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Tripawds Three Legged Dog and Cat Forums Anything Goes Pennies from Sammy

Pennies from Sammy

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Beth

Peoria, IL

Member Since:
8 November 2010

Offline

27 January 2012 - 1:40 am

http://smilinsa…..449142.jpg

Dear friends,

After almost a month of vacillating on whether to share this, I decided I will risk having everyone think I am crazy. I would really like to know if anyone else has experienced anything like this.

Some of you may be familiar with the poem about dog angels sending pennies from heaven to make us feel better. In part, it goes like this:

He said, “When a Dog-Angel misses you
He tosses a penny down,
Sometimes just to cheer you up
To make a smile out of your frown.”

So don’t pass by that penny
When you’re feeling blue,
It may be a penny from heaven
That your dog has tossed to you.

About two weeks after Sammy died we started finding pennies in odd places. In fact, as strange as it sounds, one actually dropped in front of my face (and bounced) while I was polishing a corner table. A few minutes prior, I had been packing up some of Sammy's toys to take to the humane society — and I was missing him and crying. Taking solace in housework, I moved from the family room to the glass table in no-man's land between the family room and kitchen. When the penny hit the table I was stunned. There was, literally, nowhere that that penny could have come from — the only items on the table were a big potted plant and three picture frames that I had already moved in order to dust. I swear, it dropped on the table in front of my bent head — and bounced.

I was flabbergasted. I was only vaguely familiar with the poem, and I don't really believe in that stuff. After staring dumbfounded at the penny for several moments, I found myself smiling at the thought of Sammy throwing a penny down. It would be typical of him to do it with such gusto. My heart lightened.

After that, we found pennies in the strangest places. For instance, I was telling our daughter about my odd experience and glanced at the big glass vase on her coffee table. Nestled between the vase wall and the glass beads inside, about four inches down, was one penny. Amy says she has no idea how it got in there.

Rick felt bad because he had seen a penny on Amy's garage floor and left without picking it up. Later, thinking about the poem, he went back to get it and it was gone. Four days later, he found one centered underneath a big wooden box on his dresser.

When we arrived at our rented house in Florida, in the middle of the pristinely clean garage floor was one penny. And, despite the fact that the cleaning crew had just left the house an hour earlier, Rick found one on the dresser in one of the bedrooms. He swears it wasn't there when we first looked through the house. We think Sammy was telling us that he was with us in spirit.

That same week, Amy walked into a dressing room at JC Penney's and there on a freshly painted white bench was one penny. Our son found one in his old room at our house, where Sammy used to like to barge through the closed door and jump into bed with his visiting brother.

I honestly don't know whether we were just subconsciously looking for pennies or what. There is a theory of reticular activation in which your brain "finds" what you are subconsciously seeking. Perhaps that explains this — except for the one that bounced. That was, truly, an in-your-face experience.

At any rate, we just suddenly stopped finding them. Talking about it one night, Rick and I both realized that we quit finding them at about the same time the two golden retrievers at the kennel of our choice mated. We just found out she is pregnant today and we have this strange idea that we might recognize Sammy in one of those puppies. It could well be wishful thinking but, whether we do or not, we will love our beautiful new puppy as a completely different entity than Sammy. We will love him for what he is — just as we love each of our children as individuals.

But, what if?

Smilin' Sammy, March 16, 2004 – Dec. 5, 2011
Golden retriever, diagnosed with osteosarcoma in September 2010 — right front leg amputated November 2010. He fought valiantly to stay with us; but a second diagnosis of osteosarcoma, this time in his left front leg, was more than our golden warrior could overcome. He loved his pack — and everyone else he met.

We loved him even more.
Thanks for the pennies, Sammy. They helped.

konakaismom

western Washington

Member Since:
7 June 2010

Offline

27 January 2012 - 2:49 am

Wow

Yes, I do believe it and how wonderful for you guys!

Like you said, sure, some could certainly be a coincidence, since you got to the stage where you were more consiously looking.

But, I believe.

Just incredible and wonderful.

And the timing that they stopped.

Whoa.

You put a smile on my face, bigtime!

Nothing like those little visits from those who reside in our hearts.

Kona turned 9yrs on April 16, 2010.
Kona was diagnosed Memorial Weekend 2010 with osteosarcoma.
Right rear leg amputated on June 4th. First chemo June 18th 2010
Second chemo July 9th, 2010 Third and final (yea !!!) chemo July 30th, 2010
ONE TOUGH GIRL this Australian Cattledog !

***Kona's journey/fight ended late in the evening of December 22, 2010***

We Love you so much Kona….always

Bella 9yrs, albino lab/aussie shep/pit?(abandoned in mts as a puppy) deaf & blind (from birth) in one eye limited vision in other.(laid back, ok lazy 73 lbs)

Cotton, 5yrs, albino hound/terrier of somesort/???(abandoned in mts as a puppy) deaf & blind in one eye(from birth), excellent vision in seeing eye. (ball addict…destroyer of Kong balls…yes,etc), high energy 55lbs knots of muscle)

Kona Kai's pup brother and sister as well as her buddy and playmate cat, Shaymous 12yrs (like Seamus), miss her terribly.

Biscuit and Spirit Daisy

Columbia, MO

Member Since:
10 December 2011

Offline

27 January 2012 - 6:37 am

Oh I do believe it is their way of telling us they are ok. Last nite I was telling my Lil Guy (my 16-1/2 year old cat that I put to sleep the week before Thanksgiving) that he hadn't sent me a sign that he was ok. This morning I walked out the back door with the dogs and saw the brightest shooting star I had ever seen. It looked like it fell in the neighbor's yard. I haven't seen one of those in probably over 30 years!

Marla and Daisy

My Two Tripawds...Biscuit and Spirit Daisy

[anonymous]

San Diego, CA

Member Since:
29 October 2010

Offline

27 January 2012 - 9:03 am

I love these kinds of stories when folks get messages from their loved ones - whether the furry kind or not. I'm not sure whether it's just our search for a sign, or whether they're 'real', but it's sure nice to think that they are indeed signs that our loved ones are OK and telling us not to worry about them.

Thanks for sharing. I don't think you're crazy!! 🙂
Jackie, Angel Abby and MB Bunny Rita's mom

Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!

krun15

27 January 2012 - 9:28 am

First off- this is the best place to share this kind of story. Most here will not think you are crazy, and those that might have the good sense to keep it to themselves laugh .

And it really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks or believes, it only matters what you and your family think and believe. If we tried really hard we could probably find some 'logical' explanation for almost all of these events- maybe like you mentioned reticular activation- if taken individually and/or out of context.

Or we could open our hearts and minds to the possibility. And no matter what the explanation these events have brought you some peace and comfort- and that HAD to come from Sammy.

Thanks for being brave enough to share. I think lots of us here can relate.

Karen and the pugapalooza

OK Scout

Edmond, Oklahoma

Member Since:
7 January 2011

Offline

27 January 2012 - 10:22 am

Your story gave me goose bumps-- good job Sammy, the packs you leave behind on Earth really, really need these signs. Congrats on the new puppy-- now the L-O-N-G wait!

Scout: January 31, 2002 to November 7, 2011

Scout's diagnosis was "poorly differentiated sarcoma"; amputation 1/11/2011. Scout enjoyed 9 fantastic years on 4 legs and 9 glorious months on 3 legs. If love alone could have saved you…

Sarah and Kayla

New Zealand

Member Since:
6 November 2011

Offline

27 January 2012 - 11:07 am

Wow – I got goosebumps too now!! and the timeing of when they stopped wow!!!! so special, your boy must have been a absolute sweetie.

If you are crazy then we all are too, just a great big bunch of crazy dog people.

Sarah and Kayla

Tripawds

On The Road

Member Since:
24 September 2009

Offline

27 January 2012 - 12:23 pm

Crazy? Are you kidding? We love this story!

Thank you for sharing it with us, we're so glad you did.

Our own personal theory is that when a loved one passes on, their energy never disappears, it just changes form. Sammy's energy was leaving you signs that everything would be OK. And it is. We're hoppy to hear you'll be puppy pawrents again.

It really makes you think when stuff like this happens!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

riosmom

Washington

Member Since:
1 February 2011

Offline

27 January 2012 - 1:04 pm

About the only thing I found crazy in your story was the finding "solace in housework." UGH!!! laughing The rest of the story was very sweet. I'm glad Sammy is telling you he's okay.

Rio's momma

~ ~ Rio ~ ~
Forever in my heart...
April 2000 – January 20, 2012
Diagnosed with Mast Cell Cancer in June 2007. Left rear leg amputated Feb. 8, 2011.
Mets discovered Aug. 31, 2011. Read more of Rio's story here.

rumblesmom

New Jersey

Member Since:
4 June 2011

Offline

27 January 2012 - 1:42 pm

I think it's very sweet. Not crazy at all. Thanks for sharing your story.

cometdog

Las Vegas, Nevada

Member Since:
14 August 2009

Offline

27 January 2012 - 3:28 pm

What a great story!

As far as us thinking you are crazy....well, that would make us sane! And the last time I looked.......'beam me up Scotty'.....we were all........'I am a Walrus'.........nutter butters!!!!! big-blink

Comet - 1999 to 2011

She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.

She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.

etgayle

knoxville, tn

Member Since:
12 February 2010

Offline

27 January 2012 - 3:33 pm

beautiful story - we are definitely keeping our eyes open for our pennies!!

charon & spirit gayle

Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.

Love Never Ends

http://etgayle

Riley

California

Member Since:
16 January 2011

Offline

27 January 2012 - 3:39 pm

That brought tears to my eyes - I am just a sap for a happy story embarassed

fightingforsammy

Greater Western Washington area

Member Since:
25 August 2010

Offline

28 January 2012 - 1:58 pm

I think this is beautiful, and I don't believe you are crazy 🙂

We talk with our dogs all the time with our minds, they respond the same. This is just an extention of that. Thank you very much Beth for sharing your story.

Elizabeth and Sammy

Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,

leg fractured 8/27/10,

leg amputated 8/30/10

http://sammyand.....pawds.com/

I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.