Sophie’s Story – 2025 Big Match

Sophie came to CSRA/SA in early 2013 as an owner surrender. She was a traveling gal, whose former daddy was a long-haul trucker. Shortly after she came to the group, we learned she was a fear-biter and would not be adoptable for that reason. But, my wife and I, with the support of CSRA/SA’s board of directors, decided to let her spend her days with us and our menagerie of furry friends. Sophie was small and feisty, snarly and growly, with a mean Kujo face. All the other dogs, big and small, knew not to mess with her! She must have thought I resembled her trucker daddy because she immediately bonded with me. She became my shadow. She liked to sleep with us, right next to me. When I left the house, she camped out by the door, even if I was gone for a few days on a trip. She shared many vacations with us: hiking mountains and trying new foods. She became my studio partner, her own bed not too far from my desk. Sophie loved my dad, but all other guests to the house were warned not to pet the small red and white dog, to not be drawn in by those Puss-in-Boots eyes. That’s how she would get you… She was overall healthy and happy for many years – which was a blessing because she was NOT a cooperative patient, to say the least. Then one day in the fall of 2024, when Sophie was about 16 or 17 years old, we think she had a stroke. In consultation with the vet and CSRA/SA board, we made the agonizing decision to say goodbye to her. This is the hardest part of inviting a dog into your life. I am heartbroken. Thank you for blessing us with your feisty spirit, Sophie. Thank you for the memories that live on, especially in all the pictures you photo-bombed. Angel’s wings, baby girl. We love you. ~ Jim, foster dad