Not Just A Pet

We have and will… always experience different types of loss in our lives. Not one is more important than the other…nor will they be without tremendous heartache… But for me….this loss was almost more than I had ever expected.

Most of us have at least one….maybe even two….what would that be….you ask….well it’s the four-legged family member. For me…growing up we had a couple of dogs…but, I remember once I went into high school…our dog lady became ill, and then we never had another pet after that. Fast forward to many, many years later…when I was in my late thirties…my husband and I married and combined our blended families….his two young boys and my one son. We tried to have a baby of our own…..but there were newly discovered thyroid issues for me…that sadly put an abrupt halt to that plan.

With a heavy heart I agreed to a new puppy….we settled on a six-week old miniature schnauzer weighing in at a very tiny 1 and a half pounds. Being so small we decided to name him “Peanut”. This little puppy and I had a very special connection from the “get-go”…..you see…..his little “birth bracelet collar” indicated that he was born on April 29….my birthday is April 29…..it was meant to be.

Years go by…he is such a sweet and kind little dog….so very friendly to everyone that he would meet. Until one day when he was a little over six years old, he began drinking more water than usual and waking me up multiple times at night to go to the bathroom….very soon after that, I noticed he was losing weight. I immediately took him to the vet, where it was confirmed that he had diabetes. My world as I knew it would never be the same.

It was extremely important that I give him an insulin shot twice a day with food…..and it was very important that he get his shots at the same time every day. So with that being said…I would rush home from work….start to stress-out if I were caught in traffic because I didn’t want to be late with his shots. I stopped going on vacations or visiting friends because I didn’t trust anyone other than myself to give him his shots. You would say that I was obsessed with taking care of him.

Six months later….he sadly got cataracts in both eyes and was blind…..luckily he was a candidate for surgery to repair his cataracts….but he had to wait three long months before he could have his surgery….he was on a waiting list. I cried the day I picked him up after recovery from his surgery….because he was so excited when he saw me for the first time in such a long time.

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The connection that this little dog and I had was more than words could describe….every day…night and day, he received his insulin injections….being such a little trooper getting them….day in and day out. However, the day finally came where his dosage began to increase to the point that was almost unsafe for him. Shortly thereafter, he had a stroke and the heartbreaking decision to put him down had to be made…..it was one of the hardest days of my life. My heart was broken into so many pieces.

After his passing…..my days were complete confusion for me….you see….my entire life revolved around taking care of him for almost two years…..I was completely heartbroken and lost.

Days did finally get better….we ended us adding to our family with another little miniature schnauzer….my sweet little, Riley. He will never replace my Peanut….because he just touched my heart so.

One must understand…that once you have a “four-legged” friend….you too will know….that they are not just a pet…..but part of your heart and part of your life.

Gone….but never forgotten.

–Brenda

xo