-Emma Hayes-

How Emma joined our family...

I brought Mazie home in January 2000. She cried each and every time I left her alone. I knew she needed a friend. Though when I contemplated getting another dog I felt very guilty, I thought there was no way I could love another dog as much as I loved Mazie. But it was best for Mazie so I started looking for her a companion.

When I first saw Emma at Town Lake Animal Shelter she was in medical lock up, meaning she was waiting to be medically cleared for adoption. And though I couldn't play with her there was just something about her that drew me to her. I put my name down as someone interested in adopting her when she was available. I came back 2 days later and was able to play with her. She was so darn sweet and well behaved I just knew I had to have her. Apparently I wasn't the only one, there were 16 other names behind mine on the waiting to adopt her list.

After bringing Mazie up to the shelter to make sure the 2 got along, home Emma came. It was December 19th, the day we celebrated her birthday. The shelters best guess was she was 1 year old then. Oh, and my plan worked; Emma and Mazie were best friends right away. In fact, Mazie didn't cry the very first day I left her alone with Emma. What I didn't expect was to fall in love myself.

Emma's life as a Wheat/Hayes...

Emma moved with us (Mazie and me) 3 times in Austin before taking the cross country trip to New York where she would eventually meet her 2nd favorite human of all times, Chris. Oh, and she just loved playing in the snow. Then our little family of 4 moved to Virginia where Emma fell in love at first site with her huge backyard. She and Mazie shared a bedroom that also doubled as the family TV room. Can we say spoiled?

Emma's favorite things...

Ball

When she heard Chris's car in the driveway she would run outside and greet him with a tennis ball. Sometimes she would get so excited after getting the ball that she would run laps around the yard before bringing the ball back.

'Pets'

She absolutely loved being pet. If she could see your hands she would try and get you to pet her. Sometimes we would hide our hands so she would just relax.

Snuggles
She preferred to be right beside us or in my lap when indoors.

Outside
She could stay outside all day so long as Chris or I were outside with her. She'd catch (and kill) birds and moles and make a valiant attempts to catch squirrels.

Car rides
She would run and jump in the car, tail wagging, ready to put her head out the window. If it was a long trip she refused to ride in the back, insisting on sitting in my lap, pregnant belly or not.


A few Emma quirks...

She liked to dangle her head lower than her body (ex: off the couch).

She refused to kiss or even look at you when she was mad, which was rare (vets office, in the bathtub, etc.).

Even though she was small, she wasn't a fan of being carried. She preferred her feet to be on the ground.

When Mazie and Emma were given a bone, Emma would hold onto hers until Mazie was done, only to tease Mazie with it. In fact, Emma often taunted her sister. I swear she was just trying to get Mazie in trouble.

The worst day of my life...

Emma passed away in 2010, two weeks before baby Hayes due date. She didn't suffer, and Chris and I were with her. She took part of my heart with her. Never in my life have I ever been so sad. She will always be missed and will never be forgotten.