Friday, January 22, 2010

Must Love Dogs...


to "get" this post. Otherwise it might read like a foreign language. This is Bear, our Maltese. He was my Christmas present from Steve the year we got married (2000). He was anything BUT a BEAR! We named him that because he was like a tiny furry teddy bear. The sweetest dog ever...not a mean bone in his little body. It has been a very sad week at our house because Bear died in his sleep Sunday night.

He truly was like our first child. I could not wait to get home every day from work to play with him. We spoiled him rotten. He even went on our 1st year anniversary trip with us...yes, we are crazy. We found a pet-friendly Bed and Breakfast and didn't think twice about bringing him along. I even took his picture on the beach with sunglasses on for the Humane Society Calendar Contest while we were on that trip (remember...Must Love Dogs:)



Of course, he did take a backseat when Anna Clare came along...I think most dogs do(we affectionately called him Back Burner Bear). But he was definitely part of the family and his death was quite a shock. He had had a pretty bad cough for a few days last week but played, ate, and drank as usual. Steve was out of town and told me he would take him to the vet when he got back. I was sick much of last week and decided to let Steve do just that. Sunday night Steve told me to make him a note to remind him to drop him off at the vet in the morning before work. Monday morning, he found Bear curled up in his little bed with Wilson, our Jack Russell (who was a gift to me from Steve when we were dating) right beside him. He looked just like he was sleeping. So, not only was it incredibly sad, I had incredible guilt for not taking him to the vet while Steve was away. Steve and I both beat ourselves up pretty bad about it.

Anna Clare was awake (and in hysterics just as I was) so the three of us buried him early Monday morning. I did find some joy in seeing things through the eyes of an innocent child. Throughout the day, she begged me not to cry..."he lives in your heart," she told me. She also reminded me of Where the Red Fern Grows and told me if I didn't "quit being sad," I was going to die too of a broken heart. Bless her soul! I assured her I was not dying, just grieving. She wrote about him in her journal that night...

(click to enlarge and read at your own risk...it's a tear jerker:)
To quote from her..."I will always give him a treat but it will be in my heart"... Have mercy!




Bear and Peggy Sue, my parents' pug, who went on to Doggy Heaven last year

My apologies for all the gloom and doom, but we Do Love Dogs! :)

6 comments:

darby said...

Kristen,

I am so very very very very sorry about sweet Bear. I'm so thankful that he went peacefully in his sleep!!! A big hug to you and sweet AC.

~k said...

oh I am just bawling and Matt just walked in and I couldn't even talk to tell him! AND I ALREADY KNEW!!!!!!! Wendy texted me Monday to pray for ya'll! I meant to message you before now. Oh, you are so blessed to have had him and to have lost him so peacefully. I told Wendy I pray that is how it is for us! Love ya'll!

Lindsey said...

That is so sad and sweet! Way to make somebody sad on a Saturday morning. :) And bless AC's little heart. She is so sweet and mature for her age!

Unknown said...

Kristen - that is so sweet. And yes, I did cry when I read AC's letter. My Dixie Ann is new to doggy heaven too, but I know they'll find each other. I will continue to keep y'all in my prayers. Love ya.

Anonymous said...

Kristen, "We LOVE dogs, too!!" :) I have thought of you all sooo much this week...my heart just breaks for you. I am sure you know from my blog posts and comments just how much we love Tucker. He is honestly such a part of my soul! (And, John's too!) He has been with me through john's deployments when he was in the military, being alone in the Middle East when John was traveling, all those weekends when John was in grad school, and so many other times...always comforting me and making me smile. I can so relate to all you wrote. They do leave pawprints on our hearts forever! And, sweet Anna Clare...bless her heart! I love her sweet journal entry. Tucker truly is our baby and such a part of our family...these sweet furry babies bless our lives tremendously.

Sending you a hug and thinking of you!

Ann~Margaret
www.ann-margarets.com/annmargaretsvisions/

Lydia said...

Awww. My heart hurts for ya'll. We are definitely dog people and I can sympathize with your pain. I couldn't bear to read AC's letter, but you are obviously raising beautifully-spirited children.
Hugs to ya'll.