You would be hard pressed to find a more devoted dog owner than my mom. She always sacrificed so much of her time, energy, and most of all heart for her two dogs. In a horrible coincidental tragedy, she lost both of them within one week of each other.
Moe passed away on June 5, 2017 at 13 years old. My mother adopted him three years ago. He was a senior in rescue and had been with the group for over a year. No one wanted him, but she did. He had a bum leg, was very timid, and also very feisty. Most people were afraid to pet him because he would snap like a turtle. With time, he eased up on the aggressive behavior. His organs started to shut down and putting him down was the only option to alleviate his discomfort.
Bup passed away on June 12, 2017 and was also 13 years old. My mom had him for those 13 years after receiving him as a surprise “gift.” My brother came home with him one Mother’s Day when we were in high school; he had bought him out of a box on the side of the road along with some flowers. Surprise! He was a teeny tiny peanut and also rather mean. He was incredibly loyal to my mother and hated everyone but her. Several years ago, he came down with congestive heart failure and a plethora of other problems. Through some miracle, lots of love, and lots of medicine, my mother kept him alive for many years more. Unfortunately, he also passed away.
In memory of my mom’s two fur children, I wanted to post this for her so that they would not be forgotten. I truly have never known anyone so dedicated to their animals. These two dogs, who seemed so unlovable to so many, were loved immensely by her.
One thing I have learned is this: deciding to love an animal is deciding to risk your heart. You know without question that one day you will have to let them go… but we love them anyway. We choose to take the hurt because the love of an animal is a love like no other. The pain is so unbearable, but the love you get in return is worth more than the hurt and heartbreak. She made the right decisions two times over, even though they felt like the wrong decisions at the time. Knowing when to let go of an animal is an incredibly selfless act. They are no longer in pain. They are in doggy heaven, which is probably an even greater place than earth.
(Note: If you have any words of encouragement for my mom, please leave them below – I know she will read them. Thank you.)
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