Family pets

Who figured that animals can/could make such an impact in our lives.  It's odd to think we let some furry animal stay in our homes, eat food we buy for them, clean up after them, sweep up the hair they shed, give them baths and hope our houses don't stink like dogs and grow to love them just like they always belonged in our families. 

Some people say they don't get animals because it is too sad to say goodbye but all the years of love and happiness so out weight the sadness when we have to say goodbye. 

Kristen, Rob and I found ourselves at the mall on Saturday afternoon and they asked if we could play with one of the puppies in the pet store.  We walked in and saw our little furry beagle and it was love at first sight.  We played with him and in decided to bring him home.  He wasn't cheap but he was sure cute.  Mike, Bryan and Alyse were working the concession stand at FSU.  We brought him home and he loved Molly instantly.  She on the other hand hated him!  As you can see in the top picture.  They had a few good years together and I don't think Molly ever really learned to like him.  She just growled as he would walk by each time.  But he loved to torture her any way he could.  It was pretty funny to watch.

Years later we had to put Molly to sleep.  She was old and had arthritis so bad, we had a cold snap and it was more then she could handle.  She could hardly move and cried when she did.  It was a sad day for our family.  We all felt a hole she left even Murphy.  We would ask him where she was and he would run and look for her.  

Murphy was an interesting dog.  He always looked at you when you talked to him.  He had the word INK on his hind leg.  His coloring was amazing.  He was hit by a car when he was a pup and his back paw always turned in a bit after that.  He loved veggies and just about anything else we ate.  Although he never did get into salad.  He was a great friend to have around.   The years went on and I always thought of him as a pup but he was getting old and cranky but hey so were we.  I knew the day was coming when he would finally have to leave.  But I didn't think about it too much since I knew it was in the future, the far future.  Mike started to travel and I always felt pretty secure at night since he was my extra set of ears.  He barked when someone came to the door and he generally was a great companion.  He also was a great secret keeper.  I told him many things and he would just look at me and listen.  

 

Teen years!

So came Feb 22nd.  I got up and let Murphy out of his bed.  He found something to chase outside and bark at.  I had to keep telling him to be quite since it was 6:00 am.  I left for work and Alyse came by and let him out for lunch.  I arrived home and greeted him as I always did... Hello Murph Murph!  How as your day!  I let him out of his cage and he walked out all to slow.  As the night went on he grew sicker and sicker.  I was just about to call Bryan and ask him to come up when he walked in.  I knew Murph was in bad shape.  Lance and Kristen came up and we determined we needed to take him to an emergency pet hospital.  We called Alyse to see if she wanted to see him just in case this was not something that could be fixed.  She came up and the 3 of us were off to see the Vet.  Out of his character he laid wrapped up in the blanket we put him in.

Bryan carried him into the building.  It was the hardest thing I have ever done is to watch him try to breath.  The Dr. came in and told us that she tested him for internal bleeding and it was positive.  Alyse and I were crying (okay short of sobbing) which left Bryan to be the non emotional one.  We called Mike who was in Ca and had him on the phone as we talked about the decision that needed to be made.  It was time for us to say goodbye to our furry friend.  Mike said his goodbyes on the phone and then we called Rob.  Thankfully his goodbye was funny but the laughter was all to short lived.

The last picture I took before saying goodbye!

They told us to take as much time as we wanted but it was too hard to see him suffer.  As I petted him I looked at his once tan coloring now mostly white.  He wasn't so young after all.  But his ears were still so soft to touch and caress.  We hugged him and talked to him as he was put to sleep.  I will always miss my furry friend and recall how one little furry dog came into our family and filled it with so much joy, laughter and unconditional love.  We told him to go find Molly and chase her around for a bit and to look up Grandpa as I was sure he would greet him warmly.

It has been a wonderful experience for our family to have pets.  They have loved us as much as we loved them.  I look forward to seeing them again and continuing our relationship on the other side but for now our two furry friends will run the streets of gold and chase all the rabbits they can find.  That makes me happy!