puppy-like in her enthusiasm and wonder, developing a goofy grin and a tail that never stopped wagging her entire body.
Heidi started getting sick after only 6 months with us. It was without any initial sign or protest. Only when she could no longer lie down was it apparent something was going seriously wrong. Her brave little body, so cruelly and cynically used for so many years, was worn out. She fought, we struggled, much tender expert care was given, but within weeks her short life of freedom was used up.
She went to heaven in our arms. She went with a name: Heidi Goff. No longer was she known by the tattooed numbers in her ears. No longer was she afraid of her name; she knew she was our beloved girl, who would always be in our hearts and never forgotten by anyone who knew her.
God bless all who loved and helped her, most especially, Daphne and Marshall Branzell, Dr. Stephanie Lisciandro, Dr. Tom Vice, Dr. Amy Willaford, Dr. Dan Kirby, Mollie Richter and family, Coco Casseb and family, Nana and Pappy, and the Mullen Boys.
Colleen and "D.G." Goff
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