Sadie

Wiles

16½ Years of Love, Laughter, and Absolutely No Regard for Authority

It is with broken hearts that we say goodbye to our beloved Sadie, a 16½-year-old Shih Tzu who lived life entirely on her own terms and never once considered following the rules.

Sadie was a puppy at heart for 15 of her 16½ years. Apparently, nobody told her she was supposed to slow down with age, and even if they had, she wouldn't have listened. She had places to go, things to get into, and absolutely no intention of behaving herself.

Small in size but enormous in personality, Sadie was stubborn, spirited, mischievous, and quite possibly the most determined little dog ever born.

Sadie also had some rather questionable dietary preferences. As a puppy, she somehow managed to ingest part of a Dr Pepper can, apparently deciding that the beverage container was just as appealing as whatever might have been inside it. This should have been everyone's first clue that Sadie was going to be a handful.

And she certainly didn't disappoint.

One of Sadie's favorite pastimes was escaping through the front door. But she wasn't your average runaway. Oh, no. Sadie was a strategist. She would patiently wait for the perfect opportunity, preferably when someone was juggling an armload of groceries or otherwise distracted, and then make her move.

And she was GONE.

What followed was a neighborhood-wide search and rescue operation, with family, friends, and neighbors joining the chase. The humans were frantic. Sadie, meanwhile, was having the time of her life. To her, this was not an emergency. This was an organized sporting event, and she was undefeated.

Catching Sadie was nearly impossible, mostly because she had absolutely no intention of being caught. She considered every attempt to retrieve her an invitation to extend the game.

For 15 wonderful years, Sadie maintained the energy, enthusiasm, and occasional questionable judgment of a puppy. She simply refused to grow up.

At the age of 15, Sadie gave everyone quite a scare when she became seriously ill. After some investigation, the culprit was discovered: she had swallowed a doggie sock. Ironically, the socks had been purchased to help her navigate slick floors, but Sadie absolutely hated wearing them. Apparently, she decided that if she couldn't get rid of them by refusing to wear them, she would simply eat one instead. And after 15 years of experience, she still hadn't learned that not everything was meant to be eaten.

Never one to do anything halfway, Sadie required surgery to remove her unfortunate snack. True to her stubborn nature, she came through the surgery and recovered under the excellent care of Dr. Palmer and the wonderful staff at Lewisburg Animal Hospital. Her family will always be grateful for the compassion, dedication, and exceptional care they provided during that frightening time.

At an age when most dogs were content to enjoy a quiet retirement, Sadie was still finding new ways to keep everyone on their toes.

Sadie spent her life ruling the household of Angie and Nathan, who spent 16½ years catering to her every whim, accommodating her stubbornness, and accepting that they were never really in charge.

She also held a very special place in the heart of her beloved Ga, who faithfully cared for her while Angie and Nathan were at work. Ga made sure Sadie was loved, spoiled, and properly supervised—although anyone who knew Sadie understands that supervision was more of a suggestion than a guarantee. Thanks to Ga, Sadie never had to worry about being alone or going without the attention she so clearly deserved.

Sadie also shared a special bond with Lauren, Leah, Nataley, Brady, and Max, each of whom held a special place in her little heart. She had plenty of love to go around, although she was always happy to accept a little extra attention from anyone willing to give it.

And, of course, there was Gus, her longtime furry companion, who shared a home and 15 1/2 years of life with Sadie. Through all her adventures, stubborn moments, and everyday routines, Gus was part of her world. He will undoubtedly notice the absence of his longtime companion, just as everyone else will.

Between Angie, Nathan, Ga, and all her favorite people, Sadie had an entire staff devoted to her happiness. And she wouldn't have had it any other way.

As she entered her final chapter, her little body eventually began to slow down, but the stubborn spirit that made her Sadie never disappeared.

She leaves behind Angie and Nathan; her devoted Ga; her beloved Lauren, Leah, Nataley, Brady, and Max; and her longtime furry companion, Gus, who now has the difficult task of carrying on without his spirited little housemate. She also leaves behind a neighborhood that can finally retire its search party and 16½ years of memories that will bring both tears and laughter for years to come.

Her family takes comfort in knowing that Sadie lived a wonderfully long life, surrounded by people who adored her, spoiled her beyond reason, and loved her through every stage of life.

We imagine Sadie arriving at the Rainbow Bridge, taking one look around, spotting an open gate, and immediately making a run for it. And somewhere, a whole new neighborhood is about to discover that catching a Shih Tzu named Sadie is absolutely impossible.

Run free, sweet girl. This time, nobody has to chase you, nobody has to worry, and you can run as far and as fast as your little heart desires.

You may have finally grown old, but you never really grew up. And that's exactly what we loved about you.

Forever our puppy. Forever our Sadie. ❤️

P.S. To whoever is in charge at the Rainbow Bridge: Keep the gates closed, hide the socks, and whatever you do, keep your head on a swivel when you bring in the groceries.