Southern Bell
We adopted Savannah on Saturday, January 19th, 2013. (This just so happens to also be Dolly Parton’s birthday! I’ve always loved knowing that.) She came up from the southern state of Georgia to Buffalo, Minnesota where an animal humane society welcomed her. (My husband had actually been there before because in college he designed a brochure for them) She was about a year old at the time, and we were told she had just had puppies! She was temporarily given a name by them and was listed as “Jenny.” We knew that would have to change because it was also one of my sister’s names! We believed she was a mix between a chocolate lab and German shorthaired pointer.
We had seen her headshot two days before, and decided to arrive as early as we could on the first day she’d be available. We were brought into a large open space, and as soon as she entered the room she greeted us with such affection and excitement. She raised the front half of her body up into my lap in the chair I was seated in, and put her face close to mine. It was an immediate bond just like that. I knew she was the one.
Midwest Lady
We chose the name Savannah because of where she came from, and liked “Savy” for short. She had the most beautiful chocolate brown fur, well after we bathed her for the first time. She was very dirty, and super skinny at first. Her shampoo over the years has been coconut lime verbena. She’d always rub against our bed covers after a bath to dry off, and shake head to paws and tail a few times. She smelled so good, familiar.
The first stop we made after getting her was to Target. We wanted to pick up a bed, leash, and basic dog stuff. (Removable shower head for giving her a bath – so great!) I waited in the car while my husband went in first. Then we switched so I could approve the bed he liked, a chocolate brown, medium sized bed with little brown polka dots that remind me of doggie paw prints around the outside. Savannah didn’t bark once while in the car that morning. We were amazed. In fact, she didn’t bark for nearly two weeks after we brought her back to our home in Blaine, Minnesota. But eventually, that changed.
Missing Two Claws
We accepted that there was a part of her story we’d never know about the first year of her life. She seemed like she’d never been inside a house before. Things like a piece of toast popping up in the toaster startled her. At the time, we had a big movie screen in our basement area and she sat behind the couch with wide eyes, cautious and maybe curious. We didn’t notice until much later that she was missing two of her front claws on the right paw. The unique detail led to her other nickname “missing two claws.” (see her right paw below)
It’s not even been a week since Savy passed away on Saturday, March 29th, 2025. It was also in the morning, like when we first got her.
She is my best girl, and this is the story of her life.
Sav-van-ee, Ra-Ran-Nah, Mommy’s girl
She had soft, soft ears and beautiful brown fur. She loved being petted right between her eyes going upward on her nose. (I first tried this with her after learning, while watching the show Heartland, that horses love this. It’s called “TTouch” and is very calming to them. Look it up.)
Good girl
In the morning, if she thought you were awake, she’d paw or nose your arm, mainly my husband’s. She slept on his side of the bed every night, up until about two months ago. But if he told her to lay down, she would. (Savy on the left side of the bed pictured below)
Daddy’s girl
She loved her daddy. She was such a daddy’s girl, always right by his side following him around. Every morning she’d wait for him to go downstairs to be let outside and then to be fed. She’d wait for him to fill her food bowl (Fromm Gold), and still wait to eat until he emptied the previous day’s water bowl, and refilled that. Once he set both down, he would say “ok” and she’d begin eating. She was such a sweetheart, seeming so appreciative of such a simple thing every day. That routine was rarely altered over the past 12 years.
Outside
“Outside” was our word for potty or pooing outside. But a little while after her morning breakfast she’d always bark at us twice to let us know that that is what she wanted. This too was her usual habit and part of our everyday. Dinner time was 4pm, and she had an internal clock and would let you know it was coming up time to feed her. She’d sometimes do a little “two-step” with her front paws, excitedly waiting for her dinner or a treat. It was super cute.
One of the pack
While we’re on doggy behavior and little things she’d do, I can’t forget to mention a super funny one we observed on many occasions. Savy would sometimes come into the bathroom in the morning when I was standing by the sink brushing my teeth and walk by behind me. She always waited for my husband to get up, and I’ve always gotten up first over the years. But as she’d walk by she’d lift her nose up and sniff me from behind as if to say “hi” or “morning mamma!” It was hilarious to us. I know everyone who’s spent at least a little time with dogs has witnessed them sniffing each other’s backsides. I heard once it really is how they greet one another, a natural behavior they do. We were her pack, and she definitely reminded us of this doing that particular social behavior.
Chin Up Honey
A line in my song Carry On, I had the lyrics “chin up honey” put on a gold bathmat I designed. It’s a saying my Grandma used to gesture to me. Savy loved to lay on that rug next to our tub every day. It was her spot. (tap slide show below)
Downward dog stretch (break)
In the last year or so, Savy’s walk up the steps at night got slower. I remember the last night we walked up with her Friday night. It was dark in the hallway and my husband took off her collar at the bottom of the steps like he did every night. Having a collar-free night kept it quiet if she ever got up and moved around, but also gave her a bit of a break from it, a chance to be her natural self. As she’d climb the steps her back legs would reach for the next step and just make it to the next. The even pattern of her pace, patting the carpet in a familiar sound, that if you closed your eyes and lightly touched her back while following behind her could guide you to the top. We got in the habit of trailing slightly behind her so she wouldn’t accidentally miss a step.
The last night she went up those steps she turned right into the nightlight lit bathroom where she had slept the past two months, instead of left past the corner of the bed where she had slept every night prior. For a dog that knew routine and had consistent habits, she also adjusted to new norms and new routines. It’s honestly amazing.
Her short term apartment stay in our bathroom at night became a place she could choose between two beds. The first option was a bed (or a duplicate we bought just like her very first bed) we got her at that Target stop the first day we had her, and the second was another bed we got for her to stretch out in. Both we had begun to cover with either a yellow or grey terry cloth towel that was easy to wash. My husband had previously replaced the inside of the larger bed with part of a foam topper we had tried on our mattress at one point. It was great for her joints, extra thick, and super comfy I’m sure.
I had been grabbing a white t-shirt of my husband’s from the hamper to put next to her head. I wanted her to be able to feel close to him by being able to smell him. She’d nuzzle into it. I’d kiss her goodnight, and he’d kneel by her. Pressing down on the lager bed, which was where she almost always started out on, we’d hear the plastic crinkle from the large black garbage bag I’d enclosed the inner pad with to keep it clean. She’d put her head down and sometimes stretch her neck back and out as we’d nuzzle into her there. She’d stretch her top back leg out long and I’d rub from her hip down to her paw pads, lengthening it as she’d gently moan in approval. I’d sometimes glance back and see my husband quietly assure her that she’d sleep better this way as he’d adjust the other back leg under her more evenly. We’d close the bathroom door that now creaked loudly, and remind each other we should fix that.
You CAN teach an old dog new tricks
Both of my sons and husband love soccer. Savy had a stuffed soccer ball as a toy that my youngest son keeps in his room since last Saturday. My husband had ordered a pack of three off Amazon because we knew how favorite toys could get, and we were on our second order of three. My oldest son taught Savy how to “drop it.” I’m not sure if it was with her soccer ball or her blue tennis ball, but one day he noticed how bad she was at playing fetch. You’d throw her a ball and she’d go get it but not give it back to you. A couple years ago, she was probably 11 years old, he got her to consistently put the ball down after fetching it! She’d get a treat afterwards from him of course, and playing with him began to equal that. It was truly amazing. She’d always take her treat “nice” when we’d tell her too. She’d run off into a couple different rooms, alternating which room if she got more than one treat to eat, and enjoy it alone. (In the last few months I used our old dust buster to clean up crumbs more than I have since I got it probably 10 years ago.)
When the boys would come home from soccer, she’d often greet them at the door with her soccer ball too. I’m not sure how she knew that is where they were because her hearing got so bad in the last year or so. I’m certain she didn’t hear the word “soccer.” But then sometimes I wondered how she knew they were coming home before I even heard the garage door either. I watched a documentary once and I think learned dogs can sense their owner miles away. I don’t doubt it. (Savy with her soccer ball pictured below)
Go Dog Go
Savy has always come up for bath and book time with us ever since we had our boys. At our old house in Minnesota the boy’s bathroom was bigger. She’d come in and sit on the bathmat while we were in there. At our new house in Wisconsin she’d sit in the hallway or by the entrance of one of the boy’s room. She’d want to be close while we read on the floor with them. Sometimes, if I was reading she would lay on the floor stretched out with my husband. They’d almost spoon as she’d lean back into him and lift her front paws to signal she wanted a tummy rub. It was their thing. If he laid down on his side, she’d park herself right up close, like fitting the last piece of a puzzle they’d snuggled perfectly together. If Savy was already laying down curled up, and you came over to pet her, she had this funny little habit of lifting one leg open and leaning back sideways. She hadn’t done this in a while, but it always made us smile.
When the boys were really young, Savy was always a part of a little monthly photoshoot I’d do. (pictured below)
The first time Savy laid between my husbands legs was at a gathering I had at our house back in Minnesota. This was just after we had gotten her, but before my first son was born. I had a bunch of girlfriends over for what I had called a “Pretty Purse” party. At the time I was a Professional Home Organizer and was piloting a new in-home organizing training idea with them. There were no chairs left and my husband decided to sit on the floor with her. She just snuggled up right between his legs. This practice continued for 12 years then on. She’d lay between his legs while he held our first son and he watched “Mad Men.” She’d lay on the floor over part of a moose blanket, that my Dad got my husband as a gift one year. He’d have it over his legs while at his desk because the office got chilly in the winter. They’d share the blanket. After about ten minutes from when he first started working, she’d usually get up and go sit in an armchair in the office. That became her chair. We covered it with a chocolate brown cover I found at Aldi. When she laid in it she blended right in! (Savy in her chair pictured below)
Once we started letting her up on the couches, blankets covering them, she’d opt for a spot towards my husband’s legs. She would curl up just close enough to feel him on either side. She was taught to wait to be invited to jump up though, until her later senior years when she’d just do it. She’d sometimes come up super close to him and even lay across his chest or lap! Her need to be close is something we both agreed we’d never experienced or seen with any other dog. It was so characteristic of her and was always something we loved about being with her. She’d press her head into you and push against your body with affection whether you were standing or sitting.
One time back at our old house, my husband said she pressed against his mouth with her nose and face like she was telling him “shhhh” don’t tell me no. He was about to tell her to get down. What a personality! She knew what she wanted and was persistent for sure.
Her purple fleece blanket with pink cupcakes on it has been around for years, it is still currently by my bedside on her chocolate brown bed. I’m not sure when I’ll wash it, or if I will. (cupcake blanket pictured below)
Cupcakes and Costumes
Savy never got fed human food from the table or really ever, until the last few months. We really think her beautiful fur coat and health was improved because of this over the years. The only time she ever got something she shouldn’t have was when I was making cupcakes for a Kentucky Derby themed party. We were hosting it at our old house in Blaine. I had just finished making them and they were cooling on the counter, or cutting board, and she just jumped up and grabbed one! I quickly got to her and pried her mouth open to drop a fully formed cupcake onto the floor.
She got the cutest Derby costume to wear that year, and we put it on her last Halloween too. (pictured below 2024)
I made a reference to horses previously a couple times. I’ve always loved them. Savy was a terrible walker, but when she was younger was a very fast runner! This reminds me of a race horse. She’d run back and forth in our backyard at the old house along our fence line. We had a path that ran right behind us because we backed up to a nature area. She ran along there so much she wore it down to the dirt! When we moved we had to roll out sod to fix it.
My husband is the only one who ever really walked her. When he began working from home in the office, they’d take a couple 15 minute breaks and do a loop up by our house. I loved coming home and sometimes seeing them do a walk together. Last Friday it was a beautiful spring day and I saw them walking slowly one last time. My husband had a bright blue sweatshirt on and my youngest son was across the street from them rollerblading. In that moment, I was truly happy. I’ll always cherish that memory.
We had tried all sorts of harnesses and a gently leader, but it was super tricky because she’d pull and react to other dogs that were leashed. Her little nose would rub so much it looked raw after a walk. I ended up making her a little nose cushioned pad in bright pink fleece material that helped.
If I did take her it was for a run. If we were moving fast she had less or no time to react to anything or anyone we’d pass. But she was so fast it was usually faster than I could or wanted to run. It was not something I did often. My husband would take her while on rollerblades back in Minnesota sometimes too, and I’d see them flash by! She’d pull him so so fast that her little paw pads got all pink and sore once. But she loved to run.
Oomie Zoomies
She’d often need to run in circles and get her crazies out. We called it the “oomie zoomies.”
Because she would react to other dogs, we never took her to dog parks. We’d take her up north to a property my husband’s family has in northern Minnesota. She was able to be off leash and free there. Her cousin dogs would be there as well, also off leash and she was totally fine around them. It was a different environment and somehow worked out.
Savy Paddle
Savannah was not the most graceful swimmer. She’d kind of flop into the water and keep her front body and chest pulled upward out of the water. Her doggie paddle was visible on top the water, splashing until she’d go for a bit and finally sink down in the water more smoothly. It was so funny to watch her. Jumping off the family dock at the cabin lasted one day only. She loved it for that day, and then decided she had enough of that the next time.
She had an orange floating toy she liked to fetch in the water. (pictured below, and you can see how her nose is marked from the gentle leader leash)
She didn’t do this a lot, but occasionally she’d be caught rolling in something in the grass. We knew she was trying to get the scent of whatever it was all over herself. Stinker, or “turkey” my husband would say. While it was annoying, there’s something about seeing your dog be in a natural environment free to follow their natural instincts. She had a bright neon green “cabin collar” we got her so we could keep track of her when the sun was going down. (pictured below- This is the photo I used for the portrait I had made, also pictured later on below.)
One Christmas I went to the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I found her a knit sweater and brought it home to find it didn’t fit her. I went back later to exchange it but the only one they had left was one with reindeer antlers coming off the hoodie part! My husband was like “heck no,” and I agreed to snip them off. She never liked wearing that sweater either way. (pictured below)
Scooby Snack Crackies!
Savy had this fondness or definitely a reaction to the sound of making a Scooby Doo voice. If you spoke to her in that voice she’d literally start talking to you in her little way. It was fun to tease her and so cute to interact with her in this way. I’m not sure at all when we discovered this, but it is a memory I’ll never forget.
Who tells your story?
I started a notebook of memories a day or two after we said goodbye to my girl. My husband said he didn’t want to forget anything about her, neither do I. We started collecting stories and little memories together as a way to remember our first baby, our girl. Savannah.
I love chocolate
We recently got some new paint for around the house. A couple of weeks ago I painted part of our bathroom a turquoise color around the tub, and I love it. We also got a new couch a couple months ago in a neutral color, realizing we have a lot of chocolate brown furniture! I guess we just have loved that color. Savy was that color.
Whenever I’d open my bag of dark chocolate chunks for a quick little treat she’d come over to the kitchen for a treat herself. I’d not hesitate to give her a milk bone either. “Momma loves you.”
More recently it became a few slices of black forest deli turkey from Aldi, or a colbyjack cheese stick. If I made extra egg whites or had a hardboiled egg on hand I’d feed her some from my hand.
The last thing I fed her was some plain chicken breast I had made for her because she had very little interest in her food. After all those years of not feeding her “human food,” she indulged and enjoyed those moments, especially the last few months. (Savy on our new couch pictured below)
“Momma loves you,” and “I love you too,” became my phrases with her. It’s been as if she’s been able to understand me and me understand her unlike any other bond I’ve had. A different level of knowing. Sometimes I swear she has known I was having a bad dream or needed her. She’d come to my bedside in the middle of the night and be right there when I’d wake up as I’d reach down to pet her. She’d snuggle into the sheets between the nightstand and we’d share a moment until she’d circle back over to her side. Sometimes she’d decide to switch spots and lay in the duplicate brown bed we had by my side of the bed. I liked that.
Art is for everyone
I had an idea to make a piece of art as a family that would include our hand prints and her paw print. My husband gently pressed her paw missing the two claws onto the canvas, then washed her paw in the warm soapy water in a bucket I’ve used so many times. (the last picture I took of Savy)
Using a yellow table cloth that was my Grandma’s as a drop cloth, we each took turns making our marks and adding color. The day after she passed away, we hung it over our couch. The level tool had worked, it was straight. Dad’s hand print looked so big to the boys! Fixing the spot with black was a good group choice we agreed. Mom was a smart shopper using her Michael’s Craft coupon on the canvas. We were glad we had done it. (painting with brown paw print below)
Here is a picture of the portrait I had made for my husband’s office. It’s with her cabin collar on. This picture was taken two days before her adoption birthday, turning 13 this past January.
There are no more notes in my notebook, and I really don’t want to finish this post. In fact, if I remember any other stories I intend to add them.
I felt her presence the other day on my walk, and I know Savy will be my angel. Instead of imagining her off in some far away place “up there,” I will bring her along with me instead. I will continue my adventure with her by my side. She is with me, and I am with her, always and forever, my best girl, Savy. (tap slideshow below)
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