My Little Girl is Home

The loss of a pet is never easy. You can prepare yourself, if they are sick or getting up in years, but I'm not sure it ever helps. Now, I have lost a beloved pet before but this one was different. Every one of them got individual attention and I spent every day playing with and taking care of all of them, but this one was different.

She was a sick little girl for most of her life and required round the clock attention for everything. She was my job for 8 years, my every thought revolved around her, our way of life changed with her ever-changing needs. And then...she was gone. I felt like I had been given the ultimate pink slip, my job had been taken from me and it was a job I loved.

A few years before, I had been introduced to a woman whom I have never met in person, but a woman who would become one of the most important people to me in these situations. She has become a listening ear and someone who can explain things in a way that it makes me feel like everything would be o.k. She ultimately would bring my babies back home to me in a way that no one else could. For that, I will never forget her and appreciate her for her amazing gifts.

Without much explanation or alot of talking about what each dog has been like, she has been able to paint the most beautiful pictures of my Max and Maca that has captured the absolute essence of each of them and has "brought them home" again. She captures the light in their eyes, little pieces of their personalities and paints a picture so real, I find myself kissing them hello in the morning.

Kathie, you are truly one of a kind and I am so proud to say I know you and to call you my friend. I will never forget what you have done for my heart and mind!

My reason for being

I guess I have always been what they call a "dog person". As long as I can remember, we had one dog or another. It always amazes me the laundry list of breeds of dogs that have shared their lives with my family. There have been Springer Spaniels, Irish Setters, Beagles, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, Dobermans, Chows and Mutts. My Aunt had Lhasa Apsos. My nieces and nephews have grown up around Golden Retrievers, Keeshounds and what turned out to be a Great Pyrenese! I have even heard stories about a Boxer that I think was around before I was.

I spent hours, as a child, trying to teach our Irish Setter to speak Spanish. (No one bothered to tell me it would be impossible!) The Poodle crowed like a rooster and climbed telephone poles without ever remembering that he couldn't get back down. The mutt was actually part Cocker, part Poodle, part Schnauzer and the one that formed my opinion of dogs thereafter. I remember when she had puppies (11 of them) and I would rock them to sleep on my swing set in the back yard. There are endless stories but in each of them, my part in that relationship was always dwarfed by what I got back from them. They were my best friends when I thought I didn't have any, my playmates, my shoulder to cry on and the one who always understood and loved me anyway.

The majority of them were fairly large dogs and I always thought I would have a large dog as an adult......Until I was given a Chihuahua! This little girl ended up being my entire world. She was given a rather poor start in life that really didn't get a whole lot better but the amazing thing in all of her problems was the bond that was created between us. You think that you are supposed to be the teacher but, in thinking back, I am amazed at what these creatures have taught me about myself. One of them gave me a big lesson about appearances, some of them, tolerance and the little girl that started it all gave me the biggest lesson of all about not giving up and that even when you think you've got nothing left to give, for the love of a dog you can do anything!

In my opinion, anyone who counts a dog as part of their family or friends, is one of the luckiest people in the world.

Since that first little Chihuahua, my family of furbabies has grown a bit, all of them little (with the exception of one) but every one of them full of love and laughter, mischief and mayhem and I wouldn't change it for the world. Careers have changed, people around me have changed but they are a constant and familiar part of my life and something I am always happy to come home to.

My gang of unusual suspects, as they are called around here, are all very interesting and have quite large personalities and I'm sure have alot of stories to tell. So stick around and listen to some of these stories, I'm sure they will make you smile as they do me.

The classes begin

First day of class and let's meet the participants.

There is Coco. A lovely young lady with ridiculously long legs. You know, the kind that go on for days and most men drool over. She says she is here to further her knowledge of the arts and looks like she could be the star of the class but she seems a little stuck up. Next is Gigi. Cute as a button, she tells us she just thought it sounded like fun. She seems like she could be everybodies best friend. Next to Gigi is a very short girl named Maxi. She's bow-legged and seems to be very shy. She says she's here because someone told her this was a great place to meet guys. Next is Madeline. Let's just say she has a very pretty face but is a little butch. She's not really willing to tell us why she's here except that someone told her she needed to be more "girly".

Over in the corner are 2, only 2 men. The first one introduces himself as Milo. He's a little on the chunky side but cute. He says he's here because he just loves to dance. Last but not least is Peanut. He is just adorable with a dancers body only a little small. He's here to pick up girls and make friends. I guess when they were giving out nicknames, Mr. Peanut was at the end of the line. Then there's me. A tall, not quite skinny woman who has done alot of dancing in her life.

Why am I here, you ask? I, apparently, am the teacher. Or...........

See, these students aren't people as much as they are 5 chihuahuas and a Jack Russell Terror! And I, their confidante, mother, best friend, maid, cook, stylist, couturier.............