Maebh was a Cockapoo that lived to be almost 15 years old. Maebh was the face of Paws Chateau and is the reason we are here today. From the first day we opened Paws in March 2014, Maebh knew it was something different and that she had a job and a purpose. When a new client first came to our facility for the first time and would ask where Maebh she would trot out from behind the front desk and be so excited to meet them. She met every dog that joined the Paws Chateau pack, and all the dogs loved to be around her.
When we first opened and had overnight guests staying here at Paws, Maebh and I would be the overnight team that would stay out in the boarding area with the dogs. We would sleep in the Penthouse Suite (when it wasn’t occupied), and sometimes we would bring overnight guests that were older and more nervous into the Penthouse Suite with us so that they could have some company and be more relaxed. When I would do the night check of all the dogs, Maebh would stand at the top of each aisle and wait for me. She knew she couldn’t go down the aisles with me as that would disturb the dogs sleeping.
Maebh was always up for whatever crazy scheme or plan we had at Paws Chateau. She was in our kissing booth for many years, she dressed up as a bunny rabbit for an Easter Egg hunt, and the most memorable was when she dressed up as a Golden Retriever so she could hang out with all the Golden Retrievers at Goldie Palooza. She put up with some crazy stunts over the years and never complained.
She was diagnosed with kidney disease in March 2020, right when the pandemic hit, and we had to close Paws for a month. The timing was good because I was able to take care of her and take her to all her vet appointments since Paws was closed. We changed her food and medications, and she did great. In August 2021, she started to slowly decline. We changed medications again and looked into all available treatments, but on September 23rd, 2021, she told me she was ready to go, her body could no longer take it, and I had to let her cross the Rainbow Bridge. When she passed away, I missed her so much (and still do). The outpouring of cards, flowers, emails, phone calls, and people coming to the facility was the most overwhelming experience I have ever experienced. I knew she was special to me, but I had no idea how many people’s lives she touched and how many people had stories about how they met her and how she impacted their lives.
She may not be here at Paws physically, but she is still a big part of what we do and why we do it. I know she is watching over all of us and is there to welcome every new dog when they walk through the door for the first time.
“When tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we’re far apart.
For every time you think of me, I’m right here in your heart.”
~ Maebh