Last night was a sad night for the Servati family. That morning Kristi ran
in Bill Godwin (umbee) at the Quick Check. He told Kristi about how bad
Allie, their dog had gotten and that she was going to be put down this week..
The first years of Raigan's life was spent at the Godwins, and Allie was her
friend and companion. Actually, Raigan's first words were "Allie Out", the
command for a rambunctious lab dog to leave the living room. The girls were
packing for GA camp but we made time to go and visit an old friend. The
sight of just seeing Allie made Raigan cry, Kerrigan too, and of course I
could not help but cry. Raigan was surprised that I would be crying over a
dog, but I loved her too, but more importantly I told her that "my heart
will always break for what breaks your heart". We will all miss Allie.

This following will appear in the Sherman paper tomorrow.

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*By Joyce Godwin*

Herald Democrat


Last week the Godwins said hello to a new grandson when daughter Jamie gave
birth. This week the Godwins are saying good-bye to an old and loyal family
member. Our dog Allie has reached the point where quality of life is at an
all time low, so we need relieve her of her discomfort.


Allie is a black Labrador retriever who entered our home for the first time
in 1994 in my sister-in-law Marylyn’s purse. Allie, whose full name is Allie
Oop, made us all happy. Of course she was my husband’s and daughter’s dog,
but I was the one who rose night after night and made my bed next to Allie’s
pen so she could feel like she wasn’t alone (and stop howling).


When she first moved in with us, the plan was to build a pen for her outside
but that never got done and she spent all of her life inside. That is
probably why she’s survived this 15 years â€" 105 if I understand doggie-year
calculations.

Allie stood guard over all of us and every baby or child who spent time with
us. Her normal sleeping place was at the foot of Jamie’s bed, and when Jamie
went to college, Allie continued to sleep in Jamie’s room for months until I
began shutting the door to keep her out. Undeterred, Allie simply figured
out how to bump the door just under the door knob to make it slip the latch
and open.


The youngsters of the Servati family of Van Alstyne spent a great deal of
time at our house during Allie’s life. Allie was a constant companion to
Raigan and Kerrigan (the two oldest of four beautiful girls) from their
cradle days. It was commonplace for me to enter the living room and see
Raigan watching television from the floor with the top part of her body
lying on Allie, as if the dog was a bean-bag chair, and Allie perfectly
content. Whenever any of the girls took a nap, Allie was lying next to them
in such a way that no one could get to the children unless they went through
the loyal Allie Oop.


Our lives have been enriched by knowing her. I share this story as a
celebration of the life of a noble friend whom we will miss greatly. It’s a
natural cycle for the generous people who share their lives with “man’s best
friend” whose only purpose in life is to please us.